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What Does the Lord Really Want?

A 700-year spoiler, an offering auction that goes way too far, and a prophet who asked God “Why?”

  • 🧭 Youth 12–13
  • Week 49
  • 📅 Sunday, December 6, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

The Lord doesn’t want impressive offerings; He wants me to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him, and I can trust Him even when my questions aren’t answered yet.

I can do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God, and bring my honest questions to Him and wait for His answers.

Come, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah)
Know the chapters

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah are four short books near the end of the Old Testament. Micah preached in Judah around the same time as Isaiah, about 700 years before the Savior’s birth. Judah’s leaders took bribes and some priests taught for money, yet they still claimed the Lord was on their side (Micah 3:11). Nahum announced the fall of Nineveh, the proud capital of Assyria. Habakkuk wrote as Babylon was rising, and Zephaniah preached in the days of King Josiah. All four warned about pride, and all four pointed to a merciful God who keeps His promises.

Micah 5:2 is the Christmas connection: Micah named Bethlehem, “little among the thousands of Judah,” as the birthplace of Israel’s eternal Ruler. When the wise men came asking for the newborn King, Herod’s chief priests and scribes answered by quoting Micah (Matthew 2:4–6). For youth who are starting to wonder whether the scriptures are really true, fulfilled prophecy is a strong, concrete witness.

Micah 6:6–8 is the heart of today. Micah pictures someone offering God bigger and bigger gifts (calves, thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil, even a firstborn child) and then gives the real answer: do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God. Eleven- to fourteen-year-olds are very tuned in to fairness and to fake-versus-real. They’ll get it: God isn’t impressed by performance. He wants a fair, kind, humble heart. Micah closes by praising a God who “delighteth in mercy” and casts forgiven sins “into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18–19).

Habakkuk is a gift to this age group. He asks God blunt questions: How long? Why do You let bad things happen? (Habakkuk 1:2–4). When the answer surprises him, he climbs his watchtower to wait (2:1), and the Lord tells him the vision will come in its time (2:3). By chapter 3 he sings that even if every crop fails, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD” (3:17–18). Let your class hear clearly: honest questions are not a lack of faith. Bringing them to God and waiting is faith. Zephaniah adds that the Lord will “joy over thee with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Micah 5:2, Micah 6:6–8 and Habakkuk 1–3. Tap “I brought nothing,” so every step uses its no-supplies version. Play Guess the Town. Tell Habakkuk’s story from Teach Mode with its questions. Run the Offering Auction with pretend bids. Play Justly, Mercy or Humbly? with three walls. Then close with your testimony.

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. Bookmark these in your scriptures: Micah 5:2, Micah 6:6–8, Habakkuk 1:2–3, 2:1–3, 3:17–18 and Matthew 2:4–6.
  2. Read the six story scenes in Teach Mode once, so you can tell them in your own words.
  3. Think of one honest question you once took to Heavenly Father, and how He answered, even if slowly. You’ll share it at the end.

If your class is wild

  • This age loves to compete. Keep a running score between two teams through the hook, the auction and the walls. Crown a champion before the testimony.
  • You tell the story, and youth read the verses from their seats. Nobody has to perform, and everybody gets a turn.
  • Don’t rush to fix answers. If a question stumps you, say, “Good question, let’s Habakkuk it,” and write it down. That’s the lesson in action.
  • Deacons and Young Women hate being treated like Primary kids. Skip baby voices and gimmicky praise. Be warm, direct and a little funny.
  • If phones come out for Gospel Library, make a deal. Scriptures only, and face-down when you say “Watchtower.”

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

Spoiler Alert: 700 Years Early

3 min

A scripture race lets them discover for themselves that a prophet called the Savior’s birthplace centuries ahead.

  1. SAY“Somebody posted a spoiler seven hundred years before the movie came out. Find it. It’s in Micah chapter five, hiding between Jonah and Nahum.”
  2. Pairs race inside two teams. The first pair to stand and read the town’s name in Micah 5:2 wins a point.
  3. Have a youth read Matthew 2:4–6. Ask, “Who is quoting Micah, and to whom?” Herod’s chief priests and scribes, to King Herod.
  4. SAY“Micah called it seven hundred years early. Today we’ll talk about what God really wants from us. And what to do when His answers feel slow.”
🌪️ Only one person per pair touches the scriptures. The partner navigates out loud. No grabbing.

Class screen: 📢 Spoiler alert: a prophet named the town 700 years early · Find Micah 5:2 · First pair to read the town wins

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Scriptures for each pair: their own, a classroom set, or Gospel Library on your phone or tablet or their phones

Spoiler Alert: Guess the Town

  1. SAY“A prophet posted a spoiler seven hundred years early. He named the town where the promised King would be born. Guess it in as few clues as you can.”
  2. Two teams take turns guessing while you give clues. It’s in Judah. It’s small. King David grew up there. Its name means “house of bread.”
  3. A right answer after clue 1 earns 4 points. After clue 2, it earns 3, and so on.
  4. Read Micah 5:2 and Matthew 2:4–6 aloud. Ask, “Who is quoting Micah, and to whom?”

Class screen: 📢 Guess the town a prophet named 700 years early · Fewer clues, more points

2. Story

The Story: Habakkuk on the Watchtower

7 min

Hearing Habakkuk’s honest questions shows them that bringing hard questions to God, and waiting, is an act of faith.

  1. SAY“Meet a prophet who asked God the questions a lot of us are scared to say out loud. Watch what he does next.”
  2. Tell each scene from Teach Mode in your own words. When a scene names a verse, a volunteer reads it from their seat.
  3. Pause on each question. Take two or three answers, then keep the story moving.
  4. After the last scene, ask, “Was Habakkuk’s ‘Why?’ a lack of faith?” Then ask, “What did he do that showed faith?”
  5. SAY“He didn’t hide his question. And he didn’t walk away. He climbed up and watched. That’s faith when life doesn’t make sense.”
🌪️ “Watchtower!” is your attention call all lesson. Everyone looks up at the ceiling in silence until you say “Surely.”

Class screen: 🗼 Habakkuk asked God “Why?” and then waited for the answer · Habakkuk 1–3

3. Scripture

The Offering Auction

5 min

A mock auction makes Micah 6:6–8 unforgettable: God wants our hearts and how we treat people, not a big show.

  1. SAY“We’re bidding for God’s approval. Offer anything you can imagine. Bigger is better.”
  2. Pick a youth auctioneer. Teams shout bigger and bigger bids, like “A new bike!” or “A thousand rams!” Stop at the most ridiculous one.
  3. A youth reads Micah 6:6–7. Another reads Micah 6:8 slowly. Ask, “Why would God turn down a river of oil?”
  4. Unpack it. Do justly means fair and honest when no one checks. Love mercy means you want to give second chances. Walk humbly means stay close to God.
  5. Teach the motions. Say Micah 6:8 together twice.
🌪️ Bids only count in your best auctioneer voice.

Class screen: 🔨 What does the Lord require? Not a river of oil. · Do justly ⚖️ · Love mercy 💗 · Walk humbly with thy God 🙏

4. Wiggle break

Justly, Mercy or Humbly?

6 min

Real-life situations from their own week make Micah 6:8 practical, and the debates are the best part.

  1. SAY“This wall is DO JUSTLY. That one is LOVE MERCY. The back wall is WALK HUMBLY. I’ll read a situation. Walk to the wall it needs most.”
  2. Read the first two. Someone in the group chat roasts a kid who isn’t in it. You got full credit on a project you barely helped with.
  3. Then read these. Your brother broke your headphones and said sorry. You were wrong and everyone saw. A new kid eats lunch alone.
  4. When they split, each wall defends its pick in one sentence. The best reason scores a team point. More than one wall can be right.
  5. Ask, “Which of these will you really face this week?”
🌪️ Speed-walk only. Anyone who runs goes back to the middle and starts over.

Class screen: 🚶 Justly, mercy or humbly? Walk to your wall and defend it. · Micah 6:8

5. Testimony

Climb Your Watchtower

3 min

End calm, with a private way to take a real question to Heavenly Father this week.

  1. SAY“Habakkuk brought his real question to God, and he kept watching. You can too.”
  2. Share a question you once took to Heavenly Father, and how He answered.
  3. Hand out cards. On one side, each youth writes a private question for Heavenly Father. Nobody reads it. On the other side, they write “Micah 6:8.”
  4. Show the challenge on the screen. Then invite a youth to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🗼 Climb your watchtower: ask, watch and wait for it · Write your question · Pray about it · Watch for the answer

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: One index card per youth and a few pens

  1. SAY“Habakkuk brought his real question to God, and he kept watching. You can too.”
  2. Share a question you once took to Heavenly Father, and how He answered.
  3. Have everyone close their eyes and silently name one honest question for Heavenly Father. Say, “Write it down tonight. That’s your watchtower.”
  4. Show the challenge on the screen. Then invite a youth to say the closing prayer.
6. Talk it over

Real Talk

4 minBONUS

Honest questions connect these prophets to the questions and choices youth are facing right now.

  1. SAY“Real talk. No wrong answers, just honest ones.”
  2. Show one question at a time. Give ten quiet seconds before anyone answers.
  3. Answer at least one yourself. Thank people for honest answers, even messy ones.
💬 Ask the class
  • Micah said God wants justice, mercy and humility more than rivers of oil. Why do we sometimes try to impress God or other people instead?
  • What’s the difference between doing something merciful and really loving mercy?
  • Habakkuk asked God “Why?” out loud. What helps you keep watching while you wait for an answer?
  • Habakkuk said “Yet I will rejoice” when everything failed. What could help you find joy in the Lord on a really bad day?

Class screen: 💬 Real talk

7. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team quiz that checks what stuck.

  1. SAY“Two teams, one captain each. Let’s see who was listening.”
  2. Tap Scripture Showdown. Teams huddle for ten seconds, and only the captain answers. Naming the verse earns a bonus point.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

Story and questions

Habakkuk on the Watchtower

Habakkuk 1–3 ↗

Scenes

  1. 😤❓ “O LORD, how long…?”

    Habakkuk looks around Judah and sees violence, cheating and unfair courts. Good people get pushed around. He has prayed about it for a long time. Nothing seems to change. So he says it straight to God. How long? Why?

    🙌 A volunteer reads Habakkuk 1:2–3. Ask: “What’s one ‘Why?’ you’d ask God about the world right now?”

  2. 🏹🌪️ The answer he didn’t want

    The Lord answers: He is about to do something unbelievable. The Babylonians are coming, fast and fierce. Habakkuk is stunned. God is going to use a nation worse than Judah? That makes his question even bigger.

    🙌 Ask: “Have you ever gotten an answer you didn’t like? What did you do with it?”

  3. 🗼👀 He doesn’t quit. He climbs.

    Habakkuk could have walked away from God. Instead, he climbs his watchtower. He decides to keep watching for the Lord’s answer. Even if it means he might be corrected.

    🙌 A volunteer reads Habakkuk 2:1. Ask: “Where’s your watchtower, the place you go to hear from God?”

  4. ✍️🏃 Write it plain. Wait for it.

    The Lord tells Habakkuk to write the vision down so plainly that someone running by could read it. Then He adds a promise. It may seem slow, but it will surely come, right on time.

    🙌 A volunteer reads Habakkuk 2:3. Ask: “Why might God’s timing be different from ours?”

  5. 🌳🥀 No figs. No grapes. No flocks.

    Habakkuk imagines losing everything. The fig tree doesn’t bloom. The vines have no grapes. The olive crop fails. The fields grow nothing. The sheep and cattle are gone. In his world, that means no food and no money.

    🙌 No reading this time. Just picture it. What would a “no figs, no flocks” week look like for you?

  6. 🙌🎉 “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD”

    Then comes the plot twist. Habakkuk says that even then, he will rejoice in the Lord. His joy doesn’t depend on his harvest or on getting every answer today. It depends on who God is.

    🙌 Everyone reads Habakkuk 3:18 together from the screen. Ask: “Where does his joy come from now?”

Key verse

Micah 6:8 ↗
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
In plain words: God already showed you what’s good: be fair and do right, actually love being merciful, and stay humbly close to Him.
🙌 “what is good” = thumbs up · “what doth the LORD require” = palms up, shrug · “do justly” = hands flat like balanced scales · “love mercy” = hand over heart · “walk humbly” = walk in place, head slightly bowed · “with thy God” = point up

More verses

Micah 5:2 ↗
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
In plain words: Bethlehem, you’re a tiny town, but the Ruler of Israel will be born in you, and He has existed forever.
Micah 7:18–19 ↗
“he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
In plain words: God doesn’t hold a grudge. He loves showing mercy, and when we repent He throws our sins into the deepest ocean.
Habakkuk 2:3 ↗
“though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
In plain words: Even if it feels slow, wait for it. What God promised is definitely coming, right on time.
Habakkuk 3:17–18 ↗
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines … Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
In plain words: Even if everything goes wrong, I’ll still find joy in the Lord, because He is the one who saves me.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 🧑‍🌾 Micah
  • 🏰 Nahum
  • 🗼 Habakkuk
  • 🎶 Zephaniah
  • 🏘️ Bethlehem
  • 🏙️ Nineveh
  • 🏹 Babylonians
  • 👀 Watchtower
  • 🛢️ Rivers of Oil
  • 🌳 Fig Tree
  • ⚖️ Justice
  • 💗 Mercy
  • 🙇 Humility
  • 🌊 Depths of the Sea
  • 👑 King Herod
  • 🔭 Wise Men
Clues for each word
  • Micah: Named Bethlehem 700 years early
  • Nahum: Said the Lord is a strong hold in the day of trouble
  • Habakkuk: Asked God “How long?” and climbed a watchtower
  • Zephaniah: Said the Lord will joy over you with singing
  • Bethlehem: “Little among the thousands of Judah”
  • Nineveh: Assyria’s capital; Jonah warned it, Nahum saw it fall
  • Babylonians: The fierce army that surprised Habakkuk
  • Watchtower: Where Habakkuk waited for his answer
  • Rivers of Oil: Ten thousand of them still aren’t what God wants most
  • Fig Tree: Even if it didn’t blossom, Habakkuk would rejoice
  • Justice: Being fair and doing what’s right
  • Mercy: Micah says the Lord delights in it
  • Humility: How Micah 6:8 says to walk with God
  • Depths of the Sea: Where God casts the sins we repent of
  • King Herod: His scribes quoted Micah to him
  • Wise Men: Asked where the newborn King was
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown9 questions

  1. Which book sits between Jonah and Nahum?
    • A. Malachi
    • B. Micah
    • C. Haggai
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Micah Micah is small and easy to miss, just like Bethlehem.

  2. Who quoted Micah’s Bethlehem prophecy to King Herod?
    • A. The chief priests and scribes
    • B. The shepherds
    • C. Mary and Joseph
    Show answer

    ✅ A. The chief priests and scribes Matthew 2:4–6: Herod’s own experts read Micah 5:2 out loud.

  3. In Micah 6:7, how many rivers of oil does someone offer?
    • A. Ten
    • B. A hundred
    • C. Ten thousand
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Ten thousand Even ten thousand rivers of oil can’t replace a fair, kind, humble heart.

  4. Micah 6:8: do justly, love mercy, and…
    • A. Walk humbly with thy God
    • B. Build a great temple
    • C. Offer many sacrifices
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Walk humbly with thy God That’s what the Lord requires, and none of it costs money.

  5. Micah 7:19 says forgiven sins are cast where?
    • A. Into a fire
    • B. Into the depths of the sea
    • C. Behind a mountain
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Into the depths of the sea The Lord delights in mercy. Repented sins are gone, not kept on display.

  6. Nahum said the Lord is a strong hold in the day of…
    • A. Harvest
    • B. Battle
    • C. Trouble
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Trouble Nahum 1:7: He knows the people who trust Him.

  7. What was Habakkuk’s first question to the Lord?
    • A. “How long?”
    • B. “Where is Bethlehem?”
    • C. “Who will be king?”
    Show answer

    ✅ A. “How long?” Habakkuk 1:2. Honest questions are welcome with God.

  8. Where did Habakkuk go to wait for the Lord’s answer?
    • A. Into the temple
    • B. Down to the river
    • C. Up on his tower
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Up on his tower Habakkuk 2:1: he chose to keep watching for God’s answer.

  9. Even with no figs, grapes or flocks, Habakkuk said…
    • A. “I give up”
    • B. “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD”
    • C. “Send rain now”
    Show answer

    ✅ B. “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD” Habakkuk 3:17–18: his joy came from God, not from his harvest.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • O Little Town of Bethlehem Hymns, no. 208

    The little town Micah named 700 years early; a great start to the Christmas countdown. Find it ↗

  • I Need Thee Every Hour Hymns, no. 98

    Walking humbly with God means admitting you need Him, which is exactly what this hymn says. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

The Micah 6:8 Week

Each day, do one thing from Micah 6:8. Do something fair, something merciful, or say a real, humble prayer. Take your Watchtower Card question to Heavenly Father every night, and watch for the answer.

Text the parents

Today in class we found Micah’s prophecy in Micah 5:2 that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem. We held an “offering auction” to learn what the Lord really wants in Micah 6:8: do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God. Then we saw Habakkuk bring hard questions to God and wait for answers. Ask your youth which part of Micah 6:8 is hardest. What honest question would they want to ask Heavenly Father?

📝 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?

🚜 Swords into Plowshares · 5 min

  1. Half the class reads Micah 4:1–3, and the other half reads Isaiah 2:2–4. Race to spot the differences. There are very few, since Micah and Isaiah lived at the same time.
  2. Ask, “People stream to ‘the mountain of the LORD’s house’ to learn His ways. What is that today?” Temples!
  3. Ask: “What would ‘beating a sword into a plowshare’ look like in a group chat or on a sports team?”

🏰 A Strong Hold · 4 min

  1. Read Nahum 1:3 and 1:7 together. Ask: “Which words show God’s power? Which show His mercy?”
  2. Ask: “Why do we need to know He is both powerful and good? What would be scary about only one of those?”
  3. Have each youth name one “day of trouble” a teenager faces. How can the Lord be a strong hold in it?

🎶 He Sings Over You · 4 min

  1. Read Zephaniah 3:14–20. In pairs, finish this sentence as many ways as you can: “We can rejoice because…”
  2. In 3 Nephi 17, the risen Savior blessed the Nephite children one by one and prayed for them. Ask, “How does it feel to know the Lord rejoices over you?”

📉 Yet I Will Rejoice · 2 min

  1. Everyone stands. A youth caller reads bad news, and everyone sinks lower each time. “Your phone’s at 1%.” “The Wi-Fi is down.” “Surprise math test.”
  2. When the caller says “Yet I will rejoice!”, everyone jumps up. A wrong jump means three slow-motion squats.
  3. Read Habakkuk 3:17–18. Say, “Habakkuk’s bad news was way worse than dead batteries. His joy came from God, not from how the day went.”

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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