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Daniel Prayed

Daniel kneels by his window to pray, and Heavenly Father keeps him safe with the sleepy lions

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • Week 46
  • 📅 Sunday, November 15, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

I can pray to Heavenly Father anytime, just like Daniel.

I can pray to Heavenly Father.

Study it yourself firstRead Daniel 1–7 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Daniel 1–7)
Know the chapters

Daniel was a young man from Israel who was taken far away to Babylon. He stayed true to Heavenly Father there. In Daniel 1, he and his friends ate simple, healthy food instead of the king’s rich food. In chapter 2, Daniel explained the king’s dream. In chapter 3, three friends were saved in a fiery furnace. In chapter 6, Daniel was kept safe in a den of lions.

In Daniel 6, jealous leaders tricked King Darius into signing a law. For thirty days, no one could pray to anyone but the king. Daniel went home and opened his window toward Jerusalem. He knelt and prayed three times a day, “as he did aforetime.” That’s 6:10. He was put into the lions’ den, but the Lord sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths. In the morning the king found him unhurt “because he believed in his God.” That’s 6:22–23.

Your one tiny truth: I can pray to Heavenly Father. Three-year-olds are just learning to fold their arms, bow their heads, and say a few words. Practice it with them today and make it happy. Tell them Heavenly Father loves to hear them.

Keep the lions friendly and sleepy, never scary. The kids make tiny soft-paw roars from their spots. The best part is the “Shh!” when the angel shuts the lions’ mouths. Leave out what happened to Daniel’s accusers in 6:24. Sunbeams don’t need it.

Only have 5 minutes?

Bring a stuffed animal to be a friendly lion, or use the no-supplies versions. Peekaboo the sleepy lion. Tell the Daniel story with tiny lion sounds. Kneel for “he kneeled upon his knees… and prayed.” Play Where Can I Pray? End by helping a child say a short prayer.

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. Tuck the toy lion under the scarf or blanket by your chair.
  2. Clear a little floor space so every child can kneel for the key verse.
  3. Practice a tiny lion “Rawr!” and a soft “Shh!” once.

If your class is wild

  • If a child is scared of lions, let them hold the toy lion. They’ll see it’s gentle. Keep every roar tiny.
  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes. Give the child the toy lion and ask, “Can you help this lion be gentle?”
  • For potty breaks, send the child with another grown-up or their parent. Never be alone out of sight with a child. Keep the class going.
  • Here’s your calm-down trick today. Finger on lips, “Shh! The lions are sleeping.” Wait until every finger is up.
  • If you use the veggie snack from the extras, check allergies and your ward’s policy first.

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

Peekaboo Lion

3 min

A gentle peekaboo reveal introduces a friendly lion so nobody is scared of the story.

  1. SAY“Someone is sleeping under here. Let’s count and peek. One… two… three… peekaboo!”
  2. Lift a corner, then cover it again. On the last peek, bring out the lion. Say, “It’s a friendly, sleepy lion!” Each child pats it gently.
  3. SAY“Today we’ll hear about Daniel. He prayed to Heavenly Father. And some lions were very gentle with him.”

Class screen: 🦁 Peekaboo! Who’s sleeping? · 🦁 A sleepy lion!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A soft toy lion (or any stuffed animal you can call a lion), A scarf, dish towel or small blanket for peekaboo

Peekaboo Lion Face

  1. SAY“Someone is sleeping. Who is it?”
  2. Cover your face with your hands. Pop out with paws by your cheeks and a tiny, silly roar. Say, “Peekaboo! I’m a friendly lion!”
  3. Everyone hides and pops out with you.
  4. SAY“Today we’ll hear about Daniel. He prayed to Heavenly Father. And some lions were very gentle with him.”

Class screen: 🦁 Peekaboo! I’m a friendly lion!

2. Story

Picture Story: Daniel and the Sleepy Lions

6 min

Seven short scenes show Daniel praying and Heavenly Father keeping him safe, and everyone joins in from their spots.

  1. SAY“Let’s look at the pictures and meet Daniel. He loved to pray. You get to make the lion sounds!”
  2. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. Make the sound together when one shows.
  3. Keep the roars tiny. At scene 5, whisper, “Shh… the lions are sleeping.” Wait a few quiet seconds.
  4. After scene 7, fold arms and say together, “I can pray to Heavenly Father!”
🌪️ If the roaring grows, say, “The angel is coming!” Put your finger on your lips. They’ll copy you.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🦁 Daniel and the sleepy lions · 🦁 Rawr! · 🤫 Shh!

3. Wiggle break

Wake Up, Lions! Sleep, Lions!

2 min

A stretch-and-snooze game burns energy and ends calm.

  1. SAY“Wake up, lions!”
  2. Everyone stands, stretches, and shakes their manes. Then say, “The angel is here!” Everyone shuts their mouths, curls up, and snores softly.
  3. Play three rounds. Make the last sleep the longest. Whisper-count to five, then sit up.

Class screen: 😴 Wake up, lions! Now sleep!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Daniel 6:10

3 min

A few Bible words with motions teach the children how Daniel prayed.

  1. SAY“The Bible tells us what Daniel did. Listen!”
  2. Hold up your scriptures and read, “He kneeled upon his knees… and prayed.”
  3. Teach the motions. Kneel and pat your knees for “he kneeled upon his knees.” Fold arms and bow for “and prayed.”
  4. Say it three ways: soft, happy, then slow like a sleepy lion.
  5. Say, “Daniel knelt and prayed. I can pray to Heavenly Father too!”

Class screen: 🧎 “He kneeled upon his knees… and prayed” · 🧎 kneel · 🙏 pray

5. Game

Where Can I Pray?

5 min

Children show places and times to pray, then practice a tiny prayer, and learn that Heavenly Father always listens.

  1. SAY“I’ll name a place. Show me, then fold your arms and say, ‘I can pray here!’”
  2. Try “In my bed” with your head on your hands. “At dinner,” and pretend to eat. “In the car,” and turn a steering wheel.
  3. Try more. “Outside in the sun” gets big sun arms. “At church,” sit tall. “When I’m scared,” hug yourself. Each time, say, “I can pray here!”
  4. Fold arms and bow heads. Have them repeat after you, “Dear Heavenly Father… thank you for my family… in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
  5. Say, “We can pray anywhere, anytime. Heavenly Father always hears us, just like He heard Daniel.”

Class screen: 🙏 I can pray here! · 🛏️ bed · 🍽️ dinner · 🚗 car · ☀️ outside

6. Testimony

A Quiet Little Prayer

3 min

A calm, loving moment where the children feel what prayer is like.

  1. SAY“Let’s be as quiet as sleepy lions. Shh! Fold your arms.”
  2. Softly say, “Heavenly Father heard Daniel. He hears you too. I know He loves you. And I love to pray to Him.”
  3. Say each child’s name softly, like “Mia, you can pray. Sam, you can pray.”
  4. Invite them to Pray like Daniel this week. Have a child say the closing prayer. Whisper a few words at a time for them.

Class screen: 🙏 I can pray to Heavenly Father.

7. Game

Lion Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story; every child points or calls out.

  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 each answer, everyone does a tiny soft-paw “Rawr!”
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🦁 Point to the right picture!

8. Game

Mystery Picture: What’s Hiding?

3 minBONUS

A slow reveal names things from the story.

  1. SAY“Something is hiding! Let’s take the squares away.”
  2. Open Mystery Picture. Remove a square each time the kids do a motion, like “Pray,” “Rawr!” or “Shh!”
  3. When they guess, show it together. A lion gets a tiny roar. An angel flaps wings. A king puts on a crown.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ❓ What’s hiding?

The story

Daniel and the Sleepy Lions

Daniel 6 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Lion HelperSits by you and leads the soft-paw “Rawr!” and the “Shh!” from their seat.
  • Sound HelperTaps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet with your help.

Scenes

  1. 🧔🪟 Daniel loved Heavenly Father

    Daniel was a good man who loved Heavenly Father. Three times every day, he knelt by his open window and prayed.

    🙌

  2. 📜 A new rule: “No praying!”

    Some men didn’t like Daniel. They tricked the king into making a new rule. Nobody could pray to God!

    🙌 Ask, “What will Daniel do?” Hear a few guesses.

  3. 🙏 Daniel prayed anyway!

    Daniel knelt by his window and prayed, just like always. Daniel was brave!

    🙌

  4. 🦁 Daniel goes into the lions’ den

    The king was sad, but he had to keep the rule. Daniel was put in a den with lions.

    🙌 Soft lion paws and a tiny roar: “Rawr!”

  5. 😇 An angel shut the lions’ mouths

    Heavenly Father sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths. The lions were gentle and sleepy all night long.

    🙌 Finger on your lips: “Shh!” The lions are sleeping.

  6. ☀️ Good morning, Daniel! You’re safe!

    In the morning the king hurried to the den. Daniel was safe, and the king was so happy!

    🙌 Cheer together, “Daniel is safe!”

  7. 🙏 I can pray too!

    Daniel prayed, and Heavenly Father helped him. I can pray to Heavenly Father too!

    🙌

Key verse

Daniel 6:10 ↗
“he kneeled upon his knees … and prayed”
In kid words: Daniel knelt down and prayed.
🙌 “He kneeled upon his knees” = kneel down and pat your knees · “and prayed” = fold your arms and bow your head.

More verses

Daniel 6:22 ↗
“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths”
In kid words: Heavenly Father sent an angel to close the lions’ mouths.
Daniel 6:23 ↗
“no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God”
In kid words: Daniel was not hurt at all, because he trusted God.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 🧔 Daniel
  • 🦁 Lion
  • 😇 Angel
  • 👑 King
  • 🪟 Window
  • 🙏 Pray
  • 🧎 Kneel
  • 🌙 Moon
  • ☀️ Sun
  • 🛏️ Bed
  • 🥕 Carrot
  • 💧 Water
Clues for each word
  • Daniel: He prayed three times a day
  • Lion: A big cat that says a tiny roar
  • Angel: Shut the lions’ mouths
  • King: Wears a crown
  • Window: Daniel prayed by it
  • Pray: We talk to Heavenly Father
  • Kneel: Get down on your knees
  • Moon: Shines at night while the lions sleep
  • Sun: Good morning, Daniel!
  • Bed: We can pray here at night
  • Carrot: Daniel ate good vegetables
  • Water: Daniel drank it
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. What did Daniel do every day?
    • A. 🙏 Prayed
    • B. 🎮 Played video games
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 Prayed Daniel prayed three times every day!

  2. Where did Daniel kneel to pray?
    • A. 🪟 By his window
    • B. 🌳 Up in a tree
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🪟 By his window He knelt by his open window.

  3. Which animals were in the den?
    • A. 🐶 Puppies
    • B. 🦁 Lions
    • C. 🐤 Chicks
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🦁 Lions Lions! And they were gentle all night.

  4. Who did Heavenly Father send to help Daniel?
    • A. 🚒 A fire truck
    • B. 😇 An angel
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 😇 An angel An angel shut the lions’ mouths.

  5. Was Daniel safe in the morning?
    • A. 😢 No
    • B. 😃 Yes!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 😃 Yes! Yes! Heavenly Father kept him safe.

  6. Who can you pray to?
    • A. 📺 The TV
    • B. 🧸 My teddy bear
    • C. 🙏 Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🙏 Heavenly Father We pray to Heavenly Father. He always listens.

  7. How do we get ready to pray?
    • A. 🙏 Fold arms
    • B. 🤸 Do a cartwheel
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 Fold arms Fold your arms and bow your head.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • We Bow Our Heads Children’s Songbook, p. 25

    Short and gentle: practice folding arms and bowing heads. Find it ↗

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

    Heavenly Father hears children when they pray, just like He heard Daniel. Find it ↗

  • Dare to Do Right Children’s Songbook, p. 158

    Daniel kept praying even when it was hard. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Pray like Daniel

Fold your arms and help say a prayer with your family in the morning, at dinner, and at bedtime. That’s three times a day, just like Daniel!

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned that Daniel prayed to Heavenly Father every day. Heavenly Father sent an angel to keep him safe with the lions. We folded our arms to pray, made tiny lion roars, and whispered “Shh!” when the lions fell asleep. Ask your child, “What did the angel do to the lions?” The answer is shut their mouths! This week, let your child help say family prayer morning, dinner, and bedtime, just like Daniel.

📝 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?

🥕 Daniel’s Good Food · 3 min

  1. Open to Daniel 1:12–15. Say, “Daniel and his friends chose simple, good food and water instead of the king’s fancy food. Heavenly Father blessed them.”
  2. Check allergies and your ward’s policy first. Then share baby carrots and a sip of water.
  3. Say, “Heavenly Father gave us our bodies. We can take good care of them!”

🕒 Three Times a Day · 2 min

  1. Hold up three fingers. Say, “Daniel prayed three times a day.”
  2. Show the three times. Morning, stretch and yawn. Lunchtime, pretend to eat. Bedtime, head on hands. Fold arms after each one.
  3. Say, “Heavenly Father loves to hear from us every day.”

💪 Brave Like Daniel · 2 min

  1. Stand up and make brave muscles. Say, “Daniel was brave. He kept praying.”
  2. Name little brave choices, like “Saying sorry,” “Sharing a toy,” or “Folding arms for prayer.” After each, everyone flexes and says, “Brave!”
  3. Say, “Heavenly Father helps us be brave when we pray.”

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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