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I Have Loved You

A peekaboo mirror, ten pennies, a cup that overflows, and hearts that turn to our families

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • Week 51
  • 📅 Sunday, December 20, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father loves me and pours down blessings on me.

I can say, “Heavenly Father loves me,” and thank Him for my blessings.

Come, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Malachi)
Know the chapters

Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. The Lord’s very first words in it are tender. “I have loved you, saith the LORD.” That’s Malachi 1:2. Then He teaches His people to give Him their best, including their tithes. In Malachi 3:10, He promises to “open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” At the end, in 4:5–6, Malachi promises that Elijah will come. He’ll turn the hearts of children and parents toward each other. That promise was fulfilled when Elijah restored the sealing keys in the Kirtland Temple. See Doctrine and Covenants 110:13–16.

For three-year-olds, the whole lesson is one tiny truth: Heavenly Father loves me. Tithing, the windows of heaven, and families are all ways He shows it. Say “Heavenly Father loves me” so often that they sing it on the way out the door.

Tithing is one-tenth of what we receive. Children can pay tithing on birthday or allowance money with a parent’s help. They can use a donation slip given to a member of the bishopric, or pay online. Heavenly Father’s blessings come in many forms. Often they’re quiet ones, like peace, a happy family moment, or help when we need it. Most three-year-olds don’t have money, and some families are going through hard times. So never ask who pays. Keep it joyful: tithing is a way to say thank you.

Be gentle about families. Some children live with one parent, grandparents, or foster parents. Some families are going through hard things. Talk about “the people who love you.” Remind every child that they belong to Heavenly Father’s family.

Only have 5 minutes?

Put a small mirror in a paper bag, or tap “I brought nothing” and use cupped hands. Let each child peek at the one Heavenly Father loves. It’s them! Tell the picture story and let them guess what comes next. Teach “I have loved you, saith the LORD” with a hug. Count ten pennies, then pour water until the cup overflows with blessings. End with each child’s name and “Heavenly Father loves you.”

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. Put the mirror in the bag or box, facing up, so a child who peeks sees themselves.
  2. Count out 10 pennies. Write “For Heavenly Father” on the envelope. Fill the water bottle and set the cup on the tray.
  3. Practice the big hug once.

If your class is wild

  • The peekaboo mirror is magic for criers. Let a teary child peek first and whisper, “Heavenly Father loves this person so much!”
  • Water and three-year-olds need care. Only the teacher pours. Keep the tray on the floor in front of you. The kids are the “blessing catchers.”
  • For potty breaks, never leave the class alone, and never go somewhere alone with one child. Ask a Primary presidency member or the parent to help, following your ward’s plan.
  • The big hug is your calm-down tool. If the room gets loud, whisper, “Hug yourself.” Wait for everyone to copy.
  • When a child talks about a hard family situation, just say, “Heavenly Father loves you and your family.” Keep going warmly.

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

Who Does Heavenly Father Love?

3 min

A peek into a mystery bag shows each child the person Heavenly Father loves: them!

  1. SAY“Someone is in my bag. Heavenly Father loves this person very, very much. Do you want to peek?”
  2. Hold the bag closed on your lap. Let each child peek in, one at a time. Whisper, “Shhh, don’t tell who it is!”
  3. After everyone peeks, ask, “Who did you see?” They saw themselves!
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father loves YOU! Let’s learn about that today.”

Class screen: 🛍️ Who does Heavenly Father love?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A small hand mirror inside a paper bag or small box

The Secret in My Hands

  1. SAY“Someone is in my hands. Heavenly Father loves this person very, very much. Do you want to peek?”
  2. Cup your hands like a tiny box. Let each child peek in. As they peek, gently tap their nose and whisper, “It’s YOU!”
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father loves every one of you! Let’s learn about that today.”

Class screen: 🤲 Who is in my hands?

2. Story

Picture Story: Malachi’s Happy Message

6 min

Seven short picture scenes share Malachi’s message: the Lord loves us and pours down blessings.

  1. SAY“A prophet named Malachi had a happy message from the Lord. Look at the pictures. I’ll ask you to guess!”
  2. Take a guess or two at each “Guess!” Little ones can just point or nod.
  3. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. Do the motion together when one shows.
  4. After scene 7, ask, “Who does Heavenly Father love?” Everyone points to themselves, “Me!”
🌪️ If they get loud at the rain scene, make the rain soft and slow. They’ll copy your fingers.

Class screen: 💛 The Lord said, “I have loved you!” · 🤔 Guess! · 🤗 Hug

3. Wiggle break

Melting Snowman

2 min

A December wiggle: grow tall like a snowman, then melt into a calm, quiet class.

  1. SAY“Let’s be snowmen! Start tiny.”
  2. Everyone crouches down small. Grow slowly taller and taller, up on tiptoes.
  3. Call, “Here comes the sunshine… melt!” Everyone melts slowly to the floor.
  4. Do it twice, then melt all the way into a quiet sit. Whisper, “Heavenly Father made the sunshine.”

Class screen: ⛄ Grow tall… now melt!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Malachi 1:2

3 min

A hug, a point and a smile help Sunbeams remember that the Lord loves them.

  1. SAY“The prophet Malachi wrote down what the Lord said. Listen!”
  2. Hold up your scriptures. Read slowly, “I have loved you, saith the LORD.”
  3. SAY“That means the Lord says, ‘I love you!’”
  4. Teach the Key Verse motions one at a time. Say it together three times: a whisper, a regular voice, then a happy voice.
  5. Ask, “Who does the Lord love?” Everyone hugs themselves and says, “Me!”

Class screen: 🤗 I have loved you, saith the LORD. · 🤗 I have loved · 👉 you · ☝️ saith the LORD

5. Object lesson

Ten Pennies and a Full Cup

5 min

Counting pennies and watching a cup overflow shows how we say thank you and how Heavenly Father blesses us.

  1. SAY“Let’s count ten pennies together!”
  2. Count them onto the floor, one to ten. Then say, “We give one out of ten back to Heavenly Father. That’s called tithing.”
  3. A child puts one penny in the envelope. Say, “Tithing is a way to say thank you!” Set the cup on the tray.
  4. Pour water slowly and say, “Heavenly Father pours out blessings. More than we have room for!” Let it spill onto the tray.
  5. Ask, “What blessings does Heavenly Father give you?” Each child names one. Pour a pretend blessing into their cupped hands.
🌪️ Only the teacher pours. Kids sit on their spots, hands on knees, until it’s their turn to catch a blessing.

Class screen: 🥛 Too many blessings!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 10 pennies (or 10 buttons or blocks) and a small envelope, A clear plastic cup, a water bottle, a baking pan or tray, and a towel

Ten Fingers and Full Hands

  1. SAY“Let’s count ten fingers together!”
  2. Everyone holds up ten fingers and counts to ten. Fold down nine fingers and wiggle one.
  3. Say, “We give one out of ten back to Heavenly Father. That’s called tithing. It’s a way to say thank you!”
  4. Everyone cups their hands like a bowl. Pour pretend blessings in until they’re too full! Everyone spills their hands open. Too many blessings!
  5. Ask, “What blessings does Heavenly Father give you?” Each child names one.

Class screen: 🤲 Too many blessings!

6. Testimony

Heavenly Father Loves You

3 min

Hearing their own name with “Heavenly Father loves you” is the one thing every Sunbeam should take home.

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father knows every one of your names.”
  2. Lower your voice and sit close. Go around the circle and say each name softly, like “Heavenly Father loves you, Mia.” That child hugs themselves.
  3. Share, “I know Heavenly Father loves me. He gives me so many blessings. He loves you too.”
  4. Invite them to make a Blessing Window at home. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays.

Class screen: 💛 Heavenly Father loves you! · Tape a heart on your window

7. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

A picture reveal reviews the story 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 big hug!” 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?

8. Game

Picture Quiz

4 minBONUS

A gentle picture quiz reviews the story. Everybody wins.

  1. SAY“Picture quiz time! Listen, then point to the right picture.”
  2. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture. Kids point or call out the answer.
  3. Cheer every right answer. Skip team scores if they cause tears. With Sunbeams, everybody wins.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Picture quiz!

The story

Malachi’s Happy Message

Malachi 1:2; 3:10; 4:5–6 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Hug LeaderStarts the big hug from their seat at the start and the end of the story.
  • Sound HelperTaps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet with your help.

Scenes

  1. 🧔💛 Malachi shares the Lord’s message

    Long ago, the prophet Malachi shared a message from the Lord. The Lord said, “I have loved you!”

    🙌 Give yourself a big hug.

  2. 🌞🍎 So many good things

    Heavenly Father gives us sunshine, yummy food, and people who love us. He gives us so much!

    🙌

  3. 🪙🙏 One penny for Heavenly Father

    When we get money, we give a little part back to Heavenly Father. It’s called tithing. It’s a way to say thank you!

    🙌 Guess! What will Heavenly Father pour down?

  4. 🪟🌧️ The windows of heaven open!

    Malachi said Heavenly Father will open the windows of heaven and pour down blessings. So many blessings!

    🙌 Wiggle your fingers down like rain: “Pitter-patter!”

  5. 💞👨‍👩‍👧 Hearts turn to our families

    Malachi said our hearts would turn to our families. Moms and dads. Grandmas and grandpas. And everyone who loves us.

    🙌

  6. 🏛️💞 Families can be forever

    In the temple, families can be together forever. The temple is a happy, holy place.

    🙌

  7. 👶💛 Heavenly Father loves you!

    Heavenly Father loves you so much. He sent baby Jesus, and Christmas is almost here!

    🙌 Give yourself a big hug: “Heavenly Father loves me!”

Key verse

Malachi 1:2 ↗
“I have loved you, saith the LORD.”
In kid words: The Lord says, “I love you!”
🙌 “I have loved” = give yourself a big hug · “you” = point to a friend · “saith the LORD” = point up to heaven and smile

More verses

Malachi 3:10 ↗
“open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing”
In kid words: Heavenly Father opens heaven’s windows and pours down blessings!
Malachi 4:6 ↗
“he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers”
In kid words: Our hearts turn to our families, and their hearts turn to us.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 💛 Heart
  • 🪟 Window
  • 🪙 Penny
  • 🌧️ Rain
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family
  • 🏛️ Temple
  • 🌞 Sun
  • 🥛 Cup
  • ⛄ Snowman
  • 👵 Grandma
  • 🧔 Prophet Malachi
  • 👶 Baby Jesus
Clues for each word
  • Heart: Our hearts turn to our families
  • Window: Heaven’s windows open with blessings
  • Penny: One out of ten is for Heavenly Father
  • Rain: Blessings pour down like this
  • Family: The people who love us
  • Temple: Families can be together forever there
  • Sun: Heavenly Father gave us sunshine
  • Cup: It was so full it spilled over
  • Snowman: He grows tall, then melts
  • Grandma: Our hearts turn to her too
  • Prophet Malachi: He said, “I have loved you”
  • Baby Jesus: Heavenly Father’s best gift at Christmas
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Who does Heavenly Father love?
    • A. 🙋 Me!
    • B. 🙅 Nobody
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙋 Me! Heavenly Father loves YOU, and every child everywhere!

  2. Out of ten pennies, how many are for Heavenly Father?
    • A. 🔟 All ten
    • B. ☝️ One
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ☝️ One One out of ten is tithing. It’s a way to say thank you!

  3. What did Malachi say would open in heaven?
    • A. 🍕 A pizza box
    • B. 🪟 Windows
    • C. 🧸 A toy chest
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🪟 Windows The windows of heaven open and blessings pour down!

  4. Where can families be together forever?
    • A. 🏛️ The temple
    • B. 🛝 The playground
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🏛️ The temple The temple is a happy, holy place for families.

  5. Which one is a way to say thank you to Heavenly Father?
    • A. 😝 Stick out my tongue
    • B. 😴 Take a nap
    • C. 🙏 Say a prayer
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🙏 Say a prayer We can thank Heavenly Father in our prayers.

  6. Who did Heavenly Father send at Christmas?
    • A. ⛄ A snowman
    • B. 👶 Baby Jesus
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👶 Baby Jesus Baby Jesus is Heavenly Father’s very best gift!

  7. What did we make with our hands?
    • A. 💛 A heart
    • B. 🐙 An octopus
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 💛 A heart Our hearts turn to our families, full of love.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    The one tiny truth of the lesson. Sing it after the peekaboo mirror if there’s time. Find it ↗

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

    A December wiggle song: grow tall, then melt into a calm, quiet class. Find it ↗

  • Families Can Be Together Forever Children’s Songbook, p. 188

    Sing it after the temple scene or at the end if there’s time. Find it ↗

  • I Want to Give the Lord My Tenth Children’s Songbook, p. 150

    A short tithing song to sing while you count the ten pennies, if there’s time. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Blessing Window

Tape a paper heart on a window at home. Every time you see it, say, “Heavenly Father loves me!” Then name one blessing, like your family, your food, or baby Jesus.

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned that Heavenly Father loves us. Malachi 1:2 says, “I have loved you, saith the LORD.” We counted ten pennies and set one aside for tithing. We watched a cup overflow like the blessings from the windows of heaven in Malachi 3:10. And we made heart hands for our families. Ask your child, “Who does Heavenly Father love?” Tape a paper heart on a window to remember.

📝 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?

🖍️ Blessing Window Drawing · 5 min

  1. Give each child a paper with a big four-square window drawn on it.
  2. Kids draw or color blessings in the window, like family, food, sunshine, or pets.
  3. Say, “Heavenly Father pours down blessings because He loves you!”
  4. Write “Heavenly Father loves me” at the top. Parents can read it at home.

📷 Family Picture Share · 3 min

  1. Show a photo of someone in your family on your phone, like a grandma or grandpa. Tell one happy thing about them.
  2. Ask, “Who is someone in your family you love?” Let each child say a name.
  3. Say, “When we love our families, our hearts turn to them, just like Malachi said.”

🍎 Give Our Best · 2 min

  1. Say, “Malachi taught people to give Heavenly Father their very best.”
  2. Ask, “What’s your very best smile?” Everyone shows it. Then ask for their best reverent arms. Everyone folds arms.
  3. Say, “We can give Heavenly Father our best listening and our best kindness at church.”

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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