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About My Father’s Business

Everyone who found Jesus worshipped Him, and at twelve He already knew who He was

  • 🧭 Youth 12–13
  • Week 2
  • 📅 Sunday, January 10, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Everyone who found the baby Jesus came to worship Him, and at twelve He was already about His Father’s business; I can worship Him and grow the way He did, in wisdom, stature and favour with God and man.

I can come to Jesus Christ like the shepherds and wise men did, and grow like He did at my age: spiritually, socially, physically and intellectually.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 2; Luke 2 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 2; Luke 2)
Know the chapters

Luke 2 and Matthew 2 are full of witnesses. Shepherds hear angels and go “with haste” to Bethlehem, then tell everyone (Luke 2:8–20). Simeon, who had been promised by the Holy Ghost that he would see the Messiah, holds the baby in the temple (Luke 2:25–35). Anna, a widow in her eighties who served in the temple “night and day,” gives thanks and tells everyone looking for redemption (Luke 2:36–38). Wise men follow a star, fall down and worship, give gifts, and are warned in a dream to go home another way; then Joseph is warned to take his family to Egypt (Matthew 2:1–14). The manual invites youth to ask of each witness: what does this teach me about worshipping Jesus Christ and witnessing of Him?

Then comes the only story we have of Jesus as a youth: at twelve, the age of many in your class, He stays behind at the temple for three days. The Joseph Smith Translation of Luke 2:46 says the teachers were hearing Him and asking Him questions. His answer to His worried mother, “wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49), shows He already knew who He was. Then He went home and “was subject unto them” (Luke 2:51). Being about God’s work and honoring your parents go together.

Luke 2:52 is the theme verse of the Children and Youth program: Jesus grew in wisdom (intellectual), stature (physical), favour with God (spiritual) and favour with man (social). New deacons and Young Women are setting goals in exactly those four areas this month, and For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices has sections that line up with each. The manual also points out that the birth details testify of who Jesus is: Bethlehem means “house of bread” and He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35); He was laid in a manger, a feeding trough; shepherds came first to see the Good Shepherd (John 10:11); a new star announced the Light of the World (John 8:12).

Keep Herod’s part gentle: he was jealous and wanted to harm the child, and God protected Jesus by warning Joseph. There’s no need to dwell on the rest of Matthew 2:16–18 with this age.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Luke 2 and Matthew 2:1–14. Tap “I brought nothing,” so every step uses its no-supplies version. Do the Missing for Three Days hook. Tell Who Came to Worship? from Teach Mode with its questions. Teach Luke 2:52 with motions, and play Four Walls of Growth. Then share a short testimony.

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. Bookmark the story verses: Luke 2:7, 2:10–11, 2:16–17, 2:29–32, 2:37–38, 2:48–49, 2:51–52 and Matthew 2:2, 2:11 and 2:13.
  2. Read the eight scenes in Teach Mode once, so you can tell them in your own words.
  3. If you set a Children and Youth goal as a youth or an adult, be ready to mention it briefly in your testimony.

If your class is wild

  • Open with the “stand up if you’re twelve” moment. It turns Luke 2:42 from a Bible story into their story.
  • You tell the story, and youth read the verses from their seats. Give each screen’s verse to a different youth so everyone gets a turn.
  • Four Walls gets loud. Say it up front. Walk, don’t sprint. The last one to a wall explains their pick.
  • Some youth will say, “This is a Christmas story, and Christmas is over.” Tell them it’s the only story about Jesus at their age.

The 25-minute plan23 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

Missing for Three Days

3 min

A funny “where would they find you?” question makes the youth realize Jesus was their age in Luke 2.

  1. SAY“Stand up if you’re twelve, or you turn twelve this year.”
  2. Look around, then have everyone sit.
  3. SAY“Your family drives home from a big trip. A day later your parents realize you’re not in the car. After three days, where do they find you?”
  4. Take three or four answers, like the pizza place or still asleep at the hotel. Laugh with them.
  5. SAY“There’s a twelve-year-old in today’s chapters whose parents lost Him for three days. They found Him in the temple, teaching the teachers.”

Class screen: 🧒 Lost for three days. Where would your parents find you? · 🍕 the pizza place? · 🎮 a friend’s house? · 🏛️ the temple?

2. Story

The Story: Who Came to Worship?

8 min

Hearing each witness helps youth see the different ways people came to Jesus, and meet Him at twelve.

  1. SAY“Today’s story has terrified shepherds, a jealous king and the only account of Jesus at your age. Watch who comes to Him, and how.”
  2. Tell each scene from Teach Mode in your own words. A volunteer reads each screen’s verse from their seat.
  3. Pause on each question and take two or three answers. Then keep moving.
  4. After scene 8, read Luke 2:51. Say, “He went home and obeyed His parents. Being about His Father’s business didn’t mean ignoring Mom and Dad.”
🌪️ Keep the pace up. Take two answers per question, then go to the next scene. Eight scenes in eight minutes.

Class screen: ⭐ Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, wise men, and a twelve-year-old in the temple · Luke 2 · Matthew 2

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Scriptures, or Gospel Library on your phone or tablet or phones, for your verse readers

  1. SAY“Today’s story has terrified shepherds, a jealous king and the only account of Jesus at your age. Watch who comes to Him, and how.”
  2. Tell each scene from Teach Mode in your own words. Read each screen’s verse from your own scriptures.
  3. Pause on each question and take two or three answers. Then keep moving.
  4. After scene 8, read Luke 2:51. Say, “He went home and obeyed His parents. Being about His Father’s business didn’t mean ignoring Mom and Dad.”
3. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: Luke 2:52

5 min

Youth connect the Savior’s growth at their age to their own Children and Youth goals.

  1. SAY“This is the only verse about Jesus growing up. And it’s basically the Children and Youth program.”
  2. Have a youth read Luke 2:52 and teach the motions.
  3. Say it together twice with motions. Then say it once as fast as you can.
  4. Explain the four parts. Wisdom is your mind. Stature is your body. Favour with God is spiritual. Favour with man is social.
  5. SAY“Jesus didn’t arrive knowing everything. He grew. Growing isn’t a sign something’s wrong with you. It’s the plan.”

Class screen: 📈 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” · Luke 2:52 · 🧠 💪 🙏 🤝

4. Wiggle break

Four Walls of Growth

4 min

Walking to the wall each activity fits gets everyone moving and turns Luke 2:52 into their own week.

  1. SAY“This wall is Wisdom. That one is Stature. That one is Favour with God. The last is Favour with Man. Walk to the one each thing fits best.”
  2. Call these out one at a time. Reading. Shooting hoops. Temple baptisms. Sitting with the new kid. Enough sleep. Passing the sacrament. Texting a struggling friend.
  3. When groups split, one person from each side defends their pick in ten seconds.
  4. Each youth tells a partner one small goal for this month in the area they need most.
🌪️ Walk, don’t sprint. The last one to a wall explains their pick.

Class screen: 🏃 Which wall? Go! · 🧠 Wisdom · 💪 Stature · 🙏 Favour with God · 🤝 Favour with Man

5. Testimony

He Was Twelve Too

3 min

End with the Savior who knows what it’s like to be their age, and a real goal.

  1. SAY“Jesus was twelve once. He knows what growing up feels like. He grew one step at a time, and He can help you do the same.”
  2. Share briefly how coming to Jesus Christ has helped you grow in one of the four areas.
  3. Show the challenge. Then ask a youth to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🌱 He grew one step at a time. So can you. · Luke 2:52 · This week: one goal

6. Talk it over

Real Talk: Witnesses

4 minBONUS

A youth-led discussion on how people came to Jesus then and how we come to Him now.

  1. SAY“You lead this one.”
  2. Hand your phone or tablet to a youth discussion leader. They read a question and tap the Name Spinner for the first answer.
  3. Pick 3 or 4 questions, and share your own answer to the last one. After each answer, the leader asks, “Who’d add something?”
💬 Ask the class
  • The shepherds ran. Simeon and Anna waited for years. The wise men traveled a long way. Which witness is most like you right now?
  • The wise men worshipped and gave gifts. What could someone your age actually give Jesus this week?
  • God warned Joseph and the wise men of danger. How does God warn people our age today?
  • At twelve, Jesus was about His Father’s business. What does His Father’s business look like for a deacon or a Young Woman today?
  • After the temple, Jesus went home and obeyed His parents. Why do you think Luke made sure to include that?
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 💬 Your discussion. Read it, spin it, add to it. · Honest answers only

7. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team quiz reviews Luke 2 and Matthew 2.

  1. SAY“Two teams. Let’s see who was listening.”
  2. Tap Scripture Showdown. Teams huddle for ten seconds and take turns answering. Naming the verse earns a bonus point.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

Story and questions

Who Came to Worship?

Luke 2:1–51; Matthew 2:1–14 ↗

Scenes

  1. 🌙🐄 No room, so a manger

    Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem for the tax count. There was no room in the inn. So when her firstborn Son came, Mary wrapped Him in cloth. She laid Him in a manger. That’s a feeding trough for animals.

    🙌 A volunteer reads Luke 2:7. Ask: “Why would God let His Son be born in a feeding trough?”

  2. 🐑👼✨ Terrified shepherds, great joy

    Shepherds were watching their flocks at night. An angel appeared, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified. The angel said not to fear. A Saviour was born in the city of David. Suddenly heaven was full of angels praising God.

    🙌 A volunteer reads Luke 2:10–11. Everyone else, listen for the three titles the angel uses.

  3. 🏃‍♂️📣 They came with haste, then told everyone

    The shepherds didn’t wait until morning. They hurried to Bethlehem and found the baby exactly as the angel said. Then they told everyone they met. Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

    🙌 A volunteer reads Luke 2:16–17. Ask: “What did the shepherds do right after they saw Him?”

  4. 👴🕊️ Simeon finally sees the promise

    Forty days later, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple. The Holy Ghost had promised Simeon he would see the Lord’s Christ before he died. He took the baby in his arms and praised God. Now I can go in peace, he said. I have seen Thy salvation.

    🙌 A volunteer reads Luke 2:29–32. Picture old Simeon holding the baby.

  5. 👵🙏 Anna tells everyone who is waiting

    Anna was eighty-four. She practically lived at the temple, fasting and praying night and day. She came in at that very moment and gave thanks. Then she told everyone looking for redemption about this child.

    🙌 A volunteer reads Luke 2:37–38. Ask: “Shepherds ran, and Simeon and Anna waited years. What do they share?”

  6. ⭐🐪🎁 Wise men, a jealous king, three gifts

    Wise men from the east followed a new star to Jerusalem. They asked where the King of the Jews was. King Herod was troubled. He told them to report back, so he could “worship” too. The star led them to the house. They fell down and worshipped Him. They opened their treasures. Gold, frankincense and myrrh.

    🙌 A volunteer reads Matthew 2:2 and 2:11. Ask: “Herod said he wanted to worship too. What was different?”

  7. 😴⚠️ Warned in a dream, twice

    God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home another way. Then an angel warned Joseph. Get up, take the child and His mother, and flee to Egypt. Joseph left that same night.

    🙌 A volunteer reads Matthew 2:13. Quick, where would you go?

  8. 🏛️🧒 Twelve years old, three days missing

    When Jesus was twelve, the family went to Jerusalem for Passover. On the way home, His parents realized He wasn’t with the group. They searched for three days. They found Him in the temple with the teachers, who were amazed at His understanding. His mother asked why He had done this. He said He must be about His Father’s business. Then He went home with them, and obeyed them.

    🙌 A volunteer reads Luke 2:48–49. Ask: “What does ‘about my Father’s business’ mean at twelve?”

Key verse

Luke 2:52 ↗
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
In plain words: Jesus grew smarter, stronger, closer to God, and better with people.
🙌 “Wisdom” = tap your head · “stature” = stand up tall · “favour with God” = point up · “and man” = fist-bump a neighbor.

More verses

Luke 2:49 ↗
“wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
In plain words: At twelve, Jesus said, “Didn’t you know I need to be doing My Father’s work?”
Matthew 2:2 ↗
“we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
In plain words: The wise men traveled a long way for one reason: to worship Him.
Luke 2:38 ↗
“gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
In plain words: Anna thanked God and then told everyone who was waiting for a Savior.
John 8:12 ↗
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
In plain words: The star pointed to the real Light of the world.

Forehead Guess words18 words

  • 🍞 Bethlehem
  • 🐄 Manger
  • 🐑 Shepherds
  • 👴 Simeon
  • 👵 Anna
  • 🐪 Wise men
  • ⭐ Star
  • 🤴 King Herod
  • 🪙 Gold
  • 💨 Frankincense
  • 🏺 Myrrh
  • 🏜️ Egypt
  • 🏛️ Temple
  • 🐑 Passover
  • 📜 Doctors
  • 🧒 Father’s business
  • 💪 Stature
  • 👶 Swaddling clothes
Clues for each word
  • Bethlehem: City of David; its name means “house of bread”
  • Manger: Feeding trough where baby Jesus was laid
  • Shepherds: First visitors; came with haste
  • Simeon: Promised he’d see the Messiah before he died
  • Anna: Eighty-four and served in the temple night and day
  • Wise men: Came from the east following a star
  • Star: Seen in the east; led the way
  • King Herod: Jealous king who said he wanted to worship too
  • Gold: A gift for a king
  • Frankincense: Sweet-smelling gift burned in worship
  • Myrrh: Third gift of the wise men
  • Egypt: Where Joseph took the family to be safe
  • Temple: Where Jesus was found after three days
  • Passover: The feast the family went to Jerusalem for
  • Doctors: KJV word for the teachers in the temple
  • Father’s business: What twelve-year-old Jesus said He must be about
  • Stature: Growing physically, one of the four ways
  • Swaddling clothes: Cloth the baby was wrapped in
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown9 questions

  1. Why was baby Jesus laid in a manger?
    • A. It was a tradition
    • B. There was no room in the inn
    • C. Mary wanted Him near the animals
    Show answer

    ✅ B. There was no room in the inn Luke 2:7.

  2. How fast did the shepherds go to Bethlehem?
    • A. They waited until morning
    • B. They went the next week
    • C. With haste
    Show answer

    ✅ C. With haste Luke 2:16. Then they told everyone what they’d seen.

  3. What had the Holy Ghost promised Simeon?
    • A. He would see the Lord’s Christ before he died
    • B. He would become high priest
    • C. He would visit Bethlehem
    Show answer

    ✅ A. He would see the Lord’s Christ before he died Luke 2:26. He held the baby in the temple.

  4. How old was Anna, the prophetess in the temple?
    • A. About forty
    • B. About sixty
    • C. About eighty-four
    Show answer

    ✅ C. About eighty-four Luke 2:37. “Fourscore and four” = 84.

  5. What did the wise men do before giving their gifts?
    • A. Asked Mary’s permission
    • B. Fell down and worshipped Him
    • C. Went back to Herod
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Fell down and worshipped Him Matthew 2:11. Worship first, gifts second.

  6. Bethlehem means “house of bread.” Jesus later called Himself the…
    • A. Bread of Life
    • B. Good Baker
    • C. Light of the World
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Bread of Life John 6:35. A clue hidden in the name of His birthplace.

  7. Where did Joseph take the family to escape Herod?
    • A. Nazareth
    • B. Egypt
    • C. Jerusalem
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Egypt Matthew 2:13–14. He left the same night the angel warned him.

  8. How long did Mary and Joseph search for twelve-year-old Jesus?
    • A. Three hours
    • B. Three weeks
    • C. Three days
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Three days Luke 2:46. They found Him in the temple with the teachers.

  9. Luke 2:52 lists four ways Jesus grew. Which is NOT one?
    • A. Wisdom
    • B. Wealth
    • C. Stature
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Wealth Wisdom, stature, favour with God and favour with man.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains Hymns, no. 212

    The shepherds and the angels’ message in Luke 2. Find it ↗

  • O Little Town of Bethlehem Hymns, no. 208

    The “house of bread” where the Bread of Life was born. Find it ↗

  • Come, Follow Me Hymns, no. 116

    Every witness in these chapters came to Him; we can too. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Grow Like He Did

Set one Children and Youth goal for January in the area you need most: wisdom, stature, favour with God or favour with man. Make it small enough to start today. Tell a parent, a leader or a friend, so they can cheer you on. Check how you did on Saturday.

Text the parents

Today in class we studied Luke 2 and Matthew 2. The shepherds, Simeon, Anna and the wise men all came to worship Jesus. At twelve, Jesus told His parents He must be about His Father’s business. We learned that Luke 2:52 is the theme verse of the Children and Youth program. Ask your youth which of the four areas they’re setting a goal in: wisdom, stature, favour with God or favour with man. How can you help?

📝 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?

⚠️ Warned in a Dream: Case Studies · 5 min

  1. Read Matthew 2:12–13. Say, “God warned the wise men and Joseph. He still warns us.”
  2. Give each pair a situation. A group chat turns mean. A link from a friend feels wrong. A party gives you an uneasy feeling. A friend’s secret worries you.
  3. Each pair shares what a warning from the Holy Ghost might feel like. What’s a smart “another way” home?

🎁 Gifts for the King · 4 min

  1. Read Matthew 2:11. Ask, “What made the wise men’s gifts special?” They gave their best, in worship.
  2. Each person privately writes one gift for the Savior this week that costs no money. Try patience with a sibling or a prayer with real intent.
  3. Invite them to fold it and keep it in their scriptures as a reminder.

🔍 Symbol Race · 4 min

  1. Split into two teams. Say, “I’ll give you a detail from Jesus’s birth. Race to find the John verse that shows what it means.”
  2. Bethlehem means “house of bread,” John 6:35. A manger is a feeding trough, John 6:51. Shepherds came first, John 10:11. A new star, John 8:12.
  3. The first team to read the verse aloud and explain it in one sentence scores. No scriptures? Read the verse yourself, and teams race to explain.
  4. Ask, “Why would Heavenly Father hide clues about His Son in the details?” Then say, “The sacrament bread points to the same thing as that manger.”

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 Youth 12–13 lessons