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Seek Him, Grow Like Him

A character stat sheet, a search party through everyone who came looking for the Christ child, and finding “another way” when you’re warned

  • 🔥 Youth 14–15
  • Week 2
  • 📅 Sunday, January 10, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

The people who found Jesus were the ones who sought Him, and as I seek Him too I can grow the way He grew: in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man.

I can seek Jesus Christ like the shepherds, Simeon, Anna and the wise men, and grow like He did in wisdom, stature and favor with God and man.

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

Matthew 2 and Luke 2 are full of witnesses. Shepherds heard an angel announce “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,” in Luke 2:10. They came “with haste” to Bethlehem, then told everyone, in 2:15–17. At the temple, the Holy Ghost had promised Simeon he’d see the Lord’s Christ. He held the baby and praised God, in 2:25–32. Anna was a widow in her eighties who served in the temple “with fastings and prayers night and day.” She gave thanks and told everyone looking for redemption, in 2:36–38. Wise men traveled from the east because they’d seen His star and came “to worship him,” in Matthew 2:2. Humble workers and learned travelers, old and devout, local and foreign. Every one of them was looking.

Herod had the same information as the wise men. His own scribes told him where the Messiah would be born, in Matthew 2:4–6. But he wanted to destroy the child, not worship Him. That’s worth pointing out to teens. Knowing about Jesus isn’t the same as seeking Him. Three times in Matthew 2, God warned people in dreams. The wise men went home “another way,” in 2:12. Joseph fled to Egypt, in 2:13–14. Later he turned aside to Galilee, in 2:22. Heavenly Father still warns His children about physical and spiritual danger. He does it through the Holy Ghost, parents, leaders and prophets.

Luke gives one glimpse of Jesus as a youth. At twelve, He stayed behind at the temple for three days. His parents found Him with the teachers. His answer shows He already knew who He was: “wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” That’s Luke 2:49. The Joseph Smith Translation of Luke 2:46 adds that the teachers were hearing Him and asking Him questions. Then He went home and “was subject unto them,” in 2:51. He obeyed His parents.

Luke 2:52 sums up eighteen years in one verse: Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” It’s the base of the Children and Youth program’s four areas: spiritual, social, physical and intellectual. The manual pairs each area with a section of For the Strength of Youth. Wisdom goes with “Truth Will Make You Free.” Stature goes with “Your Body Is Sacred.” Favor with God goes with “Walk in God’s Light.” Favor with others goes with “Love God, Love Your Neighbor.” It’s the second week of January. That makes it a natural time to set a goal in each area, without a guilt trip.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Luke 2:8–52 and Matthew 2:1–12. Do the Character Stats hook. Give each pair one Search Party passage, and have them report one thing their people did to find Jesus. Say Luke 2:52 with the motions and talk through two or three Another Way situations. End with your testimony that seeking Him is how we find Him.

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. Mark the six search passages in your scriptures. They’re Luke 2:8–17, 25–32, 36–38 and 41–52, then Matthew 2:1–2, 9–11 and Matthew 2:3–8.
  2. Plan your pairs. Six passages covers twelve youth. In a small class, give each pair two passages or take one yourself.
  3. Think of one way seeking the Savior has changed you. You’ll share it briefly at the end.

If your class is wild

  • Teens love the stat-sheet idea but will start ranking each other fast. Keep it personal. Say, “Rate yourself, not your neighbor.”
  • Pair a strong reader with a quieter one, and let the quieter one report. It’s one sentence, so it feels doable.
  • If a pair reports something off-target, don’t correct them. Ask, “Where do you see that in the verse?” They usually find it themselves.
  • The Another Way situations touch real risks, like secret links and online strangers. Keep your tone matter-of-fact, never shocked. If someone seems to be facing one now, talk privately. Involve parents or the bishop as needed.

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

Character Stats

3 min

A video-game stat sheet makes Luke 2:52 feel fresh and personal before they even know it’s a verse.

  1. SAY“You’re building a video game character. It’s you. You get four stats to max out. What are they?”
  2. Let them shout ideas.
  3. SAY“Luke gives us Jesus’s stat sheet from age twelve to thirty in one verse.”
  4. Have someone read Luke 2:52. Ask: “Which of those four is your strongest stat right now?” Then ask about their weakest. Answers stay private.
  5. SAY“The people who found Jesus were the ones out looking for Him. Today you’re the search party.”
🌪️ If it turns into a debate about the best game ever, give it about fifteen seconds. Then say, “Great. Now let’s look at the ultimate character build.”

Class screen: 🎮 Build your character: which four stats would you max out? · Shout your ideas · Then read Luke 2:52

2. Story

Search Party: Everyone Who Came Looking

8 min

Pairs find in the verses themselves that the people who found Jesus were the ones seeking Him, and Herod, who only knew about Him, never did.

  1. SAY“Six sets of people in Luke 2 and Matthew 2 went looking for Jesus. Each pair gets one. Find one thing they did that helped them find Him.”
  2. Give each pair a passage from the scenes. They get two minutes to read and agree on one insight.
  3. Show the scenes in order. Read each summary, then that pair shares their insight in one sentence.
  4. After Herod, ask how knowing about Jesus is different from seeking Him. After the last scene, ask who they’re most like right now.
🌪️ If pairs finish early, give them a bonus hunt. Find one word that shows how the people felt.

Class screen: 🔎 Search party: how did each of them find Jesus? · One passage per pair · Report one insight

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Scriptures for each pair (their own, a classroom set, or Gospel Library)

  1. SAY“Six sets of people in Luke 2 and Matthew 2 went looking for Jesus. Let’s find out what each one did that helped them find Him.”
  2. Show each scene and read the passage aloud. Pairs get about twenty seconds to answer its search question.
  3. Take one answer per scene. After Herod, ask: “What’s the difference between knowing about Jesus and seeking Him?”
3. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: Luke 2:52

4 min

Youth see that even the Savior grew step by step, and choose the area they most want to grow in.

  1. SAY“After all that seeking, here’s what the boy they found did next. He grew.”
  2. Say Luke 2:52 together with the four motions.
  3. Each pair picks one area: wisdom, stature, favor with God or favor with others. They name one realistic way to grow in it this month.
  4. Take a few answers. Add that Doctrine and Covenants 93:12–13 says even the Savior grew grace by grace. Growth is a direction, not a finish line.
  5. Say the verse once more with the screen hidden.

Class screen: 📈 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. · Wisdom · Stature · Favor with God · Favor with others

4. Talk it over

Another Way

5 min

Real-life situations show that Heavenly Father still warns us about danger and that taking “another way” is smart, not weak.

  1. SAY“Three times in Matthew 2, God sent a warning and someone changed direction. Each of these roads is heading somewhere bad. Find another way.”
  2. Read Matthew 2:12 together. Show one situation at a time. Pairs agree on the warning sign and a realistic other way.
  3. If answers get preachy, ask, “Would you really do that?” Finish by asking how the Holy Ghost usually warns them.
💬 Ask the class
  • A friend sends you a link and says, “Don’t tell your parents about this one.” What’s your other way?
  • The sleepover movie everyone picked is one you already know you shouldn’t watch. What’s your other way?
  • Your screen time is six hours a day, and you’re more anxious and tired than ever. What’s your other way?
  • A new friend group is fun, but you’re meaner and more sarcastic when you’re with them. What’s your other way?
  • Someone you only know online asks for a picture of you. What’s your other way?

Class screen: 🛣️ Warned of God… they departed another way. What’s your other way? · Spot the warning · Find another way

5. Testimony

Bring Him a Gift

3 min

End quietly by turning Luke 2:52 into one personal goal to bring to the Savior this year.

  1. SAY“The wise men brought their best gifts. We can bring Him our growth.”
  2. Share briefly how seeking the Savior has changed you. Testify that He can be found.
  3. Hand out cards. Each person writes one private goal for this year. It goes in the Luke 2:52 area they most want to grow in.
  4. Mention that the Children and Youth program uses these same four areas. Show the challenge and invite someone to pray.

Class screen: 🎁 Wise men brought gold. What will you bring Him this year? · One goal · Wisdom · stature · God · others

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: One index card or sticky note per person, and a few pens

  1. SAY“The wise men brought their best gifts. We can bring Him our growth.”
  2. Share briefly how seeking the Savior has changed you.
  3. Invite everyone to quietly pick one goal for this year. It goes in the Luke 2:52 area they most want to grow in.
  4. Show the challenge on the screen. Invite someone to say the closing prayer.
6. Wiggle break

Four Corners of Growth

3 minBONUS

Walking to corners turns Luke 2:52 into real-life choices and gets everyone moving.

  1. SAY“Four corners. Wisdom. Stature. Favor with God. Favor with others. I’ll name something. You walk to the corner it grows the most.”
  2. Call out activities. Studying for a test. Eight hours of sleep. Seminary. Apologizing to a sibling. Deleting an app that drags you down. Sitting with the new kid.
  3. When people split, one person defends their pick in a sentence. Lots of things grow more than one stat.
🌪️ The last one to a corner gives the next example. That keeps it quick.

Class screen: 🧭 Four Corners: wisdom, stature, favor with God, favor with others · Walk to the corner it grows most · Defend your pick in one sentence

7. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A quick team quiz reviews the whole lesson.

  1. SAY“Two teams, one captain each. Huddle for ten seconds. Then only the captain answers.”
  2. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. Use the steal rule. If a team misses, the other team can steal by naming the verse.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

Scripture search in pairs

Search Party: Everyone Who Came Looking

Luke 2:8–52; Matthew 2:1–12 ↗

Scenes

  1. 🐑👼 The shepherds · Luke 2:8–17

    Shepherds on the night shift heard an angel announce the Savior’s birth. They didn’t wait until morning. They said, “Let us now go.” They hurried to Bethlehem. They found the baby, just as the angel said. And then they told everyone they met.

    🙌 Pair 1 searches: what did the shepherds do right after they heard?

  2. 🧓🕊️ Simeon · Luke 2:25–32

    Simeon was an old man. The Holy Ghost had promised him he would see the Messiah before he died. One day, the Spirit prompted him to go to the temple. It was the very day Mary and Joseph brought the baby. He held Jesus and praised God.

    🙌 Pair 2 searches: how did the Holy Ghost lead Simeon to Jesus?

  3. 👵🙏 Anna · Luke 2:36–38

    Anna was a prophetess. She was eighty-four years old. For decades she had served in the temple night and day, with fasting and prayer. She walked in at that same moment. She gave thanks. Then she told everyone who was waiting for the Redeemer about this child.

    🙌 Pair 3 searches: what had Anna been doing for years before this day?

  4. ⭐🧭 The wise men · Matthew 2:1–2, 9–11

    Wise men from the east saw His star. They traveled a long way to find Him. When the star stopped over the house, they rejoiced. They knelt and worshipped Him. And they gave gold, frankincense and myrrh.

    🙌 Pair 4 searches: what did it cost the wise men to find Him?

  5. 👑😠 King Herod · Matthew 2:3–8

    King Herod was troubled by the news. His own scholars told him exactly where the Messiah would be born. Bethlehem. Herod had every fact he needed. But he never went. He only pretended he wanted to worship.

    🙌 Pair 5 searches: Herod knew where Jesus was. Why didn’t he find Him?

  6. 🏛️📖 Jesus at twelve · Luke 2:41–52

    When Jesus was twelve, Mary and Joseph searched for Him for three days. They found Him in the temple. He was listening to the teachers and asking them questions. He said He must be about His Father’s business. Then He went home, obeyed them, and grew.

    🙌 Pair 6 searches: what did Jesus say, and how did He grow afterward?

Key verse

Luke 2:52 ↗
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
In plain words: As Jesus grew up, He kept growing in four ways: in what He knew, in His body, in His closeness to God, and in His friendships with people.
🙌 Four moves: “wisdom” (tap your head), “stature” (flex or stand tall), “favour with God” (point up), “and man” (put a hand on a neighbor’s shoulder). Do it three times, faster each time, then once with the screen hidden.

More verses

Matthew 2:2 ↗
“Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
In plain words: Where is the new King? We saw His star, and we came all this way to worship Him.
Matthew 2:12 ↗
“And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.”
In plain words: God warned the wise men not to go back to Herod, so they took a different road home.
Luke 2:49 ↗
“wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
In plain words: Didn’t you know I needed to be doing my Father’s work?
Luke 2:10–11 ↗
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
In plain words: Don’t be afraid. I have the best news ever, and it’s for everyone: today the Savior, Christ the Lord, was born.

Forehead Guess words19 words

  • 🏘️ Bethlehem
  • 🌾 Manger
  • 🐑 Shepherds
  • 👼 Angel
  • 🧓 Simeon
  • 👵 Anna
  • 🧭 Wise Men
  • ⭐ Star
  • 🪙 Gold
  • 💨 Frankincense
  • 🫙 Myrrh
  • 👑 Herod
  • 🏜️ Egypt
  • 🏡 Nazareth
  • 🏛️ Temple
  • 😴 Dream
  • 🛣️ Another Way
  • 💼 Father’s Business
  • 🧠 Wisdom
Clues for each word
  • Bethlehem: Its name means “house of bread”
  • Manger: A feeding trough that became a baby bed
  • Shepherds: Night-shift workers who came with haste
  • Angel: Brought good tidings of great joy
  • Simeon: Promised he’d see the Messiah before he died
  • Anna: Prophetess who served at the temple night and day
  • Wise Men: Followed a star from the east
  • Star: What the wise men saw in the east
  • Gold: A gift fit for a king
  • Frankincense: Sweet-smelling gift burned in worship
  • Myrrh: A spice gift, later used for burial
  • Herod: Knew where Jesus was but wanted to destroy Him
  • Egypt: Where Joseph took his family to escape
  • Nazareth: The town where Jesus grew up
  • Temple: Where Jesus was found at age twelve
  • Dream: How God warned the wise men and Joseph
  • Another Way: How the wise men went home
  • Father’s Business: What young Jesus said He had to be about
  • Wisdom: First of four ways Jesus grew
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown10 questions

  1. The angel’s good tidings of great joy were for whom?
    • A. Only the shepherds
    • B. All people
    • C. Only the priests
    Show answer

    ✅ B. All people Luke 2:10. The news of the Savior is for everyone.

  2. How did the shepherds go to Bethlehem?
    • A. With haste
    • B. The next morning
    • C. On camels
    Show answer

    ✅ A. With haste Luke 2:16. They didn’t wait, and afterward they told everyone.

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

    ✅ C. He’d see the Lord’s Christ before he died Luke 2:26. The Spirit led him to the temple at exactly the right moment.

  4. How did Anna serve God at the temple?
    • A. With fastings and prayers night and day
    • B. By guarding the gate
    • C. By singing in the choir
    Show answer

    ✅ A. With fastings and prayers night and day Luke 2:37. At about 84 years old, she was still all in.

  5. Why did the wise men say they came to Jerusalem?
    • A. To trade gold
    • B. To worship him
    • C. To meet Herod
    Show answer

    ✅ B. To worship him Matthew 2:2. They traveled a long way just to worship the new King.

  6. Which of these was NOT a gift from the wise men?
    • A. Frankincense
    • B. Myrrh
    • C. Silver
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Silver Matthew 2:11: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

  7. After being warned in a dream, how did the wise men go home?
    • A. Through Jerusalem
    • B. Another way
    • C. By ship
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Another way Matthew 2:12. When God warns us, changing direction is wisdom.

  8. Where did an angel tell Joseph to take his family?
    • A. Egypt
    • B. Rome
    • C. Galilee
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Egypt Matthew 2:13. Joseph got up and left that same night.

  9. How old was Jesus when He stayed behind at the temple?
    • A. Eight
    • B. Sixteen
    • C. Twelve
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Twelve Luke 2:42. He was already about His Father’s business.

  10. Luke 2:52: Jesus increased in wisdom, stature, and favor with whom?
    • A. Kings and priests
    • B. God and man
    • C. His brothers
    Show answer

    ✅ B. God and man Four areas of growth, the same ones the Children and Youth program uses.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    The shepherds’ night in the fields and the angels’ announcement. Find it ↗

  • O Little Town of Bethlehem Hymns, no. 208

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

  • Come, Follow Me Hymns, no. 116

    The witnesses came to Him before He ever called anyone; this hymn is about following Him as we grow. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Four-Stat Week

Do one small thing this week in each area of Luke 2:52. Grow your mind, do something good for your body, get closer to God, and do something kind for someone. Read the For the Strength of Youth section that matches your card. And if you get a warning feeling this week, take another way.

Text the parents

Today in class we met the people who came looking for baby Jesus: shepherds, Simeon, Anna and the wise men. We read Luke 2:52: “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Your teen wrote a private goal in one of those four areas. Ask them which witness they’re most like. And what’s one “another way” choice teens have to make today?

📝 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?

🔎 Symbols Hiding in the Story · 5 min

  1. Give each pair one symbol and two verses. Bethlehem, “house of bread,” is Luke 2:4 and John 6:35. The manger is Luke 2:7 and John 6:51. Shepherds are Luke 2:8 and John 10:11. The star is Matthew 2:2 and John 8:12.
  2. Each pair reads both verses. In one sentence, they explain what the detail teaches about Jesus.
  3. Ask: “Why do you think Heavenly Father arranged His Son’s birth with so many clues?”

🛡️ Protected by Revelation · 5 min

  1. Read Matthew 2:13–14 and 19–23. Count how many times Joseph acted on a warning or direction from God.
  2. Ask: “What dangers do families face today, physical and spiritual? How can parents, and you, get guidance to stay safe?”
  3. Invite them to thank a parent or leader this week for protecting them.

🏛️ Found in the Temple · 4 min

  1. Point out how often people find the Savior at the temple in Luke 2. Simeon did. Anna did. His own parents did, after three days.
  2. Ask: “Why is the temple a place where people still find Him?”
  3. Invite anyone with a recommend to plan a temple trip this month. Anyone preparing can look at a temple photo this week.

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 14–15 lessons