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Jesus Loves Me Always

A baby doll learns to walk, wobbly baby steps, a “Come back!” hug, and love that never stops

  • 🧸 Nursery
  • Week 47
  • 📅 Sunday, November 22, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father and Jesus love me always.

I can give myself a hug and remember that Jesus loves me always.

Study it yourself firstRead Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel)
Know the chapters

Hosea was a prophet who taught how much the Lord loves His people, even when they wander away. The Lord says He loved Israel like a little child. He taught His children to walk, “taking them by their arms.” He drew them close “with bands of love.” That’s Hosea 11:1–4. When they turned away, He kept calling them back. He promised, “I will love them freely.” That’s Hosea 14:1–4. In the book of Joel, hungry bugs eat the crops. Then the Lord sends rain so food can grow again, in Joel 2:23–26. In the Old Testament, “the LORD” is Jehovah, who is Jesus Christ.

This week fits nursery perfectly. Many of your children just learned to walk. Every one of them knows a grown-up’s steady hands. They know a big pull-you-close hug too. Use that. Keep one idea: Jesus loves me always, even when I wobble, fall down or wander off.

“Come back!” is a nursery word too. Kids in your room are learning that Mom and Dad always come back. And the Lord always wants us to come back to Him. The lesson takes six minutes. The play-time ideas add hand-held walks, come-back peekaboo, munchy bugs and dewdrops.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a baby doll, or a stuffed animal, and a picture of Jesus Christ. Hold the doll’s arms and help it wobble-walk. Swipe through the six-picture story on your phone or tablet. Do the wobble-and-come-back wiggle. Hug yourself and say “Jesus loves me always!” End with a quiet “I know Jesus loves you.” For play time, pick three ideas below. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” Your fingers become the wobbly walker, and your phone or tablet shows the pictures.

What to bring7 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Tuck the baby doll in your bag until the opening.
  2. Check the floor for anything small. If it fits through a toilet-paper tube, put it up high or away.
  3. Decide with the other adult who leads the lesson and who greets at the door. There are always two adults in nursery.
  4. Practice the motion. Hug yourself tight while you say “Jesus loves me always!”
  5. Open the Sound Board on your phone or tablet and find the magic and bells buttons. Turn the volume low.

If your class is wild

  • Tears at drop-off are normal, and this is the perfect week for them. Hold the crying child and whisper, “Mommy always comes back. Jesus loves you always.” A quick, happy goodbye beats sneaking out.
  • Brand-new walkers fall a lot. When one tumbles, say cheerfully, “Oops! Up you get!” and hold out your hands. That’s today’s lesson in action.
  • Nobody has to sit. Lead from the floor at their level. Wanderers still hear you, and they often copy the motions from across the room.
  • Follow your ward’s policy for diapers and potty trips. Never leave one adult alone with the class, and never go off alone with one child.

The 25-minute plan6 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

Baby’s First Steps

1 min

A baby doll learning to walk is something every toddler understands, and it pulls them close for the story.

  1. Sit on the floor and bring out the baby doll: “Look! Baby is learning to walk.”
  2. Hold the doll’s arms and help it wobble across the floor: “Wobble, wobble… oops!” Let it tumble gently.
  3. SAY“Uh-oh! I’ll help you, baby.”
  4. Hold its arms again and walk it to a child: “You did it!” Then hug the doll.
  5. SAY“Today we learn that Jesus helps us and loves us always.”
🌪️ Everyone wants the doll? Let each child hold its hand for one step: “Help baby walk!” Then the doll goes back in your bag.

Class screen: 👶 Wobble, wobble! Baby walks!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby doll or soft stuffed animal (arms it can be held by)

Finger Baby’s First Steps

  1. Sit on the floor and hold up two fingers: “Look! This is a baby learning to walk.”
  2. Walk your fingers across the floor: “Wobble, wobble… oops!” Let them tumble over.
  3. SAY“Uh-oh! I’ll help you, baby.”
  4. Hold the fingers with your other hand and walk them to a child: “You did it!” Then hug your hand.
  5. SAY“Today we learn that Jesus helps us and loves us always.”

Class screen: ✌️ Wobble, wobble! Finger baby walks!

2. Story

Picture Story: The Lord Loves His Little Children

2 min

Six pictures with one sentence and one action each let toddlers wobble, hug and come back, feeling how the Lord loves them.

  1. Hold your phone or tablet at their eye level. Everyone gets to be a Little Walker and a Big Hugger.
  2. Read the one sentence, then do the action big so they can copy you. Don’t wait for everyone.
  3. On the “Come back!” picture, open your arms wide and welcome every child who comes. They’ll want to do it again, so let them.
  4. Losing them early? Jump to the last picture: “Jesus loves you always!”
🌪️ Got a child who won’t stop moving? Let them tap your phone or tablet to change the picture, with your hand on it too. A job beats a battle.

Class screen: 🚶 Wobble! Hug! Come back!

3. Wiggle break

Wobble, Walk, Come Back

1 min

Toddlers need to move after two minutes, and wobbly walking and a “Come back!” hug repeat the story with their whole bodies.

  1. SAY“Stand up! Let’s be little walkers!”
  2. Wobble-walk in place: “Wobble, wobble!” Then take big giant steps, then tiny mouse steps.
  3. Turn and tiptoe one step away: “Uh-oh!” Then call, “Come back!” and tiptoe back.
  4. Open your arms for a group hug. Go again while they giggle.
  5. Finish with a hug: “Jesus loves me always!” Then sit down together.

Class screen: 🚶 Wobble! Uh-oh! Come back! · 🚶 Wobble · 🦶 Big steps · 🔙 Uh-oh! · 🤗 Come back!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Hosea 14:4

1 min

Four words and one hug, said many times, is how a toddler carries a scripture home.

  1. Hold up your scriptures.
  2. SAY“This is the Bible. It tells about Jesus. Listen!”
  3. Read slowly: “I will love them freely.”
  4. SAY“That means Jesus loves me always!”
  5. Hug yourself and say “Jesus loves me always!” three times: whisper, normal, happy. Then kneel by each child: “Jesus loves Ella always.”

Class screen: 🤗 Jesus loves me always! · 🤗 Hug yourself!

5. Testimony

I Know Jesus Loves You

1 min

A quiet moment with a picture of the Savior helps each child feel loved, always.

  1. Drop your voice to a whisper and hold up the picture of Jesus Christ.
  2. SAY“This is Jesus.”
  3. Let each child look closely, point or gently pat the picture.
  4. SAY“I know Jesus loves you. He loves you always, always, always.”
  5. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms while a grown-up says a short one.

Class screen: ❤️ Jesus loves you always!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A picture of Jesus Christ (from your meetinghouse library, a Friend magazine, or home)

  1. Drop your voice to a whisper and put your hand on your heart.
  2. SAY“Shhh. Let’s think about Jesus.”
  3. Touch each child’s hand or wave, and whisper, “Jesus loves you.”
  4. SAY“I know Jesus loves you. He loves you always, always, always.”
  5. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms while a grown-up says a short one.
6. Song

Rock-a-Baby Song

2 minBONUS

If they’re still with you, a slow song while everyone rocks a pretend baby is a calm, loving way to finish.

  1. SAY“Let’s rock our babies.”
  2. Cradle the doll or a pretend baby in your arms.
  3. Sing “I Am a Child of God,” Children’s Songbook page 2. Go slowly and rock side to side.
  4. At the end, hug your baby: “Jesus loves you always!”

Class screen: 👶 Rock, rock, baby!

The story

The Lord Loves His Little Children

Hosea 11:1–4; 14:1–5 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Little WalkersEveryone! Wobble-walk in place like brand-new walkers.
  • Big HuggersEveryone! Open your arms wide, then wrap them into a big hug.

Scenes

  1. 👶❤️ The Lord loved His people like little children.

    The Lord loved His people, like a mommy or daddy loves a baby.

    🙌 Rock a pretend baby in your arms: “Aww, baby!”

  2. 🚶👐 He held their arms and helped them walk.

    He held their arms and helped them walk. Wobble, wobble!

    🙌 Wobble-walk in place. Hold out your hands for anyone who wants help.

  3. 🤗 He pulled them close in a big hug.

    He pulled them close and gave them a big hug.

    🙌 Open your arms wide, then squeeze a big hug.

  4. 🔙 Uh-oh! The people walked away.

    Uh-oh! The people forgot Him and walked away.

    🙌 Turn your back and peek over your shoulder: “Uh-oh!”

  5. 📣❤️ Come back! Come back!

    The Lord still loved them. He called, “Come back! Come back!”

    🙌 Cup your hands and call, “Come back!” Then tiptoe back for a hug.

  6. ❤️🌷 Jesus loves you always!

    Jesus loves you always, and you, and you!

    🙌 Hug yourselves, then say each child’s name: “Jesus loves Ella always!”

Key verse

Hosea 14:4 ↗
“I will love them freely”
In kid words: Jesus loves me always!
🙌 Hug yourself tight and hold the hug the whole time you say it.

More verses

Hosea 11:3 ↗
“I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms”
In kid words: The Lord helped His children walk.
Hosea 11:4 ↗
“I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love”
In kid words: He pulled them close with love.
Hosea 14:5 ↗
“I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily”
In kid words: His love helps us grow like flowers.

Forehead Guess words8 words

  • 👶 Baby
  • 🦶 Feet
  • 🤗 Hug
  • ❤️ Heart
  • 🌷 Flower
  • 🌧️ Rain
  • 🐛 Bug
  • 👐 Hands
Clues for each word
  • Baby: Learning to walk: wobble, wobble!
  • Feet: We walk with them
  • Hug: Squeeze someone you love
  • Heart: Jesus loves me always
  • Flower: Grows with dew and rain
  • Rain: Helps the food grow again
  • Bug: Munch, munch! Eats the plants.
  • Hands: Hold them to help someone walk
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown5 questions

  1. Who is learning to walk?
    • A. 🐟 Fish
    • B. 👶 Baby
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👶 Baby Wobble, wobble! The Lord helps His children walk.

  2. Which one is a hug?
    • A. 🤗 Hug
    • B. 🥄 Spoon
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🤗 Hug Squeeze! The Lord pulled His people close with love.

  3. What helps flowers grow?
    • A. 💧 Water
    • B. 🧸 Teddy bear
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 💧 Water Drip, drop! Dew and rain help flowers grow.

  4. Which one goes munch, munch?
    • A. 🌙 Moon
    • B. 🐛 Bug
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🐛 Bug Munch, munch! Joel told about bugs eating the plants.

  5. Who loves me always?
    • A. ❤️ Jesus
    • B. 🦆 Duck
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ❤️ Jesus Hug yourself: Jesus loves me always!

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Am a Child of God Children’s Songbook, p. 2

    Sing it slowly while everyone rocks a pretend baby. Find it ↗

  • Give, Said the Little Stream Children’s Songbook, p. 236

    Wiggle rain fingers: the Lord sent rain so the food could grow again (Joel 2:23). Find it ↗

  • Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Children’s Songbook, p. 275

    Touch each part: Jesus loves all of me, from my head to my toes. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Hold My Hands

This week, hold your little one’s hands to walk, or help them up after a tumble. Each time, say, “Jesus helps you. Jesus loves you always!”

Text the parents

Today in nursery we learned from Hosea that the Lord loves His people like little children. He helps them walk and pulls them close in a hug. When they wander, He calls, “Come back!” You can read it in Hosea 11:3–4 and 14:4. We wobble-walked, hugged and said, “Jesus loves me always!” Try it at home. Hold your child’s hands while they walk and say it together.

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Nursery play time

The lesson is short on purpose. Fill the rest of nursery with these: pick what fits your little ones today.

👐 Hold My Hands Walk · 10 min

  1. Set out the push toys and let kids play. Clear a path so nobody trips.
  2. Offer your hands to any child who wants to walk with you. Go slowly around the room: “Wobble, wobble! I’ve got you.”
  3. When someone tumbles, hold out your hands: “Oops! Up you get!” Then share Hosea 11:3.
  4. SAY“The Lord helps His children walk. Jesus helps you too.”
  5. Help a child push the baby doll in a push toy: “We’re helping baby walk!” No push toys? Hand-holding walks are plenty.

🙈 Come-Back Peekaboo · 5 min

  1. Hide behind the blanket while the other adult holds it up, or behind a big chair. Call softly, “Where did I go?”
  2. Peek out: “Peekaboo! Come back, come back!” Open your arms wide for anyone who comes.
  3. When a child toddles away, call happily, “Come back, Ella!” and open your arms for a hug.
  4. SAY“The Lord always says, ‘Come back!’ He loves you always.”
  5. No blanket? Cover your eyes with your hands for peekaboo instead.

🎵 Rain and Wiggle Songs · 5 min

  1. Sing “Give, Said the Little Stream,” Children’s Songbook page 236. Wiggle rain fingers from high to low: “Rain helps the plants grow!”
  2. Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes,” Children’s Songbook page 275. Tell them, “Jesus loves all of me, head to toes!”
  3. Tap Freeze Dance on your phone or tablet. When the music stops, everyone hugs themselves: “Jesus loves me always!”
  4. Don’t know a tune? Play it once in the Gospel Library app. Or just chant “Drip, drop, grow, grow” while you move.

🐛 Munchy Bugs Snack · 10 min

  1. Check allergies and your ward’s snack policy first. Wipe every child’s hands, and yours.
  2. Everyone sits to eat while an adult watches. Skip popcorn, nuts, whole grapes, hard candy and raw carrot chunks.
  3. Fold arms while a grown-up says a short blessing: “Thank you for the rain and our food.”
  4. Share Joel 2:23–26 as they munch, with rain fingers: “Hungry bugs ate the plants. Then the Lord sent rain, and the food grew back!”
  5. No snack today? Nibble pretend leaves like munchy bugs. Wiggle rain fingers, eat a pretend feast and say thank you.

🖍️ Hands Held Together Art · 8 min

  1. Tape a big sheet of paper down. Trace each child’s hand with a chunky crayon, but only if they want. Some toddlers don’t.
  2. Draw a long, wiggly line that joins all the hands. Then share Hosea 11:4: “The Lord pulls us close with love!”
  3. Give each child one chunky washable crayon to scribble hearts. Skip stickers, glitter, pom-poms and marker caps.
  4. Write their names, count the crayons back and hang it by the door for parents.
  5. No paper or crayons? Draw a heart in Draw & Guess on your phone or tablet. Hold it while each child finger-scribbles inside.

💧 Dewdrop Hands · 5 min

  1. A grown-up holds a small cup of water. If a child wants one, touch a tiny dewdrop on their hand: “Drip! A dewdrop!”
  2. Let them feel it and rub it in. Tell them, “Dew is tiny water on flowers in the morning. It helps them grow.”
  3. Curl up small together, then grow tall like a flower: “The Lord’s love helps us grow!” That’s Hosea 14:5.
  4. The cup stays in grown-up hands. Dry hands and wipe up drips right away.
  5. No water? Tap a fingertip gently on each child’s hand: “Pretend dewdrop!” Then grow tall like flowers.

🖼️ Picture Walk: Little Walkers · 5 min

  1. Sit on the floor with a child or two in your lap. Swipe through today’s story pictures, or open a book about families.
  2. Name one thing in each picture: “Baby! Hug!” Ask, “Where are the feet?” and let them point.
  3. Ask, “Who helps you walk?” Let them point or babble. Tell them, “Jesus helps us too.”
  4. Finish at a picture of Jesus Christ. Hug yourself: “Jesus loves me always.”
  5. Both adults stay in the nursery room. Anyone who wants to keep playing can.

😴 Always-Loved Snuggle · 4 min

  1. Spread out a blanket. Kids can lie down, sit, climb into a lap or rock the baby doll. Nobody has to.
  2. Rock side to side and softly hum “I Am a Child of God,” Children’s Songbook page 2.
  3. Pat backs gently for kids who like it.
  4. Whisper each child’s name: “Jesus loves you always, Ella.”
  5. Upset child? Hold them, rock side to side and walk to the window together. Calm comes before learning.

👋 Mommy Comes Back Goodbye · 5 min

  1. Five minutes before the end, call out, “Toys, come back home!” Clean up, then sit together once more.
  2. SAY“Mommy and Daddy always come back. Jesus loves you always.”
  3. Hug yourselves: “Jesus loves me always!” When a parent arrives, cheer, “Look who came back!”
  4. Hand each child only to their own parent or guardian. Share the family note and one happy moment about their child.
  5. Kids still waiting? Play Come-Back Peekaboo or read a picture book. Both adults stay until every child is picked up.

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

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