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Breath in the Bones

A watchman on the wall, a valley of dry bones that stands up, two sticks made one, and a river from the temple

  • ⭐ Valiant 9–10
  • Week 45
  • 📅 Sunday, November 8, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

The Lord can bring what is dead back to life, from dry bones to stony hearts to scattered families, and He invites me to help Him gather His people.

I can let the Lord give me a new heart and help Him gather His people on both sides of the veil.

Study it yourself firstRead Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47)
Know the chapters

Ezekiel was a priest carried off to Babylon with other captives from Judah. That’s Ezekiel 1:1–3. Far from the temple in Jerusalem, he “sat where they sat” with homesick exiles, in 3:15. He saw a vision of God’s glory right there in Babylon. God hadn’t forgotten His people, even in exile. In 3:17 and 33:7, the Lord calls Ezekiel a watchman. He’s like a guard on the city wall who blows the trumpet when an enemy is coming. If the watchman stays silent, the Lord holds him responsible, in 3:18–19. Prophets are watchmen today. Your 11-year-olds will soon be in deacons quorums and Young Women classes. Their leaders are asked to watch over each member.

In Ezekiel 34, the Lord scolds shepherds who fed themselves instead of the flock. They never went after the sick, the hurt or the lost. That’s 34:2–4. Then He promises, “I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.” That’s 34:11. Verse 16 lists what a real shepherd does. Jesus later called Himself the good shepherd, in John 10:11. Ezekiel 36:26 promises a new heart in place of a “stony heart.” The Savior doesn’t just forgive us. He changes us.

Ezekiel 37 has two famous pictures. First, a valley of very dry bones. The bones rattle together and get sinews, flesh and skin. But there’s “no breath in them” until the breath comes from the four winds. Then they stand up as “an exceeding great army.” That’s 37:7–10. The Lord said it showed the house of Israel being gathered and given His Spirit. They had felt their hope was lost. That’s 37:11–14. Latter-day revelation ties it to the Resurrection, in Doctrine and Covenants 138:43. Next, Ezekiel joins two sticks, one “For Judah” and one “For Joseph.” That’s 37:16–17. The Church teaches these stand for the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The Lord promised they’d work together as one witness, in 2 Nephi 3:12. Lehi was a descendant of Joseph, as 1 Nephi 5:14 says. Latter-day prophets have invited youth to help gather Israel on both sides of the veil. Scripture is one of the Lord’s tools for that.

In Ezekiel 47, water flows out from under the temple door. It gets deeper every thousand cubits: ankles, knees, waist, then a river too deep to cross. Where it reaches the salty sea, the water is healed and fills with fish. Trees along it bear fruit every month, with leaves “for medicine.” That’s 47:12. Blessings flow from the house of the Lord to heal families. Your 11-year-olds will soon start doing baptisms for their ancestors. This is their river. They get to carry temple blessings to people who could never receive them otherwise.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Ezekiel 37:1–17. Tell the Dry Bones story in Teach Mode, and let the class make the sounds. Teach Ezekiel 36:26 with the motions. Race Two Sticks, One Hand with a Bible and a Book of Mormon. Close with Ezekiel 37:14. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” Two fingers become the sticks, and Gospel Library holds both books.

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 Ezekiel 37:1–17 and bookmark Ezekiel 37:3, 37:10 and 37:14 for your reader.
  2. Mark the race pairs. John 10:16 + 3 Nephi 15:21. Matthew 3:16 + 2 Nephi 31:5–7. Ezekiel 37:12 + Alma 11:43.

If your class is wild

  • Bones are silly, not spooky. Keep “Clickety-clack!” quick and fun, then snap back to your story voice.
  • Give your most restless kid the Sound Helper job. The rumble, wind and magic sounds are theirs to tap.
  • Let your most competitive kids captain the two teams in the sticks race. Speed and a good answer both score.
  • In the watchman hook, everyone stays seated: waking up means sitting up tall, not jumping out of chairs.
  • The closing is tender for any kid who has lost someone. Keep it gentle: because of Jesus Christ, everyone will live again.

The 25-minute plan25 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

Watchman on the Wall

3 min

A quick seated game shows why the Lord calls prophets watchmen.

  1. SAY“I need a watchman. Everyone else will be the sleeping city.”
  2. Tap the Name Spinner. Heads down, city! Creep slowly from the door. The watchman shouts “Trumpet!” Everyone sits up tall before you reach a chair.
  3. Round two: secretly whisper to the watchman, “Stay silent.” Creep in and tap three shoulders. The city wakes up surprised.
  4. Ask: “Whose fault was that?” A kid reads Ezekiel 3:17 from their seat. Say: “Prophets are watchmen. They see dangers we can’t see yet.”
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🎺 Watchman on the wall! · 🎺 Trumpet!

2. Story

Story: The Valley of Dry Bones

7 min

Ezekiel’s vision shows that nothing is too dead for the Lord. He gathers His people and puts His Spirit in them.

  1. SAY“Ezekiel lived far from home, with the captives in Babylon. The Lord showed him a valley full of bones. You make the sounds.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. Make each sound together. The Scripture Reader reads Ezekiel 37:3 at scene 2, 37:10 at scene 5 and 37:14 at scene 7.
  3. At scene 4, pause and ask: “They look alive. What’s missing?” Let them guess before scene 5.
  4. After scene 7, ask: “What does the breath stand for?” The Lord said, “And shall put my spirit in you.”
  5. Ask: “Why would the Lord show hopeless people a valley of bones coming alive?”
🌪️ If the room drifts, have everyone take one huge breath and blow it out together. Then read on.

Class screen: 🦴 The Valley of Dry Bones · 🦴 Clickety-clack! · 🌬️ Whoosh!

3. Scripture

Heart Transplant: Ezekiel 36:26

4 min

The Lord who breathes life into bones can also give us a new, soft heart.

  1. SAY“The Lord can bring bones to life. He can also change hearts. Read it with me from the screen.”
  2. Read Ezekiel 36:26 together once. Teach the motions. Say it three times: normal, whispered, then with your phone or tablet face down.
  3. Ask: “What does a stony heart look like for a ten-year-old?” Holding a grudge. Not caring. Ignoring the Spirit. Saying, “I don’t need to change.”
  4. SAY“Jesus Christ doesn’t just forgive us. He changes us. Every week, the sacrament is a chance to ask for a softer heart.”

Class screen: ❤️ A new heart also will I give you.

4. Game

Two Sticks, One Hand

8 min

Teams race to prove that the Bible and the Book of Mormon testify together. It’s one way the Lord gathers His people.

  1. SAY“Ezekiel joined two sticks into one. Let’s see why. Here’s a clue from 1 Nephi 5:14. Lehi’s family came from Joseph.”
  2. A kid reads Ezekiel 37:16–17. Label the sticks for Judah and Joseph. Team Judah gets the Bible, Team Joseph the Book of Mormon. Both teams race to read.
  3. Topics: Other sheep ➜ John 10:16 and 3 Nephi 15:21. Jesus’s baptism ➜ Matthew 3:16 and 2 Nephi 31:5–7. Resurrection ➜ Ezekiel 37:12 and Alma 11:43.
  4. After each pair, ask: “What does the Book of Mormon add?” One point for the first team reading, one for the best answer.
  5. Rubber-band the sticks and hold them in one hand. Say: “Two witnesses of Jesus Christ, now one in His hand. Scripture helps the Lord gather His people.”
🌪️ Only one reader per team per round. Rotate the reader so every kid gets a verse.

Class screen: 🪵 Two sticks, one hand · 📘 For Judah: the Bible · 📙 For Joseph: the Book of Mormon

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Two flat sticks (paint stirrers, rulers or big craft sticks), a marker and a rubber band, A Bible and a Book of Mormon (or Gospel Library on your phone or tablet)

Two Fingers, One Hand

  1. SAY“Ezekiel joined two sticks into one. Let’s see why. Here’s a clue from 1 Nephi 5:14. Lehi’s family came from Joseph.”
  2. A kid reads Ezekiel 37:16–17. Hold up two fingers: Judah’s Bible and Joseph’s Book of Mormon. Split into Team Judah and Team Joseph. Open Gospel Library on your phone or tablet.
  3. One reader per team. Other sheep ➜ John 10:16 and 3 Nephi 15:21. Jesus’s baptism ➜ Matthew 3:16 and 2 Nephi 31:5–7. Resurrection ➜ Ezekiel 37:12 and Alma 11:43.
  4. After each pair, ask: “What does the Book of Mormon add?” A point for the best answer. Bring your two fingers closer each time.
  5. Press your fingers together. Say: “Two witnesses of Jesus Christ, now one in His hand. Scripture helps the Lord gather His people.”
5. Testimony

Nothing Is Too Dead for Him

3 min

End quietly with the hope of the Resurrection and the Spirit that brings us to life.

  1. SAY“Close your eyes. The people said, ‘Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost.’ Have you ever felt like that?”
  2. Pause. Read Ezekiel 37:14 slowly: “And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live.” Invite everyone to take one slow, quiet breath.
  3. SAY“Doctrine and Covenants 138:43 ties this valley to the Resurrection. Jesus Christ rose again. So every person will live again.”
  4. Share a short testimony of Jesus Christ. Share the Gather One challenge, then ask a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🌅 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live. · One slow breath

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Dry Bones Edition

4 minBONUS

A quick Heads Up–style review of the story and the key words, with a little team competition.

  1. SAY“Valiant rules! Give clues, but don’t say the word. And don’t say any word from its hint.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess. One kid holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class. Teammates give clues from their seats.
  3. Teams take turns, 45 seconds each. Hard mode: clues must include a chapter number, like “It’s in chapter 37 and it rattles.”
🌪️ Go around the room: each kid gives one clue, then it’s the next kid’s turn, so nobody shouts over anybody.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues, don’t say the word!

7. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team quiz reviews everything they learned.

  1. SAY“Team Judah versus Team Joseph, one last time!”
  2. Tap Scripture Showdown. Read each question aloud. Teams get 10 seconds to whisper, then point to an answer.
  3. Give a bonus point to a team that can name the verse.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

The story

The Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:1–14 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Scripture ReaderReads Ezekiel 37:3 at scene 2, 37:10 at scene 5 and 37:14 at scene 7 aloud from their seat.
  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. 🏜️🦴 A valley full of very dry bones

    The Spirit of the Lord carried Ezekiel to a valley. It was covered with bones. He walked all around them. There were very many. And they were very, very dry. Nobody had been alive there for a long, long time.

    🙌

  2. ❓🦴 “Can these bones live?”

    The Lord asked Ezekiel a question that sounds impossible. “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel didn’t say yes or no. He said, “O Lord GOD, thou knowest.” Then the Lord told him to preach to the bones!

    🙌

  3. 🔊🦴 Rattle! Bone to his bone

    Ezekiel obeyed, even though it looked ridiculous. As he prophesied, there was a noise and a shaking. The bones slid across the valley. They snapped together, bone to his bone.

    🙌 Shake your hands from your toes to your head: “Clickety-clack!”

  4. 💪🧍 Muscles, skin… but no breath

    Sinews and muscle grew over the bones. Skin covered them. They looked like real people now. But there was a problem. There was no breath in them. They looked alive. But they weren’t.

    🙌

  5. 🌬️✨ “Come from the four winds, O breath!”

    The Lord told Ezekiel to call to the wind. “Come from the four winds, O breath.” And the breath came into them. They lived! They stood up on their feet, an exceeding great army!

    🙌 Take a huge breath and blow it out: “Whoosh!”

  6. 💔🪦 “Our hope is lost,” they said

    Then the Lord explained. The bones were the house of Israel. They were His scattered people in captivity. They were saying, “Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost.” They felt like it was over.

    🙌

  7. ❤️🌅 “And shall put my spirit in you”

    The Lord promised to open their graves. He’d bring them home and put His Spirit in them. Nothing is too dead for Him. Because of Jesus Christ, everyone will be resurrected. And anyone who feels hopeless can come alive again.

    🙌 One more big breath out: “Whoosh!” Then hand on heart.

Key verse

Ezekiel 36:26 ↗
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh”
In kid words: The Lord promises to give me a brand-new heart and spirit. He’ll take away my hard, stony heart and give me a soft one that can feel and change.
🙌 “A new heart also will I give you” = hands make a heart and hold it out · “and a new spirit will I put within you” = breathe in and place hands on your chest · “I will take away the stony heart” = knock on your chest: “clunk, clunk” · “and I will give you an heart of flesh” = open, soft hands over your heart.

More verses

Ezekiel 3:17 ↗
“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me”
In kid words: A prophet is like a watchman on the wall: he listens to the Lord and warns us.
Ezekiel 34:16 ↗
“I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick”
In kid words: The Lord goes after the lost, brings back the pushed-away, bandages the broken and strengthens the sick.
Ezekiel 37:17 ↗
“And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand”
In kid words: Two records, the Bible and the Book of Mormon, joined together as one.
Ezekiel 47:9 ↗
“every thing shall live whither the river cometh”
In kid words: Everything the river from the temple touches comes alive.

Forehead Guess words20 words

  • 🧔 Ezekiel
  • 🏯 Babylon
  • 🗼 Watchman
  • 🎺 Trumpet
  • 🧑‍🌾 Shepherd
  • 🐑 Lost sheep
  • 🪨 Stony heart
  • ❤️ New heart
  • 🏜️ Valley
  • 🦴 Dry bones
  • 💪 Sinews
  • 🌬️ Breath
  • 🧍 Great army
  • 🌅 Resurrection
  • 📕 Stick of Judah
  • 📘 Stick of Joseph
  • 🛕 Temple
  • 🌊 River
  • 🧂 Dead Sea
  • 🐟 Fish
Clues for each word
  • Ezekiel: Priest-prophet who saw visions in Babylon
  • Babylon: Where Ezekiel lived as a captive
  • Watchman: Guard on the wall who warns the city
  • Trumpet: What a watchman blows when danger comes
  • Shepherd: Searches for lost sheep and heals the hurt ones
  • Lost sheep: The Lord said, “I will seek that which was ___”
  • Stony heart: The hard heart the Lord takes away
  • New heart: What the Lord gives in its place, Ezekiel 36:26
  • Valley: Low place between hills, full of bones
  • Dry bones: “Can these ___ live?”
  • Sinews: Tendons that tie muscles to bones
  • Breath: Came from the four winds and brought the army to life
  • Great army: What the bones became when they stood up
  • Resurrection: Body and spirit joined again, because of Jesus
  • Stick of Judah: Stands for the Bible
  • Stick of Joseph: Stands for the Book of Mormon
  • Temple: The river flowed out from under its door
  • River: Got deeper: ankles, knees, waist, then swim
  • Dead Sea: So salty nothing lives there, until the river heals it
  • Fish: A great multitude of them appeared in the healed water
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown10 questions

  1. Where was Ezekiel living when he saw his visions?
    • A. Jerusalem
    • B. Babylon, among the captives
    • C. Egypt
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Babylon, among the captives He was carried away captive and lived by the river Chebar in Babylon (Ezekiel 1:1–3).

  2. In Ezekiel 3:17, what did the Lord call Ezekiel?
    • A. A watchman
    • B. A shepherd boy
    • C. A scribe
    Show answer

    ✅ A. A watchman “I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel.”

  3. What were the bad shepherds in Ezekiel 34 doing?
    • A. Searching for lost sheep
    • B. Building a bigger fold
    • C. Feeding themselves instead of the flock
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Feeding themselves instead of the flock Ezekiel 34:2. A real shepherd takes care of the sheep first.

  4. The Lord asked, “Can these bones live?” What did Ezekiel answer?
    • A. “Never!”
    • B. “O Lord GOD, thou knowest”
    • C. “Only on the Sabbath”
    Show answer

    ✅ B. “O Lord GOD, thou knowest” Ezekiel 37:3. He trusted the Lord to know what was possible.

  5. After sinews, flesh and skin, what was still missing?
    • A. Breath
    • B. Hair
    • C. Clothes
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Breath “There was no breath in them” (37:8) until the breath came from the four winds.

  6. What did the Lord say the dry bones represented?
    • A. The army of Babylon
    • B. Animals in the desert
    • C. The whole house of Israel
    Show answer

    ✅ C. The whole house of Israel Ezekiel 37:11. His scattered people felt hopeless, and He promised to gather them.

  7. The stick of Joseph represents which book?
    • A. The Bible
    • B. The Book of Mormon
    • C. The Pearl of Great Price
    Show answer

    ✅ B. The Book of Mormon Lehi’s family descended from Joseph (1 Nephi 5:14). The two records work together (2 Nephi 3:12).

  8. In Ezekiel 36:26, what kind of heart does the Lord take away?
    • A. A broken heart
    • B. A stony heart
    • C. A happy heart
    Show answer

    ✅ B. A stony heart He replaces a stony heart with “an heart of flesh” that can feel and change.

  9. How deep did the temple river finally get?
    • A. Ankle-deep
    • B. Knee-deep
    • C. Deep enough to swim in
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Deep enough to swim in “Waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over” (47:5).

  10. What were the leaves of the trees by the river for?
    • A. Medicine
    • B. Roofs
    • C. Writing scrolls
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Medicine Ezekiel 47:12. Blessings from the temple heal.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Love to See the Temple Children’s Songbook, p. 95

    Ezekiel saw life flowing from the temple. Many of your 11-year-olds will be going soon. Find it ↗

  • Israel, Israel, God Is Calling Hymns, no. 7

    A hymn about the Lord gathering scattered Israel, just like the dry bones. Find it ↗

  • Did Jesus Really Live Again? Children’s Songbook, p. 64

    The valley of dry bones points to the Resurrection made possible by Jesus Christ. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Gather One

Pick one. With a parent, open FamilySearch and find one ancestor who may still need temple ordinances. Or be a shepherd: reach out to someone in your class who hasn’t been at church lately. Or read a Bible story and a Book of Mormon story about the same thing. Tell your family how they fit together.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned about Ezekiel, a prophet the Lord called a watchman. We heard about the valley of dry bones that came back to life. Then we raced to match Bible and Book of Mormon verses, like Ezekiel’s two sticks. Ask your child: what was still missing after the bones got skin, and why does it matter? This week, your child may want to look at FamilySearch with you. You could find an ancestor to take to the temple someday.

📝 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?

🗼 Watchman Report · 5 min

  1. Show a recent message from the President of the Church or another Apostle. The Gospel Library app has them.
  2. Kids work in pairs to find one warning and one promise in the message.
  3. Each pair reports like a watchman on the wall: “Warning! … Promise! …”

🌳 Family Tree Sneak Peek · 5 min

  1. Show your own family tree printout or FamilySearch on your phone.
  2. Point out one ancestor and tell one thing you know about them.
  3. SAY“When you turn 12, you can be baptized in the temple for people like this. That’s you helping gather Israel on the other side of the veil.”

🐑 Lost Sheep Search · 4 min

  1. One kid is the Shepherd and steps into the hall. Another kid hides somewhere in the room as the lost sheep.
  2. The Shepherd comes back and finds them by the “Baa” sounds. Quiet means far, and louder means close. Tap Noise Meter to keep it gentle.
  3. Read Ezekiel 34:11–12 and ask: “Who does the searching?”

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