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Shine, Little Light!

Jesus teaches on a mountain: be kind, make peace, and don’t hide your light

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • Week 7
  • 📅 Sunday, February 14, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I am kind like Jesus, my light shines.

I can let my light shine.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 5; Luke 6 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 5; Luke 6)
Know the chapters

Matthew 5 and Luke 6 are the start of Jesus’s great sermon. He went up a mountain, sat down, and taught His disciples how to be truly happy, or “blessed”: be meek, be merciful, be pure in heart, be peacemakers (Matthew 5:3–12). He taught them to love even people who are unkind to them (Matthew 5:44).

Then He gave two pictures: “Ye are the salt of the earth” and “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14). Nobody lights a lamp and hides it under a basket; they set it up high so it lights the whole house (Matthew 5:15). When people see our good works, they think of our Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Your one tiny truth for today: when I am kind like Jesus, my light shines. Three-year-olds can’t hold a big list of teachings, but they understand a flashlight, a bowl, and hiding versus shining. Every kind act (sharing, hugging, helping, saying sorry) is “shine!” Say the tiny truth again and again.

Show Jesus with a picture and read His words yourself; no child plays Jesus. “Peacemaker” is a big word, but three-year-olds fight over toys all the time, so it’s a perfect time to practice. The salt taste test is an extra.

Only have 5 minutes?

Bring a flashlight and a bowl if you can (or skip them and use the no-supplies versions). Tell the mountain story with your phone or tablet scenes (climb, sit, smile, shine), say “Ye are the light of the world” with twinkle fingers, play Shine or Hide?, and end by naming each child: “Your light shines when you are kind.”

What to bring5 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. Check that the flashlight works. Put it and the bowl in a bag under your chair.
  2. Look at your classroom lights. If it’s safe, you can dim them for the flashlight part; if not, cup your hands around the flashlight to make it easier to see.
  3. Tuck the picture of Jesus in your scriptures so you can pull it out in the story.
  4. Open this lesson in Teach Mode so the story pictures and the Sound Board sounds are ready.

If your class is wild

  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes, and hand the child the flashlight: “Will you be my Light Helper?” A job helps a lot. If tears keep going, a parent can sit in the back.
  • Potty breaks: have another grown-up (a class helper or a parent) take the child; never be alone out of sight with a child. Keep going with everyone else.
  • Flashlights are exciting. Hold it yourself most of the time and give each child one short turn to click it on. Never shine it in eyes.
  • Use “Shine!” as your call-back: say it, and everyone freezes with twinkle fingers up high. Then say “Sit and shine,” and they sit with twinkle fingers in their laps.
  • Toy fights will happen. Stop and say, “Peacemaker time!” Help the children take turns, then cheer: “Your light is shining!”

The 25-minute plan23 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

Click! Light!

2 min

A flashlight clicking on in a dim room is instant wonder for three-year-olds.

  1. If it’s safe, dim the lights. Sit on the floor with the children. Say: “It’s dark! Can you see?”
  2. Count together, “One… two… three!” and click on the flashlight. Say: “Light!”
  3. Shine it on the ceiling, the floor, and your shoes (never in eyes). Everyone says “Ooh!”
  4. Turn the lights back on. Say: “Light helps us see. Today Jesus tells us that YOU are like a light!”
🌪️ If anyone is scared of the dark, keep the room lights on and just cup your hand around the flashlight.

Class screen: 🔦 Click! Light! · 1… 2… 3… · Ooh!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (a small one is fine)

Sunrise Hands

  1. Everyone crouches down small with fists closed. Whisper: “It’s nighttime. Shh.”
  2. Slowly stand up and open your fingers wide like the sun coming up: “Shine!”
  3. Do it again, faster and slower. Tap the magic sound on the Sound Board when the sun comes up.
  4. SAY“Light helps us see. Today Jesus tells us that YOU are like a light!”

Class screen: 🌅 Crouch small… then shine!

2. Story

Story: Jesus Teaches on the Mountain

5 min

Children climb, listen, smile, make peace and shine, so Jesus’s teachings become things they do.

  1. SAY“Everybody stand up. We’re going to climb a mountain to see Jesus!”
  2. Show each scene on your phone or tablet and read the one or two sentences. Hold up the picture of Jesus when He sits down to teach.
  3. Do each action together. Go slowly and make it big.
  4. In scene 4, choose two Peacemakers to shake hands. In scenes 5 and 6, let the Light Helper click on the flashlight.
  5. End by saying together: “I can let my light shine!”
🌪️ If they climb too wildly, say, “It’s a steep mountain! Slow, careful steps.”
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ⛰️ Climb the mountain with Jesus! · Climb · Listen · Shine!

3. Wiggle break

Up the Mountain, Down the Mountain

2 min

Burns energy by climbing up and sliding down the pretend mountain again and again.

  1. SAY“Let’s climb the mountain again!”
  2. Climb in place with big knees, then stretch up tall at the top: “We made it!”
  3. Slide down the mountain by crouching lower and lower, then roll into a little ball.
  4. Do it three times: fast, slow, and super slow like a snail.
🌪️ End on the snail round so everyone is low and calm for the next part.

Class screen: 🧗 Climb up! Slide down!

4. Object lesson

Hide It or Shine It?

2 min

Covering and uncovering a flashlight shows that Jesus wants our light to shine, not hide.

  1. Click on the flashlight and put the bowl over it. Ask: “Can we see the light?” (No!)
  2. SAY“Jesus said nobody hides a light under a basket!”
  3. Let the Bowl Helper lift the bowl: “Shine!” Everyone makes twinkle fingers.
  4. Do it a few times, giving different children a turn to lift the bowl.
  5. SAY“When we are kind, we are shining our light. Let’s not hide it!”

Class screen: 🥣 Don’t hide it! Shine it!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (a small one is fine), A bowl, pot or small basket big enough to cover the flashlight

Hands Bowl

  1. Hold one hand up in a fist: “This is my light.” Cover it with your other hand like a bowl.
  2. Ask: “Can we see the light?” (No!) Say: “Jesus said nobody hides a light!”
  3. Lift the hand bowl and open your fist into twinkle fingers: “Shine!” Everyone copies you.
  4. SAY“When we are kind, we are shining our light. Let’s not hide it!”

Class screen: ✨ Hide it? No! Shine it!

5. Scripture

Key Words: “Ye Are the Light of the World”

3 min

Six of Jesus’s words with twinkle fingers help them remember they are His little lights.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “These words are in the Bible. Jesus said them on the mountain.”
  2. Say it slowly with the motions: “Ye are” (point to a friend) “the light” (twinkle fingers up high) “of the world” (giant circle arms).
  3. Say it together three ways: a whisper, a bright shiny voice, and a tiny mouse voice.
  4. Point to each child: “You are a light! You are a light!” Say: “When I am kind like Jesus, my light shines.”

Class screen: 📖 “Ye are the light of the world” · 👉 Ye are · ✨ the light · 🌍 of the world

6. Game

Shine or Hide?

3 min

Children practice telling kind choices from unkind ones and “shine” for every kind one.

  1. SAY“I’ll say something. If it’s kind, stand up and shine with twinkle fingers. If it’s not kind, hide your face in your hands.”
  2. Try: “Sharing your crayons.” (Shine!) “Grabbing a toy.” (Hide) “Hugging a sad friend.” (Shine!) “Pushing in line.” (Hide) “Saying sorry.” (Shine!) “Helping pick up toys.” (Shine!)
  3. After a “hide” one, ask: “How can we make it shine?” Help them fix it: give the toy back, say sorry.
  4. Cheer after every shine: “Your light is shining!”
🌪️ If they love it, let a child pick the next one to act out while everyone else decides: shine or hide?

Class screen: ✨ Kind? Shine! Not kind? Hide! · ✨ shine · 🙈 hide

7. Song

Sing: “Kindness Begins with Me”

2 min

A short song about kindness sticks the tiny truth in their heads.

  1. SAY“When we are kind, our light shines! Let’s sing about kindness.”
  2. Sing “Kindness Begins with Me” (Children’s Songbook, 145). Point to yourself on “me.”
  3. Sing it once more with twinkle fingers the whole time.

Class screen: 🎵 Sing: Kindness begins with me!

8. Talk it over

Peacemaker Practice

2 min

Children practice what to do when two friends want the same thing, like Jesus taught.

  1. SAY“Jesus said peacemakers are happy. A peacemaker helps friends stop fighting.”
  2. Ask the questions one at a time. Act out the answers together. Any answer, even a point or a nod, gets a smile and a “Yes!”
💬 Ask the class
  • Two friends want the same toy. What can they do?
  • Your friend is sad. What can you do?
  • Can you show me a gentle high five?
  • How can you shine your light at home?

Class screen: 🤝 I can be a peacemaker!

9. Testimony

Little Lights

2 min

A calm, loving moment where the teacher shares a simple testimony.

  1. SAY“Let’s make our lights very soft and quiet. Put your twinkle fingers in your lap. Fold your arms.”
  2. In a soft voice, say: “Jesus loves you. When you are kind like Him, your light shines. I know that is true.”
  3. Name each child: “Grace, your light shines when you are kind. Ben, your light shines when you are kind.” (Use your own class names.)
  4. Say a short closing prayer, or help a child fold their arms while you say it.

Class screen: 🤫 My light shines when I’m kind.

10. Game

Light Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story, and every child gets to point.

  1. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture.
  2. Children point to the right picture or call it out. No teams needed: everyone wins.
  3. Twinkle fingers after every answer!
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: ✨ Point to the right picture!

11. Game

Mystery Picture: What’s Hiding?

3 minBONUS

A slow reveal keeps them guessing and names things from the story.

  1. Open Mystery Picture. Say: “Something from our story is hiding! Let’s take the squares away.”
  2. Remove one square each time a child does twinkle fingers.
  3. When they guess, act it out: mountain = climb, light = shine, bowl = hide, smile = smile!
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ❓ What’s hiding?

12. Craft

My Shining Sun

4 minBONUS

A take-home sunshine reminds them to shine their light at home.

  1. Give each child a paper and a yellow crayon. Draw a big circle for each child if they need help.
  2. Let them scribble sunshine lines all around it.
  3. SAY“Put your sunshine on the fridge. When you see it, remember: I can let my light shine!”

Class screen: ☀️ Draw a shining sun!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Optional: paper and yellow crayons for a sunshine drawing

Be the Sun

  1. Everyone makes a big circle with their arms over their head: “I am the sun!”
  2. Wiggle your fingers out wide for sunshine lines, then spin slowly.
  3. SAY“When you see the sun this week, remember: I can let my light shine!”

Story drama

Jesus Teaches on the Mountain

Matthew 5:1–16 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Everyone: People on the MountainClimb the mountain, sit down to listen, smile, make peace and shine.
  • Light HelperClicks the flashlight on when the teacher says, “Shine!”
  • Bowl HelperLifts the bowl off the flashlight so the light can shine.
  • PeacemakersTwo friends shake hands or give a gentle high five in scene 4.

Scenes

  1. ⛰️ Jesus went up a mountain

    Lots of people wanted to hear Jesus. He walked up a big mountain.

    🎬 Climb, climb, climb! Lift your knees up high.

  2. 👂 Everyone sat down to listen

    Jesus sat down, and the people sat close to Him to listen.

    🎬 Sit down and cup your hands behind your ears.

  3. 😊 Jesus taught how to be happy

    Jesus taught happy things: be kind, be gentle, and love other people.

    🎬 Show me your biggest, happiest smile!

  4. 🤝 Be a peacemaker

    When people are grumpy or fighting, Jesus wants us to help make peace.

    🎬 Shake hands with a friend, or give a gentle high five.

  5. ✨ You are a light!

    Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world.” That means you!

    🎬 Make twinkle fingers way up high: open, close, open, close.

  6. 🕯️ Don’t hide your light!

    Nobody lights a lamp and hides it under a basket! They put it up high so it shines for everyone.

    🎬 Hide your hands behind your back… then pop them out: “Shine!”

  7. ☀️ I can shine by being kind

    When we are kind and help and share, our light shines, and people think of Heavenly Father.

    🎬 Say together: “I can let my light shine!”

Key verse

Matthew 5:14 ↗
“Ye are the light of the world”
In kid words: Jesus said that you are a light for everyone!
🙌 “Ye are” = point to a friend · “the light” = twinkle fingers up high · “of the world” = make a giant circle with your arms.

More verses

Matthew 5:16 ↗
“Let your light so shine before men”
In kid words: Let your light shine so everyone can see it.
Matthew 5:9 ↗
“Blessed are the peacemakers”
In kid words: People who help others stop fighting are happy and blessed.
Matthew 5:15 ↗
“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel”
In kid words: Nobody lights a light and then hides it under a basket.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • ⛰️ Mountain
  • 💡 Light
  • 🔦 Flashlight
  • 🕯️ Candle
  • 🥣 Bowl
  • ☀️ Sun
  • ⭐ Star
  • 😊 Smile
  • 👂 Ears
  • 🤝 Friends
  • 🧂 Salt
  • 📖 Scriptures
Clues for each word
  • Mountain: Jesus climbed up and taught there
  • Light: It helps us see
  • Flashlight: Click! It shines
  • Candle: A little flame of light
  • Bowl: Don’t hide your light under it
  • Sun: The biggest light in the sky
  • Star: Twinkles at night
  • Smile: Show your happy face
  • Ears: We listen to Jesus with them
  • Friends: Peacemakers help them stop fighting
  • Salt: Makes food taste good
  • Scriptures: The holy book with Jesus’s words
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Where did Jesus go to teach?
    • A. 🏊 A pool
    • B. ⛰️ A mountain
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ⛰️ A mountain Jesus climbed a mountain. Climb, climb, climb!

  2. Jesus said you are like a…
    • A. ✨ Light
    • B. 🥔 Potato
    • C. 🧦 Sock
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ✨ Light Ye are the light of the world! Twinkle fingers!

  3. Should we hide our light under a bowl?
    • A. 🥣 Yes, hide it
    • B. ✨ No, shine it!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ✨ No, shine it! Don’t hide it! Let it shine!

  4. Which one makes your light shine?
    • A. 😠 Pushing
    • B. 🤗 Hugging a sad friend
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🤗 Hugging a sad friend Being kind makes your light shine!

  5. Two friends want one toy. What can they do?
    • A. 🤝 Take turns
    • B. 😭 Grab and cry
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🤝 Take turns Taking turns is being a peacemaker!

  6. What do we listen with?
    • A. 👃 Our nose
    • B. 🦶 Our feet
    • C. 👂 Our ears
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 👂 Our ears The people listened to Jesus with their ears.

  7. Which one gives light?
    • A. 🔦 A flashlight
    • B. 🥄 A spoon
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🔦 A flashlight Click! A flashlight shines, and so can you.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Kindness Begins with Me Children’s Songbook, p. 145

    Short and simple: being kind is how our light shines. Find it ↗

  • Jesus Said Love Everyone Children’s Songbook, p. 61

    Jesus taught on the mountain to love everyone, even people who are unkind. Find it ↗

  • I’m Trying to Be like Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 78

    Hum or sing the chorus softly during the testimony. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Light Spotters

Every time someone in your family is kind this week, do twinkle fingers and say, “Your light is shining!”

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned that Jesus taught on a mountain and said, “Ye are the light of the world.” Our tiny truth: when I am kind like Jesus, my light shines. Ask your child: “Should we hide our light under a bowl?” (No!) Then play Light Spotters: do twinkle fingers each time someone is kind.

📝 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?

🧂 Salty Crackers · 3 min

  1. Check allergies and your ward’s policy first. Let each child taste a plain cracker, then one with a tiny pinch of salt.
  2. Ask: “Which one tastes yummier?” Say: “Jesus said we are like salt (Matthew 5:13). Salt makes food better, and kind people make the world better!”
  3. Without snacks: pretend to sprinkle salt on everyone’s head, and they pop up with a big smile.

🚶 Light Parade · 2 min

  1. Line up and march around the room with twinkle fingers held high.
  2. Stop at each child and say one kind thing they did today: “Mia shared! Shine!”
  3. SAY“Our lights shine when we are kind!”

💛 Love Even Grumpy People · 2 min

  1. SAY“Jesus said to love everyone, even people who are grumpy or unkind to us” (Matthew 5:44).
  2. Make a grumpy face, then a kind face. Practice a kind answer to a grumpy friend: “Do you want to play with me?”
  3. SAY“Being kind to grumpy people makes our light shine extra bright!”

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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