Gospel Sparks Get the app

I Came to Earth!

A baby doll, a picture story, and a train ride from heaven to earth to home

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • ⚡ Fast Sunday
  • 📅 Sunday, January 3, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father sent me to earth, and Jesus shows me the way back home to Him.

I can follow Jesus back home to Heavenly Father.

Study it yourself firstRead Abraham 3:24–26; Moses 4:2; Alma 34:32; John 6:38; 14:6; 3 Nephi 27:19–20; Revelation 21:3–4 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this fast-Sunday lesson (Abraham 3:24–26; Moses 4:2; Alma 34:32; John 6:38; 14:6; 3 Nephi 27:19–20; Revelation 21:3–4)
Know the chapters

The 2027 manual adds a Primary lesson for each fast Sunday. They’re in Appendix B and replace the regular Come, Follow Me lesson that day. January begins with Heavenly Father’s plan, often called the plan of happiness. Before we were born, we lived with Him as His spirit children. He made a plan for us to come to earth, get a body, and learn and grow. See Abraham 3:24–26. Jesus Christ chose to do His Father’s will and help us come home. See Moses 4:2 and John 6:38. Job 38:7 says the children of God “shouted for joy.”

For three-year-olds, keep it to one tiny truth and three simple places. I lived with Heavenly Father in heaven. He sent me to a family on earth as a baby with a body. And Jesus shows me the way back home. See John 14:6. Skip Satan and the war in heaven entirely. This age only needs to hear that Heavenly Father loves them and Jesus helps them. Keep going home happy and simple. Someday we’ll see Heavenly Father again, and He’ll wipe away every tear. See Revelation 21:4. A child may have lost a grandparent or a baby sibling. If it comes up, answer gently and tell the parent after class.

It’s fast Sunday. Sunbeams are far too young to fast. But some parents are fasting and may be tired or tender, and a few kids may have skipped breakfast. Skip food rewards today. Use cheers and high-fives instead.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a baby doll or a rolled-up blanket, three papers, and a picture of Jesus. Draw a cloud, a house, and a heart on the papers. Rock the doll. Tell the happy-plan story in Teach Mode. Teach “Jesus is the way” with motions. Then ride a choo-choo train from the cloud to the house to Jesus. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” Rock a pretend baby and use three corners of the room as the stops.

What to bring4 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. Draw a cloud, a house, and a heart on three papers. Big and simple is perfect.
  2. Before class, set the cloud by a window and the house in the middle of the room. Put the heart by the door with the picture of Jesus.
  3. Practice three hand signs. Point up, “Heaven!” Arms round like a big ball, “Earth!” Hands make a roof, “Home!”

If your class is wild

  • Some Sunbeams cry when a parent leaves. Let the parent stay a few minutes. Then make the child your Baby Rocker, holding the doll during the hook.
  • For an attention signal, you say “Heavenly Father’s children!” They answer “Hooray!” with arms up, then sit on their spots.
  • On the train ride, go first yourself. Hands on shoulders, choo-choo, walking feet. Three-year-olds follow a leader much better than directions.
  • Potty breaks happen. Follow your ward’s policy. Usually a parent or the second adult takes the child. Keep two adults with the children, and never leave the class alone.
  • It’s fast Sunday. If a child is grumpy or hungry, a quiet job often helps more than a snack. They can hold the heart paper or turn your phone or tablet pages. Check with the parent before giving any food.

The 25-minute plan22 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

You Were a Baby!

3 min

A baby doll helps three-year-olds picture that they were once tiny and came from Heavenly Father.

  1. SAY“Shh… look who came to class!”
  2. Bring out the baby doll wrapped in its blanket. Pass it around the circle. Each child pats it gently.
  3. SAY“Once YOU were a tiny baby just like this!”
  4. Ask, “Can a baby run? Can a baby talk?” When they say no, cheer, “Look at you now! You can run and talk and sing!”
  5. SAY“Before you were a baby, you lived with Heavenly Father. Today we’ll learn about His happy plan for you.”

Class screen: 👶 You were a tiny baby!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby doll or a small blanket rolled up like a baby

The Invisible Baby

  1. SAY“Shh… I’m holding a tiny, tiny baby. Can you see it?”
  2. Cradle a pretend baby in your arms. Everyone makes their own pretend baby and rocks it. Shh, shh.
  3. SAY“Once YOU were a tiny baby just like this!”
  4. Ask, “Can a baby run? Can a baby talk?” When they say no, cheer, “Look at you now!”
  5. SAY“Before you were a baby, you lived with Heavenly Father. Today we’ll learn about His happy plan for you.”

Class screen: 🤱 Rock your pretend baby!

2. Story

Picture Story: The Happy Plan

6 min

Seven picture scenes show three places: heaven, earth, and home again with Jesus’s help.

  1. SAY“Let’s see where you were before you were a baby! Look at the pictures. Can you find things?”
  2. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. Point to the screen first, then let them point too.
  3. After scene 7, point up, “Heaven!” Arms round, “Earth!” Hands make a roof, “Home!” Then say, “Jesus shows me the way home.”
🌪️ If the jazz-hands cheer in scene 2 gets loud, make it a silent cheer. Big hands, no sound.

Class screen: 🌍 Heavenly Father’s happy plan! · 👉 Point! · 🏠 Home!

3. Wiggle break

Up, Down, Hug!

2 min

Stretching, squatting and hugging lets bodies move while repeating the three places.

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father gave you a body! Let’s use it. Stand up by your spot.”
  2. For “Heaven!”, stretch up on tiptoes. For “Earth!”, squat and pat the floor. For “Home!”, give yourself a big hug.
  3. Call them slowly, then faster. Mix up the order. End with “Home!” and sit down with your hug.

Class screen: 🙆 Up! Down! Hug! · ☝️ Heaven! · 👇 Earth! · 🤗 Home!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: John 14:6

3 min

Path-and-roof motions help Sunbeams remember that Jesus shows the way home.

  1. SAY“Jesus said something in the Bible. Listen!”
  2. Hold up your scriptures and read slowly, “I am the way.” Then say, “Jesus shows us the way home to Heavenly Father.”
  3. Teach the Key Verse motions one at a time. Say it together, “Jesus is the way home.”
  4. Say it three ways: a tiny baby voice, a regular voice, then a big grown-up voice. End each time with folded arms and a smile.

Class screen: 📖 Jesus is the way home. · ☝️ Jesus · 🛤️ is the way · 🏠 home

5. Game

Choo-Choo Home

5 min

Riding a train from the cloud, to the house, to the picture of Jesus practices the big idea in three easy stops.

  1. SAY“All aboard! Let’s ride the train to Heavenly Father’s happy plan!”
  2. Line up at the cloud. Everyone points up and says, “Heaven!” Put hands on shoulders and choo-choo to the house.
  3. At the house, say, “Earth! We came to a family.” Everyone rocks a pretend baby.
  4. Choo-choo to the heart and the picture of Jesus. Say, “Jesus shows us the way home!” Everyone makes roof hands and says, “Home!”
  5. Ride again with a new child right behind you. Try tiptoe feet, then stompy feet. Sit down at the last stop.
🌪️ You’re always the engine. Walking feet only. The train waits at every stop until everyone arrives.

Class screen: 🚂 Choo-choo! All aboard! · ☁️ Heaven · 🏡 Earth · ❤️ Home

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Three pieces of paper and a marker: draw a cloud on one, a little house on one, and a big heart on one, A picture of Jesus Christ (from your meetinghouse library, a Friend magazine, or home)

Choo-Choo Home

  1. SAY“All aboard! Let’s ride the train to Heavenly Father’s happy plan!”
  2. Choose three stops. A window is heaven, the middle of the room is earth, and the door is home.
  3. Start at the window and point up, “Heaven!” Choo-choo to the middle and say, “Earth! We came to a family.” Rock a pretend baby.
  4. Choo-choo to the door. Say, “Jesus shows us the way home!” Everyone makes roof hands and says, “Home!”
  5. Ride again with tiptoe feet, then stompy feet. Sit down at the last stop.

Class screen: 🚂 Choo-choo! All aboard!

6. Testimony

You Are His Child

3 min

A quiet close where each child hears they are Heavenly Father’s child and Jesus shows them the way.

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father knows every one of you by name.”
  2. Lower your voice and fold your arms. Go around the circle. Say softly, “Emma, you are Heavenly Father’s child. He sent you to your family.”
  3. Share your testimony, “I know Heavenly Father loves me. And I know Jesus shows me the way home.” Invite them to try the Family Picture Hug.
  4. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays.

Class screen: 💛 You are Heavenly Father’s child! · 👨‍👩‍👧 Family Picture Hug

7. Game

Happy Plan Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story if you have a few extra minutes, and every child gets to point.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Point to the right picture.”
  2. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture. Skip the teams. Everyone wins.
  3. After every answer, everyone makes roof hands and says, “Home!”
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 👉 Point to the right picture!

8. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

A slow picture reveal reviews the story.

  1. SAY“A picture from our story is hiding! Let’s find out what it is.”
  2. Open Mystery Picture. Call out a “show me,” like “Show me heaven!” Tap away a tile after each one.
  3. Let everyone guess. When the picture shows, tell that part of the story together.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🖼️ What’s hiding?

The story

The Happy Plan

Abraham 3:24–26; Job 38:7; Moses 4:2; John 14:6; Revelation 21:4 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Baby RockerRocks the baby doll from their spot in scene 4 while everyone else rocks a pretend baby.
  • Picture HelperSits by you and holds up the picture of Jesus in scenes 3 and 6.

Scenes

  1. ☁️💛 You lived with Heavenly Father

    Before you were a baby, you lived in heaven with Heavenly Father. He knows your name. And He loves you!

    🙌 Point up high: “Heaven!”

  2. 🌍🎉 A happy plan! We shouted for joy!

    Heavenly Father made a happy plan. You would go to a beautiful earth and get a body! We were so happy! The Bible says we shouted for joy!

    🙌

  3. 💛👍 Jesus said yes!

    We would need help to come back home. Jesus said yes! He would do what Heavenly Father wanted.

    🙌

  4. 👶🏡 You came to a family

    Then you came to earth as a tiny baby. You came into a family. You got a body that can wiggle and hug!

    🙌 Find the baby! Rock a pretend baby.

  5. 🌱🙏 On earth we learn and grow

    On earth you learn and grow. You learn to pray, to share, and to be kind, just like Jesus.

    🙌

  6. 👣🛤️ Jesus shows us the way home

    Jesus shows us the way back home to Heavenly Father. When we follow Jesus, we are on the way home.

    🙌 Find the footprints. Walk your fingers on your knees.

  7. 😊🏡 Home again, no more tears!

    Someday we will see Heavenly Father again. He will wipe away every tear. And we’ll be so happy.

    🙌 Show your very biggest smile!

Key verse

John 14:6 ↗
“I am the way”
In kid words: Jesus is the way home.
🙌 “Jesus” = point to the picture of Jesus (or point up) · “is the way” = hold both hands flat in front of you and slide them forward like a path · “home” = touch your fingertips over your head to make a roof · then fold your arms and smile!

More verses

Job 38:7 ↗
“all the sons of God shouted for joy”
In kid words: Before we were born, all of Heavenly Father’s children cheered for His happy plan.
John 6:38 ↗
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me”
In kid words: Jesus came to earth to do what Heavenly Father wants.
Revelation 21:4 ↗
“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes”
In kid words: Someday Heavenly Father will wipe away every tear.

Forehead Guess words13 words

  • ☁️ Cloud
  • 🌍 Earth
  • 👶 Baby
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family
  • 🏡 House
  • ❤️ Heart
  • ⭐ Star
  • 👣 Feet
  • 🛤️ Path
  • 🎉 Hooray
  • 🌱 Seed
  • 🙏 Prayer
  • 😊 Smile
Clues for each word
  • Cloud: Point up high to heaven
  • Earth: Our big round world
  • Baby: You were one once!
  • Family: Heavenly Father sent you to one
  • House: Where your family lives
  • Heart: It means love
  • Star: Twinkles in the sky
  • Feet: March along the path
  • Path: Jesus shows us the way
  • Hooray: We shouted for joy!
  • Seed: Starts small and grows tall
  • Prayer: Fold your arms and talk to Heavenly Father
  • Smile: Show me a happy face
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Before you were born, who did you live with?
    • A. 🦁 A lion
    • B. ☁️ Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ☁️ Heavenly Father You lived with Heavenly Father. He knows your name and loves you!

  2. When we heard the happy plan, what did we do?
    • A. 🙌 Shouted for joy!
    • B. 😴 Fell asleep
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙌 Shouted for joy! Job 38:7. All of Heavenly Father’s children shouted for joy.

  3. How did you come to earth?
    • A. 🚀 In a rocket
    • B. 👶 As a tiny baby
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👶 As a tiny baby You came as a tiny baby into a family.

  4. Where did Heavenly Father send you?
    • A. 🏡 To a family
    • B. 🌙 To the moon
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🏡 To a family Heavenly Father sent you to a family on earth to learn and grow.

  5. What can your body do?
    • A. 🪨 Nothing
    • B. 👏 Clap and hug!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👏 Clap and hug! Heavenly Father gave you a body that can clap, jump, hug and sing!

  6. Who shows us the way home?
    • A. 🚗 A car
    • B. 🐶 A puppy
    • C. ❤️ Jesus
    Show answer

    ✅ C. ❤️ Jesus John 14:6. Jesus said, “I am the way.”

  7. Someday Heavenly Father will wipe away every…
    • A. 😢 Tear
    • B. 🍝 Noodle
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 😢 Tear Revelation 21:4. When we go home, there will be no more tears.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    The whole lesson in one song they may already know. Find it ↗

  • I Lived in Heaven Children’s Songbook, p. 4

    Hum it softly during scene 1, or sing it if your class knows it. Find it ↗

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

    Wiggle the body Heavenly Father gave you, slow and then super fast. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Family Picture Hug

Look at a picture of your family with Mom or Dad. Point to each person and say, “Heavenly Father sent me to this family!” Then give everyone a hug.

Text the parents

Today your Sunbeam learned about Heavenly Father’s happy plan. We lived with Him before we were born. He sent us to earth as babies into families. And Jesus shows us the way back home, from John 14:6. We rode a pretend train across the room from heaven, to earth, to a picture of Jesus. Ask your child, “Who did you live with before you were a baby?” Then ask, “Who shows us the way home?” Look at a baby picture of them 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.

Got extra time?

⭐ Twinkle Stars, Shout for Joy · 2 min

  1. Everyone makes twinkle fingers up high like morning stars.
  2. Point to Job 38:7. Say, “When the earth was made, the morning stars sang together. And all of God’s children shouted for joy!”
  3. Twinkle quietly. Then on “Joy!” everyone jumps and cheers. Do it three times, with quieter twinkles each time.

🎁 My Body Is a Gift · 3 min

  1. Say, “Heavenly Father gave you a body. What can it do?”
  2. Point to a body part and do something kind with it. Smile at a friend, listen to a whisper, wave, tiptoe, and hug yourself.
  3. End with, “Thank you, Heavenly Father, for my body!”

🖍️ Draw My Family · 4 min

  1. Give each child a paper and a crayon. Say, “Heavenly Father sent you to a family. Let’s draw them!”
  2. Help each child draw simple circle faces for their family. Ask, “Who is this?” Write the names for them.
  3. Draw a little heart at the top and say, “Heavenly Father sent me here!” Send the drawings home.

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.

All Sunbeam lessons