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Take My Yoke upon You

A stack of heavy books, a yoke built for two, a Sabbath showdown in a grainfield, and a hunt where you must seek and knock

  • ⭐ Valiant 9–10
  • Week 11
  • 📅 Sunday, March 14, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I yoke myself to Jesus Christ through my covenants, He pulls with me, gives me rest, and teaches me to do good, especially on His holy day.

I can come unto Jesus Christ with my burdens, keep my covenants, pray to Heavenly Father, and do good on the Sabbath.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 11–12; Luke 11 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 11–12; Luke 11)
Know the chapters

Matthew 11:28–30 is one of the Savior’s most tender invitations. Come to Him when you labor and are heavy laden. Take His yoke, learn of Him, and find rest. A yoke is a wooden beam that joins two oxen so they pull a load together. Farmers sometimes trained a young ox by yoking it beside a strong, experienced one. The young one learned by walking with it. The manual connects the yoke to our covenants. When we make and keep covenants, we’re bound to Jesus Christ, and He pulls with us. He doesn’t always remove the burden, but He makes it lighter. The Book of Mormon shows the same thing in Mosiah 24:14–15. The Lord eased the burdens of Alma’s people so they could hardly feel them on their backs.

Matthew 12 shows what His rest is not. Religious leaders had piled so many extra rules on the Sabbath that it had become a burden. Hungry disciples plucked grain, and the Pharisees called it breaking the Sabbath. The King James Version calls the grain “corn.” Jesus answered with scripture. David once ate the holy shewbread when he was hungry, in 1 Samuel 21:1–6. And God said, “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.” See Matthew 12:7 and Hosea 6:6. Then He declared Himself “Lord even of the sabbath day.” In the synagogue, they pointed to a man with a withered hand, hoping to trap Him. He asked who wouldn’t lift a sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath. He concluded, “it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days,” and healed the man. The leaders went out and plotted against Him.

Jesus also taught that our words and actions come from what’s in our hearts. In Matthew 12:34–35 He said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” In Luke 11, He taught His disciples to pray. He told of a friend who kept knocking at midnight. And He promised, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Earthly parents don’t hand a hungry child a stone or a scorpion. So how much more will Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask? That’s Luke 11:9–13.

For nine- to eleven-year-olds, burdens are real. Think pressure at school, friendship drama, family changes and mistakes they carry around. They’re also old enough to think about why the Sabbath matters, not just list rules. Help them ask, “Does this help me come to Jesus and do good?” Boys can be ordained deacons in January of the year they turn 12. Then they begin passing the sacrament. So the Sabbath and the sacrament are about to become their service, not just their seat.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Matthew 11:28–30 and Matthew 12:1–14. Stack books on a seated helper’s arms. Tell Lord of the Sabbath in Teach Mode. Read the yoke verses and learn the motions. Run the Seek & Knock Race. Close with a do-well plan for next Sunday. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” The books become invisible bricks, and you read the verses aloud.

What to bring2 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. Read Matthew 11:28–30, Matthew 12:1–14 and 1 Samuel 21:1–6, so you can explain David’s flashback.
  2. Set the heavy books by your chair for the hook.

If your class is wild

  • Save “Do good!” for the big moments. The quiet scenes make it land.
  • Give your most energetic kid the Do-Good Leader job. Their energy leads the class at the big moments.
  • Stop the book stack before anyone strains. The point is the relief of the helper, not a strength contest.
  • In the Seek & Knock Race, only the scripture holder searches. Teammates whisper. Rotate the holder every round.
  • “Who really kept the Sabbath?” is gold for this age. Give it a full thirty seconds before anyone answers.

The 25-minute plan24 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

Heavy Laden

3 min

Feeling a load get heavier, then shared, sets up the Savior’s invitation.

  1. SAY“I need a strong helper. Stay in your seat. Hold your arms straight out, palms up. Tell us when it gets heavy.”
  2. Stack books on their hands one at a time, naming each: “A hard test… a friend who was mean… missing Grandpa… a mistake you keep thinking about.”
  3. When arms shake, a second helper lifts the bottom of the stack. Ask: “Better?” Say: “Jesus said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden.’”
🌪️ Stop before anyone strains. The point is the relief of the helper, not a strength contest.

Class screen: 📚 How long can you hold the load alone? · 📚 Heavy?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 4–6 heavy books (hymnbooks, scriptures or dictionaries)

Invisible Bricks

  1. SAY“Everyone, stay seated and hold your arms straight out. I’m adding invisible bricks. Keep your arms up!”
  2. Name each brick as you add it: “A hard test… a friend who was mean… missing Grandpa… a mistake you keep thinking about.” Go for 45 seconds.
  3. Partners hold up each other’s elbows. Ask: “Better?” Say: “Jesus said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden.’”

Class screen: 🧱 Arms out! How long can you hold the invisible bricks? · 🧱 Heavy?

2. Story

Story: Lord of the Sabbath

7 min

Matthew 12 shows that the Sabbath is His day for mercy and doing good, not for piling on rules.

  1. SAY“This true story from Matthew 12 has a flashback to King David. When someone does good, open your hands wide.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. Do a motion only when it shows. Volunteers read Matthew 12:2 and 12:10 from their seats when you reach them.
  3. At scene 3, point out 1 Samuel 21. Jesus answered from their own scriptures. Ask: “Why is that a smart way to answer?”
  4. After scene 7, ask: “Who really kept the Sabbath that day?” Then: “Why would doing good make the Pharisees angry?”
🌪️ If the room drifts, pause with open hands and wait for every pair before the next scene.

Class screen: 🌾 Lord of the Sabbath · 👐 Do good!

3. Scripture

Key Verse: Matthew 11:28–30

4 min

The Savior’s yoke shows how covenants join us to Him so He pulls with us and gives us rest.

  1. SAY“Right before this story, Jesus gave an invitation. It was for everyone carrying something heavy.”
  2. Volunteers read Matthew 11:28, 29 and 30 from their seats.
  3. SAY“A yoke joins two oxen so they pull together. A young ox learned by walking beside a strong one.”
  4. Ask: “Who’s the strong one in our yoke?” Then say: “When we make and keep covenants, like at baptism, we’re yoked to Jesus. And He pulls with us.”
  5. Show the key verse and teach the motions phrase by phrase, all seated. Say it together twice.

Class screen: 🐂 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me · Matthew 11:28–30

4. Game

Seek & Knock Race

7 min

Teams literally seek and knock, reviewing the week’s key verses and planning how to do good on the Sabbath.

  1. SAY“Team Yoke versus Team Sheep, let’s seek! Jesus said, ‘Seek, and ye shall find.’ And when you knock, ‘it shall be opened unto you.’”
  2. Call a verse and its question. Teams race to find it. The first team to knock three times on a chair answers: 2 points.
  3. Matthew 11:28 ➜ What does He promise? Matthew 11:29 ➜ What two things does He ask? Matthew 12:12 ➜ What is lawful on the Sabbath?
  4. Matthew 12:34 ➜ Where do our words come from? Luke 11:9 ➜ Which three action words? Luke 11:13 ➜ What gift will Heavenly Father give?
  5. Ask: “What’s one way to do well next Sunday?” Then: “Why does that fit Jesus’s day better than a long list of rules?”
🌪️ Only the scripture holder searches. Teammates whisper. Rotate the holder every round.

Class screen: 🚪 Seek the verse! Knock to answer! · Luke 11:9

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Scriptures for each team: Bibles, a quad, or Gospel Library on a parent-approved device

Listen & Knock

  1. SAY“Team Yoke versus Team Sheep, listen closely! Jesus said, ‘Seek, and ye shall find.’ And when you knock, ‘it shall be opened unto you.’”
  2. Read a verse from your scriptures, then its question. The first team to knock three times on a chair answers: 2 points.
  3. Matthew 11:28 ➜ What does He promise? Matthew 11:29 ➜ What two things does He ask? Matthew 12:12 ➜ What is lawful on the Sabbath?
  4. Matthew 12:34 ➜ Where do our words come from? Luke 11:9 ➜ Which three action words? Luke 11:13 ➜ What gift will Heavenly Father give?
  5. Ask: “What’s one way to do well next Sunday?” Then: “Why does that fit Jesus’s day better than a long list of rules?”

Class screen: 🚪 Listen for the answer! Knock to answer! · Luke 11:9

5. Testimony

Testimony: My Do-Well Sabbath

3 min

End reverently with the Savior’s rest and a plan to do good next Sunday.

  1. SAY“Close your eyes. Think of one burden you’re carrying. You don’t have to say it.”
  2. Pause. In a sentence or two, share how Jesus Christ has made a burden lighter for you. Or share how the sacrament helps you feel His rest.
  3. Each kid silently picks one way to “do well” next Sunday. They could visit someone, write a note, help at home or call a grandparent.
  4. Share the Yoked and Doing Well challenge on the screen, then ask a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🕊️ Come unto Him. Do well on His day. · Matthew 11:28 · Matthew 12:12

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Yoke & Sabbath Edition

4 minBONUS

A quick Heads Up–style team review of the story and the scriptures.

  1. SAY“Team Yoke versus Team Sheep! Give clues, but don’t say the word. Or any word in the hint.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess. One kid holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class. Their team gives clues from their seats.
  3. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. Teams trade after 45 seconds. Most words wins.
🌪️ Pass your phone or tablet hand to hand to the next guesser, never tossed.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess: no saying words from the hint!

7. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team quiz reviews the story and the verses.

  1. SAY“Team Yoke versus Team Sheep!”
  2. Keep the same teams and tap Scripture Showdown. Read each question aloud. Teams get 10 seconds to whisper, then point to an answer.
  3. Tap the team that got it right. Bonus point if they can name the verse.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

The story

Lord of the Sabbath

Matthew 12:1–14 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Do-Good LeaderFrom their seat, leads the open-hands “Do good!” at the big moments.
  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. 🌾🚶 A Sabbath walk through the grainfields

    One Sabbath, Jesus and His disciples walked through fields of ripe grain. The disciples were hungry. So they picked a few heads of grain. They rubbed them in their hands and ate.

    🙌

  2. 📜😠 The Pharisees say it’s not lawful!

    Some Pharisees were watching. They’d piled so many extra rules on the Sabbath! Picking a snack counted as harvesting. Rubbing grain counted as threshing. They pounced.

    🙌 Wag a finger: “Tsk, tsk!”

  3. 👑🍞 Flashback: hungry David and the holy bread

    Jesus answered with a story from their own scriptures. Long ago, David and his men were hungry and on the run. A priest gave them the holy bread from the house of God. That bread was only for priests to eat.

    🙌

  4. 🏛️💛 “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice”

    Jesus said someone greater than the temple was standing right there. God cares more about mercy than about rules kept for show. And the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.

    🙌

  5. 🕍✋ A trap in the synagogue

    In the synagogue sat a man whose hand was withered. The Pharisees didn’t care about him. They wanted to catch Jesus breaking a rule. So they asked, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?”

    🙌

  6. 🐑🕳️ Who wouldn’t rescue a sheep?

    Jesus asked them a question. What if your one sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath? Wouldn’t you lift it out? He asked, “How much then is a man better than a sheep?” So doing good is lawful.

    🙌 Open your hands wide: “Do good!”

  7. ✋✨ “Stretch forth thine hand”

    Jesus said to the man, “Stretch forth thine hand.” It was restored, whole like the other one. But the Pharisees went out and plotted against Jesus. They kept every rule. And they missed the whole point of the Sabbath.

    🙌 Stretch out your hand and wiggle your fingers. Then: “Do good!”

Key verse

Matthew 11:28–30 ↗
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
In kid words: Come to Me, everyone who is tired and carrying heavy things, and I will give you rest. Be yoked with Me and learn from Me; I am gentle and humble. My yoke is easy and My load is light.
🙌 “Come unto me” = wave someone toward you · “labour and are heavy laden” = hunch over in your seat as if carrying a heavy sack · “I will give you rest” = hands together by your cheek like a pillow · “Take my yoke upon you” = lay a pretend beam across your shoulders · “learn of me” = open hands like a book · “meek and lowly in heart” = bow your head, hand on heart · “rest unto your souls” = deep breath out · “my yoke is easy” = shrug the beam easily · “my burden is light” = toss a pretend feather in the air

More verses

Matthew 12:12 ↗
“How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.”
In kid words: A person is worth so much more than a sheep. So it is right to do good on the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:34–35 ↗
“out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things”
In kid words: What fills your heart comes out of your mouth. A good person brings good things out of the good treasure in their heart.
Luke 11:9 ↗
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
In kid words: Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will open.
Luke 11:13 ↗
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
In kid words: If imperfect parents know how to give good gifts, Heavenly Father will surely give the Holy Ghost to those who ask.

Forehead Guess words20 words

  • 🪵 Yoke
  • 🐂 Oxen
  • 🎒 Heavy Laden
  • 😌 Rest
  • 🙇 Meek and Lowly
  • 📅 Sabbath
  • 🌾 Grainfield
  • 📜 Pharisees
  • 🍞 Shewbread
  • 👑 Lord of the Sabbath
  • ✋ Withered Hand
  • 🐑 Sheep in a Pit
  • 💛 Mercy
  • ❤️ Abundance of the Heart
  • 💎 Good Treasure
  • 🙏 The Lord’s Prayer
  • 🌙 Midnight Friend
  • 🚪 Ask, Seek, Knock
  • 🦂 Scorpion
  • 🕊️ Holy Spirit
Clues for each word
  • Yoke: Wooden beam that joins two animals to pull together
  • Oxen: Strong animals that pull a plow in a yoke
  • Heavy Laden: Carrying a huge load; Jesus invites these to come
  • Rest: What Jesus promises to those who come to Him
  • Meek and Lowly: How Jesus described His own heart
  • Sabbath: The Lord’s holy day; it’s lawful to do well on it
  • Grainfield: Where hungry disciples plucked ears of “corn”
  • Pharisees: Rule-keepers who tried to trap Jesus
  • Shewbread: Holy bread David ate when he was hungry
  • Lord of the Sabbath: Title Jesus gave Himself in Matthew 12:8
  • Withered Hand: Healed when the man stretched it forth
  • Sheep in a Pit: Anyone would rescue it, even on the Sabbath
  • Mercy: God wants this more than sacrifice
  • Abundance of the Heart: Where the mouth’s words come from
  • Good Treasure: What a good person keeps in their heart
  • The Lord’s Prayer: Jesus taught it when asked, “Teach us to pray”
  • Midnight Friend: Kept knocking until he got three loaves
  • Ask, Seek, Knock: Three action words in Luke 11:9
  • Scorpion: No father gives this when his child asks for an egg
  • Holy Spirit: Heavenly Father’s gift to those who ask
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown10 questions

  1. In Matthew 11:28, whom does Jesus invite to come unto Him?
    • A. Only the righteous
    • B. All that labour and are heavy laden
    • C. Only His Apostles
    Show answer

    ✅ B. All that labour and are heavy laden Everyone carrying something heavy is invited, which is all of us.

  2. What is a yoke?
    • A. A beam joining two animals to pull together
    • B. A heavy stone
    • C. A kind of bread
    Show answer

    ✅ A. A beam joining two animals to pull together Being yoked to Jesus means He pulls with us.

  3. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is…
    • A. gold
    • B. heavy
    • C. light
    Show answer

    ✅ C. light Matthew 11:30. With Him pulling, the load gets lighter.

  4. What did the disciples do that upset the Pharisees?
    • A. Went fishing on the Sabbath
    • B. Plucked and ate grain on the Sabbath
    • C. Built a fire
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Plucked and ate grain on the Sabbath Matthew 12:1–2. The Pharisees counted picking a snack as harvesting.

  5. Which Old Testament hero ate the holy shewbread when he was hungry?
    • A. Moses
    • B. Samuel
    • C. David
    Show answer

    ✅ C. David Matthew 12:3–4 and 1 Samuel 21:1–6.

  6. Jesus quoted: “I will have mercy, and not…”
    • A. sacrifice
    • B. judgment
    • C. silence
    Show answer

    ✅ A. sacrifice Matthew 12:7, quoting Hosea 6:6. Mercy matters more than showing off.

  7. What animal did Jesus say you’d lift out of a pit on the Sabbath?
    • A. A camel
    • B. A sheep
    • C. A donkey
    Show answer

    ✅ B. A sheep Matthew 12:11–12. And a person is worth much more than a sheep.

  8. What did the Pharisees do after Jesus healed the withered hand?
    • A. Held a council against Him
    • B. Thanked Him
    • C. Asked to be baptized
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Held a council against Him Matthew 12:14. Doing good made them angry.

  9. Out of the abundance of the heart, what speaketh?
    • A. The hand
    • B. The eye
    • C. The mouth
    Show answer

    ✅ C. The mouth Matthew 12:34. What fills our hearts shows up in our words.

  10. In Luke 11:13, what will Heavenly Father give those who ask?
    • A. Riches
    • B. The Holy Spirit
    • C. A long life
    Show answer

    ✅ B. The Holy Spirit His best gift: the Holy Ghost to guide and comfort us.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Feel My Savior’s Love Children’s Songbook, p. 74

    A gentle song for the Savior’s invitation to come unto Him. Find it ↗

  • Did You Think to Pray? Hymns, no. 140

    Luke 11 is Jesus teaching His disciples to pray and keep asking. Find it ↗

  • I Need Thee Every Hour Hymns, no. 98

    A heavy-laden heart’s prayer, perfect before the testimony. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Yoked and Doing Well

Each night this week, tell Heavenly Father about one thing that feels heavy. Ask for help carrying it. Then plan one “do well” act for next Sunday and do it. Visit, write, call, help or serve someone. Bonus: memorize Matthew 11:28–30.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned about the Savior’s yoke in Matthew 11:28–30. We heard how Jesus healed a withered hand on the Sabbath, in Matthew 12:1–14. Then we raced to find verses about asking, seeking and knocking, in Luke 11:9–13. Ask your child: what is a yoke, and how is keeping our covenants like being yoked to Jesus? Then plan one way your family can “do well” next Sunday.

📝 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?

🥖 Stone or Bread? · 4 min

  1. Read Luke 11:11–13. Put a rock in one paper bag and a slice of bread in another. Or just describe them. The bread is only for show.
  2. Ask: “If you asked your parent for bread, which bag would they give you? Why?”
  3. Ask: “Why might Heavenly Father sometimes answer a prayer differently than we expected? How is His answer still a good gift?”

🎒 Mosiah 24 Cross-Reference · 5 min

  1. Summarize Mosiah 24:10–15: Alma’s people were forced to carry heavy burdens, and they prayed in their hearts.
  2. Explain that the Lord didn’t remove the burdens right away. He made them so light the people could hardly feel them. Later He freed them.
  3. Ask: “How is that like Matthew 11:28–30? Which one helps you more today?”

🧽 Clean Inside and Out · 4 min

  1. Read Luke 11:39–41. Show a cup that’s clean on the outside but imagine it’s dirty inside.
  2. Ask: “Would you drink from it? Why does Jesus care more about the inside of our hearts than how we look?”
  3. Ask each kid to think of one way to clean up the “inside” this week: thoughts, words or motives.

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 Valiant 9–10 lessons