Gospel Sparks Join the beta

Jesus Is My Safe Place

A surprise umbrella, a noisy pretend storm, a run to the shelter, and a dry desert that bursts into flowers

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • Week 39
  • 📅 Sunday, September 27, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I feel scared, Jesus can help me feel safe.

I can remember that Jesus is my safe place when I feel scared or sad.

Study it yourself firstRead Isaiah 13–14; 22; 24–30; 35 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Isaiah 13–14; 22; 24–30; 35)
Know the chapters

Isaiah wrote about 700 years before Jesus was born, when big, proud nations were frightening Israel. These chapters warn that proud Babylon will fall (Isaiah 13–14) and even describe Lucifer, who tried to lift himself above God and fell (14:12–15). Then Isaiah looks ahead with hope: the Lord is “a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat” (25:4); He will swallow up death and wipe away tears (25:8); He keeps in perfect peace those who trust Him (26:3); and one day the desert will “blossom as the rose” (35:1). The Lord speaking in Isaiah is Jehovah, who is Jesus Christ.

For three-year-olds, teach one tiny truth: Jesus is my safe place. Little ones know exactly what scary feels like: thunder at night, a barking dog, a dark hallway, the moment Mom leaves the classroom door. A roof in the rain and cool shade on a hot day are pictures they can feel with their whole bodies. Say “Jesus is my safe place!” many, many times, always with the arms-over-your-head roof, until they say it before you do.

Older classes this week learn about Isaiah 29, where Isaiah saw a sealed book and “a marvellous work and a wonder,” which the Church teaches points to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 27; Joseph Smith—History 1:63–65). Isaiah 28:10 also reminds us that we learn “line upon line,” a little at a time, which is exactly how Sunbeams learn. For your class, keep it simple: Jesus loves them, keeps them safe, and can turn sad, dry places into beautiful ones.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab an umbrella and a blanket on your way out the door. Open the umbrella while your phone or tablet plays rain, swipe through the picture story, teach “Jesus is my safe place!” with the arms-over-your-head roof, and play Run to the Shelter. End with a quiet testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: make roofs with your arms, and your own arms become the shelter.

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. Keep the umbrella closed and hidden in your bag until the hook.
  2. Open the Sound Board on your phone or tablet and find the rain and thunder buttons. Turn the volume down low so the thunder is fun, not frightening.
  3. Pick your shelter spot: two chairs with the blanket draped across them, or ask the second adult to hold the other end of the blanket up high with you.
  4. Practice the key verse motions once in front of a mirror. It helps nerves!
  5. If you don’t know the tune of “My Heavenly Father Loves Me,” play it once in the Gospel Library app.

If your class is wild

  • Some three-year-olds are truly afraid of thunder. Keep the storm sounds quiet, smile a lot, and let a worried child hold your hand or sit on your lap during the storm scenes. That is the lesson!
  • Teach an attention signal in the first minute: you say “Pitter-patter…” and they answer “Jesus is my safe place!” with arms over their heads, then sit on their bottoms. Use it all lesson.
  • Some little ones don’t like being under a blanket. Let them stand at the edge and touch the blanket instead. Nobody has to go under.
  • Tears at the door and potty breaks happen. Give a teary child a job (“Can you hold the umbrella for me?”) and follow your ward’s policy for potty trips. The Church asks for two adults with children, so never leave the class alone or go off alone with one child.
  • Walking feet during Run to the Shelter! Say “Tiptoe to the shelter!” instead of “Run!” and play in a clear part of the room.

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

Pitter-Patter, Umbrella!

3 min

A surprise umbrella and rain sounds grab wandering attention and give little ones a picture of a safe place in a storm.

  1. Tap the rain button on the Sound Board. Whisper: “Shhh… what’s that sound?” (Rain!)
  2. Show the children how to tap their fingers on their legs: pitter-patter, pitter-patter.
  3. SAY“Oh no! I don’t want to get wet! What can keep us dry?” Pull out the umbrella and pop it open: “Ta-da!”
  4. Hold the umbrella over two or three children at a time while everyone makes rain. Ask: “Are you dry? Are you safe?”
  5. Close the umbrella. Say: “Today we’ll learn that Jesus is like a safe place when we feel scared.”
🌪️ If everyone crowds under the umbrella at once, say: “Umbrella turns! Sit on your spot, and it will come to you.”
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ☂️ Pitter-patter! What keeps us dry?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: An umbrella (any size; a small kid umbrella is perfect)

Pitter-Patter, Arm Roof!

  1. Tap the rain button on the Sound Board. Whisper: “Shhh… what’s that sound?” (Rain!)
  2. Show the children how to tap their fingers on their legs: pitter-patter, pitter-patter.
  3. SAY“Oh no! I don’t want to get wet! I know! I’ll make a roof!” Put your arms over your head like a pointy roof.
  4. Everyone makes an arm roof. Ask: “Are you dry? Are you safe?” (Yes!)
  5. SAY“Today we’ll learn that Jesus is like a safe place when we feel scared.”

Class screen: 🙆 Make a roof! Stay dry!

2. Story

Picture Story: Safe in the Storm

5 min

Eight short picture scenes with an action in each let wiggly Sunbeams feel the storm, the shelter, and the flowers while they hear that Jesus keeps them safe.

  1. Sit close together on the floor. Pick an Isaiah’s Helper, one or two Thunder Stompers, and a Shade Tree. Everyone else is a Rain Maker and a Flower Sprout.
  2. Swipe through the scenes on your phone or tablet. Read the one or two sentences, then do the action together.
  3. Keep the thunder sound quiet. If someone looks worried, scoot close and say, “We’re safe. It’s just pretend.”
  4. After every scene or two, make an arm roof together and say, “Jesus is my safe place!”
  5. If a child wanders off, call softly, “Come back to the safe place!” and wave them back to the group.
🌪️ Sit on the floor with the children instead of on a chair. They stay closer when you are at their level.

Class screen: ⛈️ Story time! Here comes the storm!

3. Wiggle break

Storm and Sunshine

2 min

Three-year-olds need to move after a story, and weather moves keep the storm and the flowers fresh in their minds.

  1. SAY“Everybody stand up! Let’s make weather!”
  2. Call out each one and do it together: Rain (wiggle your fingers down), Wind (sway side to side), Thunder (stomp, stomp!), Sunshine (arms up in a big circle).
  3. Mix up the order and go faster, then slower.
  4. End with Flowers: crouch down tiny like a seed, then grow, grow, grow and bloom! Say: “Jesus makes the desert bloom!”
  5. Sit down like a sleepy flower closing up for the night.

Class screen: 🌦️ Rain! Wind! Thunder! Sunshine! · 🌧️ Wiggle fingers · 💨 Sway · ⚡ Stomp! · ☀️ Big circle · 🌹 Bloom!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Isaiah 25:4

3 min

A few words with big motions, repeated many times, is how three-year-olds carry a scripture home.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “This is the Bible. It has Heavenly Father’s and Jesus’s words in it. Listen!”
  2. Read Isaiah 25:4 slowly: “a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat.” Say: “A refuge is a safe place. That means Jesus is my safe place!”
  3. Teach the motions (see Key Verse) one at a time. Then say it all together: “Jesus is my safe place!”
  4. Say it three ways: a teeny raindrop whisper, a regular voice, and a big thunder voice.
  5. Go around the circle. Say each child’s name, and that child makes an arm roof and says it with you.

Class screen: 📖 Jesus is my safe place! · ☝️ Jesus · 👉 is my · 🙆 safe · 🤗 place!

5. Game

Run to the Shelter!

3 min

Hurrying to a cozy shelter when the pretend storm comes lets children feel with their bodies what it means to have a safe place.

  1. Drape the blanket over two chairs, or hold it up high with the second adult, to make a shelter.
  2. SAY“It’s a sunny day! Let’s tiptoe and play!” Everyone tiptoes around the room, picking pretend flowers.
  3. Tap the thunder button on the Sound Board and call: “Storm’s coming! Walking feet to the shelter!”
  4. Under the shelter, everyone makes an arm roof and says, “Jesus is my safe place!”
  5. SAY“The sun came back!” and play again. Play four or five rounds, letting a different child call “Storm’s coming!” each time.
🌪️ If kids start diving or pushing under the blanket, freeze the game: “Shelters are for gentle friends.” Let the gentlest child go in first next round.

Class screen: ⛺ Storm’s coming! To the shelter!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A blanket, sheet, or big beach towel to be the storm shelter

Huddle Under the Big Roof!

  1. Kneel in a clear spot and stretch your arms out wide like a big roof. Say: “This is our shelter!”
  2. SAY“It’s a sunny day! Let’s tiptoe and play!” Everyone tiptoes around the room, picking pretend flowers.
  3. Tap the thunder button on the Sound Board and call: “Storm’s coming! Walking feet to the shelter!” Everyone huddles close under your arms.
  4. Together, make arm roofs and say, “Jesus is my safe place!”
  5. SAY“The sun came back!” and play again. Let a different child call “Storm’s coming!” each round.

Class screen: 🙆 Storm’s coming! Huddle up!

6. Talk it over

Show Me!

2 min

Sunbeams answer best with faces and bodies, so every question is something they can show.

  1. Sit in a circle. Show one question at a time on your phone or tablet and read it out loud.
  2. Let them answer with faces, motions, and pointing. Share your own quick answer too, like “I feel scared when I hear a loud noise at night.”
💬 Ask the class
  • Show me your scared face! What makes you feel scared?
  • When you feel scared, you can pray to Heavenly Father. Show me how you fold your arms!
  • Who is your safe place? Make an arm roof!
  • Show me how you wipe away a tear and smile.

Class screen: 💬 Show me!

7. Song

Desert Flowers

2 min

Growing slowly into flowers while a soft song plays brings the energy down before the testimony and shows that Jesus makes dry places beautiful.

  1. SAY“Let’s be tiny seeds in a dry, dusty desert.” Everyone curls up small on the floor.
  2. Walk around and gently tap each child’s back with your fingertips, like soft rain. Whisper their name.
  3. Sing “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228) slowly while the seeds grow a little bit at a time.
  4. By the end of the song, everyone is a flower with open hands. Whisper: “Jesus makes the desert bloom. He makes sad things happy again.”

Class screen: 🌹 Grow, little flowers, grow!

8. Testimony

Safe with Jesus

2 min

A quiet moment with a picture of the Savior helps each child feel that Jesus loves them and keeps them safe.

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Hold up the picture of Jesus Christ. Say: “This is Jesus.”
  2. Walk the picture around the circle. Each child may gently wave or touch it and whisper, “Jesus is my safe place.”
  3. Share one simple sentence: “When I feel scared, I pray, and Jesus helps me feel safe. I know He loves you.”
  4. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays, a few at a time.

Class screen: 🙏 Jesus loves me and keeps me safe. · Jesus is my safe place

No supplies? Do this instead

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

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Say: “Let’s think about Jesus. Close your eyes and put your hands on your heart.”
  2. Whisper: “Jesus loves you. When you feel scared, He can help you feel safe.”
  3. Go around the circle. Each child makes a quiet arm roof and whispers, “Jesus is my safe place.”
  4. Share one simple sentence: “When I feel scared, I pray, and Jesus helps me feel safe. I know He loves you.”
  5. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays, a few at a time.
9. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

A peekaboo picture reveal reviews the lesson if you have a few extra minutes.

  1. Tap Mystery Picture. A picture from today’s lesson is hiding behind tiles.
  2. Ask a quick “show me”: “Show me rain fingers!” “Show me an arm roof!” After each one, tap away a tile.
  3. Let everyone shout a guess. When the picture is uncovered, act it out together.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🖼️ What’s hiding?

Story drama

Safe in the Storm

Isaiah 25:4, 8; 35:1 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Isaiah’s HelperHolds up a pretend scroll at the start and shouts, “Happy news!”
  • Rain MakersEveryone! Tap your fingers on your legs, pitter-patter, whenever it rains.
  • Thunder StompersOne or two children stomp their feet, BOOM, in the thunder scene.
  • Shade TreeOne child stands tall with arms out like branches in scene 5 while friends sit in the cool shade.
  • Flower SproutsEveryone! Curl up small like seeds, then grow tall and open your hands like flowers.

Scenes

  1. 🧔📜 Isaiah had happy news about Jesus!

    Long ago, a prophet named Isaiah wrote happy news about Jesus. Isaiah’s Helper, hold up the scroll!

    🎬 Isaiah’s Helper holds up a pretend scroll. Everyone shouts, “Happy news!”

  2. 🌧️💨 Uh-oh! Here comes the rain!

    Isaiah talked about a big storm. Pitter-patter went the rain, and whoosh went the wind!

    🎬 Rain Makers tap fingers on their legs. Then everyone sways like trees in the wind.

  3. ⚡😟 BOOM! Storms can feel scary

    BOOM went the thunder! Storms can feel scary. Sometimes we feel scared too.

    🎬 Thunder Stompers stomp. Everyone makes a scared face, then gives themselves a hug.

  4. ☂️🙂 Jesus is my safe place!

    Isaiah said the Lord is like a safe place in a storm, like a strong roof over our heads. Jesus keeps us safe!

    🎬 Everyone makes a roof with their arms over their heads and says, “Jesus is my safe place!”

  5. ☀️🌳 Cool shade on a hot, hot day

    On a hot, sunny day, a big tree makes cool shade. Isaiah said the Lord is like cool shade for us too.

    🎬 Everyone fans their face: “Phew, so hot!” The Shade Tree stands tall, and friends sit in its shade: “Ahhh.”

  6. 😢🤲 Jesus can wipe away our tears

    Isaiah said the Lord will wipe away tears. When we feel sad, Jesus loves us and helps us.

    🎬 Trace a pretend tear down your cheek with one finger. Gently wipe it away and smile.

  7. 🏜️🌹 The dry desert blooms with flowers!

    Isaiah said even a dry, dusty desert will be happy and grow beautiful flowers. Jesus makes things beautiful!

    🎬 Flower Sprouts curl up small like seeds, then slowly grow tall and open their hands like flowers.

  8. ❤️🙋 Jesus keeps me safe!

    Jesus loves every one of you. When you feel scared, you can remember: Jesus is my safe place!

    🎬 Say each child’s name. That child makes an arm roof and shouts, “Jesus is my safe place!”

Key verse

Isaiah 25:4 ↗
“a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat”
In kid words: Jesus is my safe place!
🙌 “Jesus” = point up high · “is my” = point to yourself · “safe” = make a roof with your arms over your head · “place!” = give yourself a great big hug

More verses

Isaiah 25:8 ↗
“the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces”
In kid words: Jesus can wipe away my tears.
Isaiah 26:3 ↗
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace”
In kid words: Jesus helps me feel calm inside.
Isaiah 35:1 ↗
“the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose”
In kid words: Jesus can make dry places grow pretty flowers!

Forehead Guess words14 words

  • ☂️ Umbrella
  • 🌧️ Rain
  • ⚡ Thunder
  • 💨 Wind
  • ☀️ Sun
  • 🌳 Tree
  • ⛺ Tent
  • 🌹 Flower
  • 🏜️ Desert
  • 🧔 Isaiah
  • 📜 Scroll
  • 😢 Tears
  • 🤗 Hug
  • 🏠 House
Clues for each word
  • Umbrella: Keeps you dry in the rain
  • Rain: Pitter-patter! Wiggle your fingers.
  • Thunder: BOOM! Stomp your feet.
  • Wind: Whoosh! Sway like a tree.
  • Sun: Big, bright, and hot in the sky
  • Tree: Makes cool shade on a hot day
  • Tent: A cozy shelter to hide in
  • Flower: Grows up tall and blooms
  • Desert: Dry, dusty sand everywhere
  • Isaiah: The prophet who wrote happy news
  • Scroll: Rolled-up paper Isaiah wrote on
  • Tears: Drip down your cheeks when you’re sad
  • Hug: Wrap your arms around someone you love
  • House: Has a roof to keep us safe
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. What keeps us dry in the rain?
    • A. ☂️ Umbrella
    • B. 🍌 Banana
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ☂️ Umbrella Pop! An umbrella is a little safe place in the rain.

  2. Which one makes a big BOOM?
    • A. 🦋 Butterfly
    • B. ⚡ Thunder
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ⚡ Thunder Stomp, stomp! Thunder is loud, but Jesus helps us feel safe.

  3. Who is our safe place?
    • A. 🦖 A dinosaur
    • B. ❤️ Jesus
    • C. 🚂 A train
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ❤️ Jesus Isaiah 25:4. Jesus is like a safe place in a storm. Make an arm roof!

  4. What gives cool shade on a hot day?
    • A. 🌳 A tree
    • B. 🔥 A fire
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🌳 A tree Ahhh, cool shade! Isaiah said the Lord is like shade from the heat.

  5. What grew in the dry desert?
    • A. 🧦 Socks
    • B. 🍩 Donuts
    • C. 🌹 Flowers
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🌹 Flowers Isaiah 35:1. The desert will bloom with beautiful flowers!

  6. Who can wipe away our tears?
    • A. ❤️ Jesus
    • B. 🐸 A frog
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ❤️ Jesus Isaiah 25:8. Jesus loves us when we’re sad. Wipe, wipe, smile!

  7. When we feel scared, we can…
    • A. 🙏 Pray
    • B. 🙈 Hide forever
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 Pray We can pray to Heavenly Father any time, and Jesus helps us feel safe.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • My Heavenly Father Loves Me Children’s Songbook, p. 228

    Sing it slowly while the tiny desert seeds grow into flowers, right before the testimony. Find it ↗

  • The Wise Man and the Foolish Man Children’s Songbook, p. 281

    A stormy action song if your class needs a second wiggle. The house built on the rock stays safe. Find it ↗

  • A Child’s Prayer Children’s Songbook, p. 12

    A gentle reminder that we can pray whenever we feel scared. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

My Arm Roof

This week, whenever you feel scared, like hearing thunder or in the dark at night, make a roof with your arms, say “Jesus is my safe place!” and say a little prayer with Mom or Dad.

Text the parents

Today your Sunbeam learned from Isaiah that Jesus is like a safe place in a storm (Isaiah 25:4). We made rain sounds, hurried to a cozy shelter when the pretend thunder came, and grew like flowers in the desert (Isaiah 35:1). Ask your child: “Who is your safe place?” and watch for the arm roof! Next time they feel scared, try it together with a little prayer.

📝 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?

🖍️ Make the Desert Bloom · 5 min

  1. Before class, color the bottom of a paper brown or tan for each child and write the child’s name on it. Say: “This is a dry, dusty desert.”
  2. Read part of Isaiah 35:1: “the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.”
  3. Children draw flowers all over their desert with crayons: big circles, dots, and squiggles all count!
  4. SAY“Jesus makes dry places beautiful, and He makes sad hearts happy again.”

🧱 Line upon Line Tower · 3 min

  1. Bring some blocks or paper cups. Let each child add one to a tower, one at a time.
  2. SAY“Isaiah said we learn ‘line upon line’ (Isaiah 28:10). That means a little at a time, like our tower!”
  3. When the tower is tall, cheer: “Every Sunday we learn a little more about Jesus!”

🌸 Perfect Peace Breaths · 2 min

  1. SAY“Isaiah said the Lord keeps us in perfect peace when we trust Him (Isaiah 26:3). Peace means calm inside.”
  2. Hold up a pretend flower. Smell the flower (breathe in slowly through your nose).
  3. Blow the dandelion fluff (breathe out slowly). Do it three times.
  4. Whisper: “When I feel scared, I can take calm breaths and think about Jesus.”

🧥 A Strong, Sure Hook · 2 min

  1. Hang a jacket or bag on a sturdy hook or doorknob. Say: “This hook is strong. It holds my jacket and doesn’t let it fall!”
  2. SAY“Isaiah talked about a nail fastened in a sure place (Isaiah 22:23), something strong we can count on.”
  3. SAY“Jesus is strong and sure. We can always count on Him!” Let each child hang the jacket up once.

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 Sunbeams lessons