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Heavenly Father Knew Me

Someone special in a box, a picture story of baby Jeremiah growing up brave, and squishy clay that can start again

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • Week 43
  • 📅 Sunday, October 25, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father knew me and loved me before I was born.

I can remember that Heavenly Father knows me and loves me.

Study it yourself firstRead Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20)
Know the chapters

Jeremiah was a prophet in Jerusalem about 600 years before Jesus was born. He lived at the same time as Lehi. When the Lord called him, He said, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.” That’s Jeremiah 1:5. Jeremiah answered, “I am a child.” But the Lord told him not to be afraid, “for I am with thee.” Then He touched Jeremiah’s mouth and put His words there. That’s 1:6–9. Later, in 18:1–6, the Lord sent Jeremiah to watch a potter reshape a lumpy pot into a new one.

Jeremiah 1:5 teaches a truth that’s precious to children. Before we came to earth, we lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit children. He knows each of us personally. See Abraham 3:22–23. In Jeremiah, “the LORD” who speaks is Jehovah, Jesus Christ, who does the Father’s will. With Sunbeams, just say Heavenly Father knew them, like the manual does. For three-year-olds, teach one tiny truth: Heavenly Father knew me before I was born. They love hearing about when they were tiny babies. Keep baby talk general and warm. Some children are adopted, in foster care, or in families with hard stories. Don’t ask about “your mom’s tummy,” and don’t ask for baby pictures.

Other pictures from these chapters fit the extras. In 16:16, the Lord promised to send “many fishers” to gather His children. That’s what missionaries do. In 17:7–8, a person who trusts the Lord is like a tree planted by the waters. Soft clay in the potter’s hands in 18:6 shows that Heavenly Father can help us grow. It also shows it’s okay to squish and try again.

Only have 5 minutes?

Put a small mirror in a box or gift bag and grab some play dough. Let each child peek at the “someone special” in the box. Tell the picture story of Jeremiah, flexing “Brave!” at the big moments. Teach “Heavenly Father knew me before I was born!” and squish clay like a potter. End by saying each child’s name and one thing you love about them. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” Name each child as “someone special,” and let every child be their own squishy clay.

What to bring3 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. Tape the mirror in the bottom of the box. A child who peeks in should see their own face. Close the lid.
  2. Roll the play dough into small balls, one per child. Keep them in a zip bag until the clay activity.
  3. Think of one kind thing you’ve noticed about each child for the testimony. Maybe a big smile, great sharing, or a gentle voice.

If your class is wild

  • Waiting for a turn to peek is hard at three. Everyone waiting drums on their knees. The quietest drummer peeks next.
  • Play dough goes in mouths at this age. Sit where you can see every child. Collect it in the zip bag as soon as the activity ends.
  • Tears when a parent leaves? Let the parent stay a few minutes. Then invite the child to peek in the box first. Curiosity beats crying.
  • The “Brave!” muscle arms make a great reset. When the room drifts, flex and wait for everyone to flex back.
  • 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.

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

Someone Special in the Box

3 min

Seeing their own face in the “someone special” box is a classic Primary surprise that tells each child they are known and loved.

  1. SAY“Inside this box is someone Heavenly Father knows and loves very much. Shh! Don’t tell who you see!”
  2. Let each child peek in, one at a time. Whisper, “Who is it?” They’ll see their own face!
  3. SAY“It was YOU! Heavenly Father knows you and loves you. He knew you even before you were born.”
  4. SAY“Today we’ll learn about Jeremiah. Heavenly Father knew him before he was born too.”
🌪️ Waiting children drum on their knees. The quietest drummer peeks next.

Class screen: 🎁 Who is inside the special box?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A box or gift bag with a small unbreakable mirror inside (a plastic toy mirror or compact works)

Someone Special Is Here

  1. SAY“I’m thinking of someone Heavenly Father knows and loves very much. Who could it be?”
  2. Look slowly around the circle, then point. Say, “It’s Emma!” Everyone waves, “Hi, Emma!” Do it for every child.
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father knows every one of you. He knew you even before you were born.”
  4. SAY“Today we’ll learn about Jeremiah. Heavenly Father knew him before he was born too.”

Class screen: 🌟 Someone special is here!

2. Story

Picture Story: Heavenly Father Knew Jeremiah

6 min

Seven short scenes follow Jeremiah from heaven to baby to brave prophet, and everyone joins in from their spots.

  1. SAY“Let’s look at the pictures and meet a boy named Jeremiah. When he’s brave, show me your muscles!”
  2. Practice once. Muscle arms: “Brave!”
  3. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. Do the motion together when one shows.
  4. After scene 7, say together, “Heavenly Father knew me before I was born!”
🌪️ If a child pops up, whisper, “Brave prophets sit tall.” Flex your muscles. They’ll flex back from their spot.

Class screen: 👶 Baby Jeremiah grows up! · 💪 Brave!

3. Wiggle break

Tiny Baby, Big Kid

2 min

Growing from baby to big kid gets wiggles out and shows how Jeremiah grew.

  1. SAY“Everybody be a tiny baby!”
  2. Curl up and wiggle your arms and legs, “Waaah!” Now crawl. Toddle with wobbly steps. Walk. Run in place. Now JUMP!
  3. Sit down and say, “Heavenly Father knew you when you were tiny. And He knows you now!”

Class screen: 🌱 Baby, crawl, walk, run, JUMP! · 👶 Waaah! · 🚼 Crawl · 🚶 Walk · 🏃 Run · 🦘 Jump!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Jeremiah 1:5

3 min

Three simple motions help Sunbeams remember that Heavenly Father knew them before they were born.

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father said something special to Jeremiah. It’s true for you too! Listen!”
  2. Hold up your scriptures. Read, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.”
  3. SAY“That means Heavenly Father knew you before you were born!”
  4. Teach the Key Verse motions one at a time. Then say together, “Heavenly Father knew me before I was born!”
  5. Say it three ways: a tiny baby voice, a regular voice, then a big brave Jeremiah voice.

Class screen: 📖 Heavenly Father knew me! · ☝️ Heavenly Father · 😊 knew me · 👶 before I was born

5. Object lesson

Squishy Clay

5 min

Squishing and reshaping play dough shows that Heavenly Father helps us grow, and we can always try again.

  1. SAY“Jeremiah watched a potter make pots out of clay. Let’s be potters!”
  2. Give each child a ball of play dough. Squish it flat! Roll a snake! Push a thumb in the middle to make a little bowl.
  3. Say, “Oops, is it lumpy? That’s okay! The potter squished his pot and made it again.”
  4. Squish and try again together. Then say, “Heavenly Father helps you grow, like a potter shapes clay. When we make a mistake, we can try again.”
  5. Collect the dough in the zip bag.
🌪️ Hand out play dough only to kids sitting down. Anyone who throws it watches for one turn.

Class screen: 🏺 Squish, roll, and try again!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Play dough, a small ball for each child (store-bought play dough contains wheat, so check for gluten allergies)

Be the Clay

  1. SAY“Jeremiah watched a potter make pots out of clay. Let’s pretend WE are the clay!”
  2. Curl up into a round ball. Stretch out like a snake. Now sit up tall and round your arms like a big pot.
  3. Say, “Oops! A lumpy pot!”
  4. Everyone makes a silly lumpy shape. Say, “That’s okay! Squish back into a ball and try again!”
  5. Say, “Heavenly Father knows you. He helps you grow, like a potter shapes clay. When we make a mistake, we can try again.”

Class screen: 🏺 You are the squishy clay!

6. Testimony

Heavenly Father Knows You

3 min

A quiet, personal moment with each child makes the tiny truth real: they are known and loved.

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father knew you before you were born. He knows your name. And He loves you so much.”
  2. Lower your voice and go around the circle. Look at each child. Say their name and one kind thing, like “Emma, you have a happy smile.”
  3. Share your testimony, “I know Heavenly Father knows me and loves me.”
  4. Invite them to try Mirror, Mirror this week. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays.

Class screen: 💛 Heavenly Father knows and loves you. · Before you were born

7. Game

Name Spinner Cheer

2 minBONUS

Hearing their own name cheered helps each child feel known, just like Heavenly Father knows them.

  1. SAY“Let’s see who Heavenly Father knows!”
  2. Open Name Spinner. When it lands on a child, everyone cheers, “Heavenly Father knows Emma!” Emma waves back.
  3. Keep spinning until every child has had a cheer.
🌪️ No phone or tablet? Point to each child in turn and cheer for them.
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🎡 Heavenly Father knows YOU!

8. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

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

  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 a tiny baby!” 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

Heavenly Father Knew Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:4–9 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Baby HelperSits by you and holds up the baby doll or baby photo at scene 2.
  • Sound HelperTaps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet with your help.

Scenes

  1. ☁️💛 Jeremiah lived in heaven first

    Before Jeremiah was born, he lived in heaven with Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father knew him and loved him.

    🙌

  2. 👶🍼 Baby Jeremiah was born

    Then Jeremiah was born as a tiny baby. Waaah!

    🙌 Rock a pretend baby: “Shh, shh.”

  3. 🧒⬆️ Jeremiah grew bigger and bigger

    Jeremiah grew bigger… and bigger… and bigger!

    🙌

  4. 🗣️✨ The Lord had a big job for him

    The Lord told Jeremiah, “I knew you before you were born. I want you to be a prophet and tell people about Me.”

    🙌

  5. 😟🤏 “But I’m just little!”

    Jeremiah said, “But I am only a child!” He felt too small for such a big job.

    🙌

  6. 🤝💛 “Don’t be afraid. I am with you.”

    The Lord said, “Don’t be afraid. I am with you.” He touched Jeremiah’s mouth and gave him the words to say.

    🙌 Muscle arms: “Brave!”

  7. 📢😊 Jeremiah told everyone about Heavenly Father

    Jeremiah was brave. He told everyone about Heavenly Father, just like prophets do today.

    🙌 Point to yourself: “Me too!” Then muscle arms: “Brave!”

Key verse

Jeremiah 1:5 ↗
“Before I formed thee … I knew thee”
In kid words: Heavenly Father knew me before I was born!
🙌 “Heavenly Father” = point up high · “knew me” = point to yourself and smile big · “before I was born” = rock a tiny baby in your arms

More verses

Jeremiah 1:8 ↗
“Be not afraid … for I am with thee”
In kid words: Don’t be scared. Heavenly Father is with you.
Jeremiah 1:9 ↗
“Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth”
In kid words: Heavenly Father helped Jeremiah know what to say.
Jeremiah 18:6 ↗
“as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand”
In kid words: Heavenly Father can help us grow, like a potter shapes clay.
Jeremiah 17:8 ↗
“he shall be as a tree planted by the waters”
In kid words: People who trust Heavenly Father grow strong, like a tree by a river.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 👶 Baby
  • ☁️ Heaven
  • 🧒 Jeremiah
  • 👄 Mouth
  • 🏺 Pot
  • 🤲 Hands
  • 🪞 Mirror
  • ❤️ Heart
  • 🌳 Tree
  • 🏞️ River
  • 🐟 Fish
  • 🧔 Prophet
Clues for each word
  • Baby: Everyone was one once. Waaah!
  • Heaven: Where we lived with Heavenly Father
  • Jeremiah: He said, “But I’m just little!”
  • Mouth: The Lord gave Jeremiah words to say
  • Pot: A potter makes it out of clay
  • Hands: A potter shapes clay with them
  • Mirror: Look! You see yourself!
  • Heart: It means love
  • Tree: Grows strong by the river
  • River: Water that helps the tree grow
  • Fish: Swims in the water. Blub, blub!
  • Prophet: Tells us what Heavenly Father wants
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Who knew you before you were born?
    • A. 🦖 A dinosaur
    • B. 💛 Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💛 Heavenly Father Jeremiah 1:5. Heavenly Father knew you and loved you before you were born.

  2. Which one is a tiny baby?
    • A. 👶 Baby
    • B. 🐘 Elephant
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👶 Baby Jeremiah was a tiny baby once, and so were you!

  3. Jeremiah said, “But I’m just…”
    • A. 🤏 Little!
    • B. 🦒 Tall!
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🤏 Little! Jeremiah 1:6. He felt too small, but the Lord helped him.

  4. What did the Lord tell Jeremiah?
    • A. 😨 Be scared!
    • B. 💪 Don’t be afraid!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💪 Don’t be afraid! Jeremiah 1:8. The Lord said, “I am with you.”

  5. What does a potter make out of clay?
    • A. 🚲 A bike
    • B. 🏺 A pot
    • C. 🍌 A banana
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🏺 A pot Jeremiah 18. When the pot got lumpy, the potter made it again!

  6. Where did we live before we were born?
    • A. ☁️ With Heavenly Father
    • B. 🌊 In the ocean
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ☁️ With Heavenly Father We lived in heaven with Heavenly Father. He knows us all!

  7. Who knows your name?
    • A. 🌵 A cactus
    • B. 🧦 A sock
    • C. 💛 Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 💛 Heavenly Father Heavenly Father knows your name, and He loves you.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    Teaches that we lived with Heavenly Father before we were born. Hum it softly before the testimony. Find it ↗

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

    The song most Sunbeams already know. Use it if “I Lived in Heaven” is new to them. Find it ↗

  • Once There Was a Snowman Children’s Songbook, p. 249

    Grow tall, then melt small: a spare wiggle after baby Jeremiah grows up. Find it ↗

  • I Hope They Call Me on a Mission Children’s Songbook, p. 169

    Pairs with the Fishing for Friends extra (Jeremiah 16:16). Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Mirror, Mirror

Each morning, look in a mirror with Mom or Dad. Say, “Heavenly Father knew me before I was born, and He loves me!” Then give your mirror self a big smile.

Text the parents

Today your Sunbeam learned from Jeremiah 1:5 that Heavenly Father knew them before they were born. We peeked at “someone special” in a box. It was them! We heard how baby Jeremiah grew up to be a brave prophet, and we made muscle arms and said “Brave!” Then we squished clay like the potter in Jeremiah 18. Ask your child, “Who knew you before you were born?” Tell them one thing you loved about them when they were little.

📝 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?

🎣 Fishing for Friends · 3 min

  1. Open to Jeremiah 16:16. Say, “Heavenly Father said He’d send fishers to find His children. Missionaries help people come to Jesus!”
  2. Cast a pretend fishing line. Say, “I’m fishing for… Jack!” Jack takes your hand and becomes a fisher too.
  3. Jack casts for the next friend. Keep going until everyone’s holding hands in a long line.
  4. Sing “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission,” Children’s Songbook page 169.

🌳 Tree by the River · 2 min

  1. Open to Jeremiah 17:8. Say, “Jeremiah said people who trust Heavenly Father are like a tree growing by a river.”
  2. Everyone plants their feet like roots and stretches their arms like branches.
  3. Say, “Here comes the wind!” Sway, but keep your roots planted. Then say, “Here comes the sun!” Stretch taller.

🚼 Baby Steps Parade · 2 min

  1. Line up for a parade around the room. Start as crawling babies. Then be toddlers. Then be big marching kids.
  2. At each stop, shout, “Heavenly Father knows me!”
  3. End sitting on your spots, rocking a pretend baby.

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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