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The Biggest Trip Ever

I lived with Heavenly Father, I came to earth to grow, and Jesus shows me the way home

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • ⚡ Fast Sunday
  • 📅 Sunday, January 3, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

I lived with Heavenly Father before I was born, He sent me to earth to learn and grow, and Jesus Christ shows me the way back home to Him.

I can follow Jesus, just like Jesus followed Heavenly Father’s plan.

Study it yourself firstRead Abraham 3:24–26; Moses 4:2; Alma 34:32; John 6:38; 14:6; 3 Nephi 27:19–20; Revelation 21:3–4 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this fast-Sunday lesson (Abraham 3:24–26; Moses 4:2; Alma 34:32; John 6:38; 14:6; 3 Nephi 27:19–20; Revelation 21:3–4)
Know the chapters

This is the January fast-Sunday lesson from Appendix B of the 2027 manual. On fast Sunday it takes the place of the regular Come, Follow Me lesson. It starts at the very beginning: Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. Some children may be hungry or trying to fast with their families today. Children aren’t required to fast, so keep the room cheerful and skip food rewards; use the Goal Jar or high-fives instead.

The plan in kid words: before we were born, we lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit children, and He knew and loved each of us. He made a plan so we could come to earth, get a body, learn to choose the right, and show that we would follow Him (Abraham 3:24–26). The Bible says His children “shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). We would need a Savior, and Jesus Christ offered to do what His Father wanted and give the glory to Him (Moses 4:2). If a child asks about Satan, one calm sentence is enough: he wanted to force everyone, and Heavenly Father’s plan lets us choose.

Earth is where we learn and grow. Alma teaches that this life is the time to get ready to meet God (Alma 34:32). Heavenly Father doesn’t send us alone. He gives us families, prayer, scriptures, prophets and the Holy Ghost, and above all He gives us Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way” (John 14:6). Jesus invites everyone to repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost so we can be clean and come home (3 Nephi 27:19–20). Someday God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:3–4).

Mixed ages: give the reading parts (Choice Cards, gift labels) to your 6- and 7-year-olds and the baby cries, cheers and big actions to your 4- and 5-year-olds. Your 7-year-olds are getting close to baptism, the next big step on their own trip, so point it out whenever it fits. Be gentle if death comes up; a child may have lost someone they love. Everyone keeps living as a spirit, and because of Jesus everyone will live again.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Abraham 3:24–26 and John 14:6 so you can tell the plan in your own words. Open Teach Mode and let the Story Drama carry you: one child is the Traveler, and the room is heaven, earth and home. Teach the “I am the way” motions, play Grow, Grow, Grow! and Forehead Guess, and end by saying you know Heavenly Father loves every child in the room. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing” and the backpack becomes an invisible one.

What to bring6 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. Pack the backpack with the flashlight, your scriptures and the family photo. Zip it up so it’s a mystery.
  2. Make 3 Choice Cards with a big picture and a few words each: 🧸 SHARE A TOY, 😠 GRAB A TOY, 🤗 SAY SORRY. Readers will read them; pre-readers can go by the pictures.
  3. Choose three spots in the room: HEAVEN (a sunny corner), EARTH (the middle) and HOME (the corner by the door). You’ll point to them during the story.
  4. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out story parts with one tap.
  5. Think of one simple, true sentence about how you know Heavenly Father loves you. You’ll share it at the end.

If your class is wild

  • It’s fast Sunday. A hungry child can be a grumpy child. Give your grumpiest kid a job right away (backpack holder, baby-cry leader) and use high-fives instead of treats.
  • Make “Shout for joy!” your reset signal. On your count everyone does one silent cheer with jazz hands, then sits down. Use it any time the room gets loud.
  • Switch Travelers at every stop (heaven, earth, home) so three kids get the star part and nobody waits long.
  • Tiptoe travelers only. Anyone who runs goes back to HEAVEN and starts the trip over, which they’ll think is funny.
  • If a little one gets upset about the “baby” part, let them be a Gift Giver instead. Everyone gets a part.

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

The Mystery Backpack

3 min

A zipped-up mystery backpack gets everyone wondering, and sets up the idea that life is a trip Heavenly Father packed for.

  1. Hold up the zipped backpack and shake it. Say: “I’m getting ready for a trip. What do you think I packed?” Take three quick guesses.
  2. Unzip it slowly. Pull out the flashlight and click it on. Ask: “Why would I need this on a trip?” (To see in the dark!)
  3. Pull out the scriptures and the family photo. Let a reader say what each one is. Little ones can point and shout.
  4. Zip it back up. Say: “Guess what? Every one of you already went on the biggest trip ever. You came all the way from heaven to earth! Heavenly Father packed gifts for your trip. Let’s find out about it.”
🌪️ Only kids sitting on their bottoms can guess. The wiggliest sitter gets to hold the backpack in the story.

Class screen: 🎒 What’s in the mystery backpack? · 🔦 ❓ 📖 ❓ 👨‍👩‍👧

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A backpack or tote bag, A flashlight (or your phone’s flashlight), Your scriptures (or any book), A family photo (printed, or on your phone)

The Invisible Backpack

  1. Pretend to heave a giant, invisible backpack onto your shoulders. Say: “I’m getting ready for a trip! Guess what I’m packing.”
  2. Act out packing things: brush your teeth (toothbrush), click on a light (flashlight), hug a pillow (pillow). Kids shout their guesses.
  3. Open your scriptures in the air and point to them. Ask: “Why would a book help on a trip?” (It teaches us the way.)
  4. SAY“Guess what? Every one of you already went on the biggest trip ever. You came all the way from heaven to earth! Heavenly Father packed gifts for your trip. Let’s find out about it.”

Class screen: 🎒 Guess what I’m packing!

2. Story

Story Drama: The Biggest Trip Ever

6 min

Acting out the trip from heaven to earth to home makes Heavenly Father’s plan something even a 4-year-old can see and do.

  1. Point out the three spots: HEAVEN corner, EARTH in the middle, HOME by the door.
  2. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode to assign them from your class list). Give the backpack to a Gift Giver and the Choice Cards to your readers. Everyone else is the Joy Crew.
  3. Read each scene aloud and pause for the action cue. Switch to a new Traveler at EARTH and again at HOME.
  4. The teacher reads everything Jesus and Heavenly Father say. Nobody plays Them.
  5. At the last scene, everyone joins the Traveler at HOME for a group hug (or a group wave) and a whispered “Welcome home.”
🌪️ Travelers tiptoe. If the Joy Crew gets too loud, whisper, “Shhh, the baby is sleeping,” and everyone snores softly.

Class screen: 🎭 Heaven → Earth → Home! · 🌟 Heaven · 🌍 Earth · 🏡 Home

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A backpack or tote bag, A flashlight (or your phone’s flashlight), Your scriptures (or any book), A family photo (printed, or on your phone), 3 sheets of paper and a marker for Choice Cards

  1. Point out the three spots: HEAVEN corner, EARTH in the middle, HOME by the door. Hand out the roles in Teach Mode. Everyone else is the Joy Crew.
  2. At scene 6, whisper each choice to a Choice Reader, who shouts it out: “Share a toy!” “Grab a toy!” “Say sorry!”
  3. At scene 7, Gift Givers act out each gift for the class to guess: hug yourself (family), fold arms (prayer), open hands like a book (scriptures), cup a hand by your ear (the Holy Ghost’s quiet help).
  4. Read each scene aloud and pause for the action. Switch Travelers at EARTH and at HOME. The teacher reads everything Jesus and Heavenly Father say.
  5. At the last scene, everyone joins the Traveler at HOME and whispers, “Welcome home.”
3. Wiggle break

Grow, Grow, Grow!

2 min

Growing from a tiny baby to a tall grown-up burns off energy and shows that earth is where we grow, just like Jesus did.

  1. SAY“Earth is where we grow. Jesus grew up too!” Read Luke 2:52 from the screen, or let a reader read it.
  2. Call out each stage and do it together: tiny baby (curl up, “waaah!”) · crawling baby (crawl in place) · wobbly toddler (wobble, wobble, plop!) · big kid (jump 5 times) · grown-up (stand super tall and wave).
  3. Go faster each round. On the last round, say “Baptism day!” and everyone stands tall and still with arms folded, smiling.
  4. SAY“When you turn 8, you can be baptized. That’s a big step on your trip!”
🌪️ Grow in place: every kid stays on their own spot. Crawlers stay in their square.

Class screen: 🌱 Grow, grow, grow! · 👶 Baby · 🧒 Kid · 🧍 Grown-up

4. Scripture

Which Way Home? John 14:6

3 min

Simple motions help pre-readers and readers alike remember that Jesus is the way back to Heavenly Father.

  1. Show the verse on the screen. Let a 6- or 7-year-old read it, then everyone repeats it after you.
  2. Teach the three motions, then say it together three ways: regular voice, tiny mouse voice, and big happy voice.
  3. Play Which Way? Spin around once with your eyes open and say, “Oh no, I’m lost! Which way home?” Everyone does the path motion and shouts, “Jesus is the way!”
  4. Ask: “How do we follow Jesus?” (Pray, be kind, tell the truth, say sorry, get baptized, take the sacrament.)

Class screen: 🛤️ Jesus is the way home! · John 14:6

5. Game

Forehead Guess: Big Trip Edition

4 min

A Heads Up–style game reviews the story, and the pictures let pre-readers play right alongside readers.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. The guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. The class gives clues without saying the word. The picture shows with each word, so little ones can act it out: rock a baby, cup a hand by your ear for the Holy Ghost’s quiet help, zip a backpack.
  3. The guesser tilts your phone or tablet down for “got it” and up to pass. Each turn lasts about 45 seconds.
  4. When a 4- or 5-year-old guesses, give them a big buddy (a 6- or 7-year-old) who stands beside them and helps.
🌪️ Clue-givers stay sitting on their spot. Pick each new guesser with the Name Spinner so nobody argues about turns.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues. Don’t say the word!

6. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team quiz reviews everything they learned.

  1. Split into two teams, mixing big kids and little kids on each team. Tap Scripture Showdown to start.
  2. Read each question and the picture choices aloud. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer.
  3. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

7. Talk it over

Pass the Light

3 min

Connect the plan to the children’s own lives, and let even the shyest child share.

  1. Sit in a circle. Pass the flashlight (switched off) to whoever answers next. They may click it on while they talk.
  2. Ask one question at a time. Little ones can answer with one word or by pointing. Share your own answer too.
💬 Ask the class
  • What is something your body can do that makes you happy?
  • Which gift from Heavenly Father helps you most: family, prayer, scriptures or the Holy Ghost?
  • What is a good choice you made this week?
  • What do you think it will feel like to see Heavenly Father again?

Class screen: 🔦 Pass the light and share!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (or your phone’s flashlight)

  1. Sit in a circle. Cup your hands like you’re holding a tiny glowing light. Pass it gently to whoever answers next, and everyone says, “Click!”
  2. Ask one question at a time. Little ones can answer with one word or by pointing. Share your own answer too.
8. Testimony

You Are on the Trip Right Now

2 min

End calm and reverent, knowing Heavenly Father loves them and Jesus shows the way.

  1. Everyone folds arms. Say softly: “Right now, you are on the EARTH part of your trip. Heavenly Father is watching over you, and Jesus is showing you the way home.”
  2. Share your one sentence about how you know Heavenly Father loves you.
  3. SAY“Today is fast Sunday. Some grown-ups skip a meal and pray extra hard to feel close to Heavenly Father. Kids don’t have to fast, but every one of us can say a thank-you prayer today.”
  4. Show the Thank-You Trip challenge on the screen, then ask a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🏡 Jesus shows me the way home · This week: a thank-you prayer every night!

Story drama

The Biggest Trip Ever

Abraham 3:22–26; Job 38:7; Moses 4:1–2; Alma 34:32; John 14:6; 3 Nephi 27:19–20; Revelation 21:3–4 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • The TravelerGoes on the biggest trip ever, from heaven to earth to home. That’s you and me! Pick a new Traveler at each stop.
  • Earth FamilyTwo or three kids who welcome the new baby, rock them gently and help them learn to walk.
  • Gift GiversPull the gifts out of the backpack and tell what each one is for. Great for readers!
  • Choice ReadersReaders who hold up the Choice Cards and read them out loud so the Traveler can choose.
  • Joy CrewEveryone else: cheer, hug, cry like babies, and shout the big “Welcome home!”

Scenes

  1. 🌟🏠 Before you were born…

    Before you were a baby, you were already alive! You lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit child. He knew your name. He loved you so much.

    🎬 The Traveler stands in the HEAVEN corner. Everyone hugs themselves and says, “He knows my name!”

  2. 📋✨ Heavenly Father’s happy plan

    Heavenly Father wanted you to grow up and be like Him. So He made a plan. You would go to an earth, get a body, learn to choose the right, and then come home to Him.

    🎬 Count the plan on your fingers together: “Earth! Body! Choose! Home!”

  3. 🎉🙌 We shouted for joy!

    When we heard the plan, we were so happy! The Bible says all of God’s children shouted for joy. You were there, and you were cheering too!

    🎬 Joy Crew: one big cheer on the count of three. Then a silent cheer with jazz hands.

  4. 💛🙏 Jesus chose to help us!

    On earth we would make mistakes, and we would need help to come home. Jesus Christ said He would be our Savior and do whatever Heavenly Father wanted. Jesus loves us that much!

    🎬 Everyone puts a hand on their heart and whispers, “Thank You, Jesus.”

  5. 👶🌍 Hello, earth! A brand-new baby!

    Then it was your turn! You came to earth as a tiny baby and got a body. A body that can wiggle, jump, hug and giggle! Your family was so happy to meet you.

    🎬 The Traveler tiptoes to EARTH and curls up small. The Earth Family rocks the baby. Joy Crew: “Waaah!”

  6. 🧸🤔 Earth is where we learn to choose

    The baby grew and grew. Now every day there are choices, right and wrong. When we make a wrong choice, we can say sorry and try again. That’s called repenting.

    🎬 Choice Readers hold up the cards one at a time. Good choice: Traveler steps forward. “Grab a toy”: step back. “Say sorry”: turn around and step forward again!

  7. 🎒🎁 Gifts for the trip

    Heavenly Father didn’t send you alone. He packed gifts for your trip: a family to love you, prayer so you can talk to Him, scriptures to teach you, and the Holy Ghost to help you know what’s right.

    🎬 Gift Givers pull each gift from the backpack and say what it’s for. The Traveler zips each one into a pretend backpack: “Zzzip!”

  8. 💧🕊️ Jesus shows the way

    The best gift of all is Jesus. He shows us the way home. He was baptized, and He invites us to be baptized too, when we are eight, and to receive the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, “I am the way.”

    🎬 Everyone points ahead like a signpost and says, “Jesus is the way!”

  9. 🏡🤗 Welcome home!

    If we follow Jesus, someday we can go home and live with Heavenly Father again. There will be no more crying and no more owies. What a happy day that will be!

    🎬 The Traveler walks to HOME. Everyone opens their arms wide: “Welcome home!”

Key verse

John 14:6 ↗
“I am the way, the truth, and the life”
In kid words: Jesus is the way home. He is true, and He gives us life.
🙌 “I am the way” = walk two fingers along your arm like a little path · “the truth” = hand on your heart · “and the life” = spring your arms up high like a sunrise

More verses

Job 38:7 ↗
“all the sons of God shouted for joy”
In kid words: Before we came to earth, all of Heavenly Father’s children cheered for His plan.
John 6:38 ↗
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me”
In kid words: Jesus came to earth to do what Heavenly Father wants.
Luke 2:52 ↗
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man”
In kid words: Jesus grew up too! He got bigger, smarter and closer to Heavenly Father.
Revelation 21:4 ↗
“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes”
In kid words: When we go home, Heavenly Father will wipe away every tear.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 👶 Baby
  • 🎒 Backpack
  • 🌍 Earth
  • 🏡 Home
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family
  • 🔦 Flashlight
  • 📖 Scriptures
  • 🙏 Prayer
  • 🕊️ Holy Ghost
  • 💧 Baptism
  • 🎉 Cheer
  • ❤️ Heart
  • 🌱 Seed
  • ⭐ Stars
  • 🧸 Toy
  • 🤗 Hug
Clues for each word
  • Baby: How everyone arrives on earth. Waaah!
  • Backpack: You pack it for a trip
  • Earth: Where we live now and learn to choose
  • Home: Where we go back to Heavenly Father
  • Family: The people who love you and help you grow
  • Flashlight: Click! It helps you see in the dark
  • Scriptures: Holy books that teach us about Jesus
  • Prayer: Talking to Heavenly Father
  • Holy Ghost: A quiet helper you get after baptism
  • Baptism: A big step you can take at 8
  • Cheer: What we did when we heard the plan
  • Heart: Put your hand on it and say “Thank You, Jesus”
  • Seed: Tiny now, but it grows and grows
  • Stars: They twinkle in the sky at night
  • Toy: Share it, don’t grab it!
  • Hug: Welcome home! Arms open wide
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Where did we live before we were born?
    • A. 🌙 On the moon
    • B. 🌟 With Heavenly Father
    • C. 🐠 In a fish tank
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🌟 With Heavenly Father We lived with Heavenly Father, and He knew each one of us.

  2. What did we do when we heard Heavenly Father’s plan?
    • A. 🎉 Shouted for joy
    • B. 😴 Fell asleep
    • C. 😭 Cried and cried
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🎉 Shouted for joy Job 38:7 says God’s children shouted for joy. You were cheering too!

  3. What did we get when we came to earth?
    • A. 🚀 A rocket
    • B. 🪽 Wings
    • C. 💪 A body
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 💪 A body We got bodies that can jump, hug and giggle!

  4. Who said He would be our Savior?
    • A. 👑 A king
    • B. 💛 Jesus Christ
    • C. 🐑 A sheep
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💛 Jesus Christ Jesus said He would do whatever Heavenly Father wanted.

  5. What do we do after a wrong choice?
    • A. 🙈 Hide
    • B. 😠 Get mad
    • C. 🤗 Say sorry and try again
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🤗 Say sorry and try again That’s called repenting. Jesus makes it possible!

  6. Which gift helps us talk to Heavenly Father?
    • A. 🙏 Prayer
    • B. 📺 TV
    • C. 🧦 A sock
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 Prayer We can pray to Him anytime, anywhere.

  7. Jesus said, “I am the…”
    • A. 🚗 car
    • B. 🗺️ map
    • C. 🛤️ way
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🛤️ way John 14:6. Jesus is the way home to Heavenly Father.

  8. What big step can you take when you turn 8?
    • A. 🏍️ Ride a motorcycle
    • B. 💧 Be baptized
    • C. 🏠 Buy a house
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💧 Be baptized Baptism is a big step on the way home, just like Jesus showed us.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Lived in Heaven Children’s Songbook, p. 4

    It tells the very first part of the trip: life with Heavenly Father and His plan. Find it ↗

  • I Am a Child of God Children’s Songbook, p. 2

    A song they already know about who they are and where they’re going. Find it ↗

  • Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Children’s Songbook, p. 275

    A wiggly way to say thank you for the body we got when we came to earth. Find it ↗

  • I’m Trying to Be like Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 78

    Jesus shows the way, and we follow Him. Perfect for the calm ending. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Thank-You Trip

Every night this week, say a prayer and thank Heavenly Father for one gift for your trip: your body, your family, the scriptures, prayer, the Holy Ghost, or Jesus. On Saturday, tell your family which gift you’re most thankful for.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned Heavenly Father’s plan: we lived with Him before we were born, we came to earth to get a body and learn to choose the right, and Jesus Christ shows us the way home (John 14:6). We acted it out as the biggest trip ever. Ask your child: what gifts did Heavenly Father pack for your trip?

📝 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?

🧦 Sock Buddy: Spirit and Body · 3 min

  1. Lay a clean sock on the table. Say: “Sock, wave hello!” (Nothing happens.) Let them giggle.
  2. Hold up your hand. Say: “My hand is like my spirit, the real me that lived with Heavenly Father.” Slide your hand into the sock and make it wave and talk. “When I was born, my spirit came into a body.”
  3. SAY“Now my spirit and body work together, and I can learn and grow. Because Jesus rose again, someday everyone’s spirit and body will be together forever.”

🖍️ My Trip Picture · 5 min

  1. Give each child a paper and crayons. Help them fold it into three parts.
  2. Part 1: a star (heaven). Part 2: a picture of themselves on earth with their family. Part 3: a house (home with Heavenly Father).
  3. Readers can write “Jesus is the way” across the bottom. Little ones can draw a path connecting the pictures.

💛 Jesus Did What Heavenly Father Wanted · 3 min

  1. Read John 6:38 from the screen.
  2. Act out things Jesus did because Heavenly Father wanted Him to: being baptized (pretend to go under the water), healing people (gentle hands), praying (fold arms), loving children (hug yourself).
  3. Ask: “What is one thing you can do this week that Heavenly Father wants?”

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 CTR 4–7 lessons