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Little Girl, Arise!

A worried dad, a woman who touched a robe, a girl who woke up, and a Father who knows every sparrow

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • Week 10
  • 📅 Sunday, March 7, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus Christ has power to heal, and Heavenly Father knows and loves each one of us, so we don’t have to be afraid.

I can believe in Jesus when I feel scared, because Heavenly Father knows me and loves me.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 9–10; Mark 5; Luke 9 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 9–10; Mark 5; Luke 9)
Know the chapters

Mark 5:22–43 tells two miracles on one road. Jairus, a leader in the synagogue, falls at Jesus’s feet and begs Him to come heal his little daughter, who is dying. On the way, a woman who has been sick for twelve years reaches through the crowd and touches the edge of Jesus’s clothes, and she is healed right away. Jesus stops, finds her, calls her “Daughter” and tells her that her faith has made her whole. Then a messenger says Jairus’s girl has died. Jesus tells Jairus, “Be not afraid, only believe.” At the house He takes the girl by the hand, tells her to arise, and she gets up and walks. She is twelve years old.

Matthew 10 adds two more treasures for little ones. Jesus calls twelve Apostles and gives them power to heal and to teach (10:1–8), and we have Apostles on the earth today. And Jesus teaches that Heavenly Father notices even a tiny sparrow, and knows the number of hairs on each person’s head (10:29–31). Young children sometimes feel small or overlooked. This is the week to tell them: Heavenly Father knows you by name.

Four- to seven-year-olds love the “wake up” moment and the tiny coin for two birds. Keep the girl’s death gentle: Jesus said she was like someone sleeping, and He woke her up. Let the 6- and 7-year-olds read the short lines and carry the messenger part; give the 4- and 5-year-olds the crowd, the sparrows and the big reach.

Many children have seen priesthood power at work in a blessing from a father, grandfather, bishop or ministering brother. The same power Jesus gave His Apostles blesses the sick today. For the 7-year-olds, baptism is done by that same priesthood authority. Faith doesn’t mean we never feel afraid. It means we bring our fears to Jesus and keep believing.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Mark 5:22–43 so you can tell it in your own words. Start with Count My Hairs, then open the Story Drama in Teach Mode: the crowd squishes, the woman reaches, and the girl wakes up. Teach “Be not afraid, only believe” with the motions, play Forehead Guess and share your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: the kids become the sparrows.

What to bring4 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. Put the two pennies in your pocket.
  2. If you brought a scarf, drape it over a chair near the front. It will be the edge of Jesus’s robe that the woman reaches for.
  3. Clear a strip of floor for the crowd to walk down, and a spot where the daughter can lie down.
  4. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out roles with one tap.

If your class is wild

  • The crowd scene is the wiggle. Let them squish and shuffle, but “no pushing, only slow-motion bumping.”
  • The girl waking up is the big moment. Build suspense: lower your voice, pause, then read the words and let her spring up.
  • Some children may have lost someone. If a child asks, say gently that because of Jesus everyone will live again someday.
  • Give readers the Messenger and screen captions. Little ones make a great crowd and even better sparrows.

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

Count My Hairs!

2 min

Trying (and failing!) to count someone’s hair sets up the truth that Heavenly Father knows every detail about us.

  1. Ask for a volunteer, or point to your own head. Say: “How many hairs are on this head? Let’s count!”
  2. Tap Big Timer for 20 seconds. Kids gently point and count out loud: “One, two, three…”
  3. When the timer rings, ask, “Did we finish?” (No way!) Say: “Jesus said Heavenly Father knows exactly how many hairs are on your head. That’s how well He knows you!”
  4. SAY“Today we’ll meet a dad, a woman and a little girl. Heavenly Father knew each of them, and Jesus helped every one.”
🌪️ Counting is pointing only, no pulling! Anyone who touches hair sits out for the next count.
⏱️ Big Timer (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 💇 How many hairs are on your head? · Heavenly Father knows! 💖

2. Story

Story Drama: The Girl Who Woke Up

7 min

Acting out the crowd, the reach and the wake-up helps kids feel Jesus’s power and His love for each person.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Everyone without a part is in the Crowd.
  2. Read each scene and pause for the action. Let a reader read each caption out loud.
  3. The teacher reads all of Jesus’s words. Nobody plays Jesus: the Crowd walks around the teacher, and the woman reaches for the scarf or the teacher’s sleeve.
  4. In scene 7, stop and teach the motions for “Be not afraid, only believe.” You’ll use them again soon.
  5. After scene 9, ask: “How many years was the woman sick? How old was the girl?” (Twelve and twelve!)
🌪️ The Crowd moves in slow motion only. If bumping gets real, say, “Freeze! Jesus is stopping,” and everyone freezes to listen.

Class screen: 👧 Little girl, arise! · Reach 🤲 · Believe 💖 · Arise! 🌅

3. Wiggle break

Sleepers, Arise!

2 min

A wake-up game gets the wiggles out and helps kids remember the girl who got up.

  1. Everyone lies down or puts their head on their knees and pretends to sleep. No peeking, no giggling!
  2. Walk around quietly. Tap one child on the shoulder and whisper, “Arise!” They jump up and help you find another giggler to wake.
  3. When everyone is awake, finish with twelve jumping jacks, one for each year the girl had lived.
  4. SAY“Jesus has power to wake people up from death. Because of Him, everyone will live again someday.”
🌪️ Wakers walk, they don’t run. If the room gets loud, everyone goes back to “sleeping” for five seconds.

Class screen: 🌅 Sleepers… arise! · 12 jumping jacks! 🦘

4. Object lesson

Two Birds for a Penny

3 min

Tiny coins and tiny birds show that Heavenly Father notices everyone, and we matter even more.

  1. Hold up the two pennies. Say: “In Jesus’s time, you could buy two little birds called sparrows for one tiny coin like this. They didn’t cost much at all.”
  2. Pick two kids to be sparrows. They flap around the room, then gently “land” on the floor.
  3. SAY“Jesus said not even one little sparrow falls to the ground without Heavenly Father knowing. And you are worth more than many sparrows!”
  4. Let a reader read Matthew 10:31 from the screen. Say: “Heavenly Father knows your name. He knows when you’re scared, and He loves you.”
🌪️ Sparrows fly in a circle, all the same way, so nobody crashes.

Class screen: 🐦 You are worth more than many sparrows! · Matthew 10:29–31

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Two pennies (or any two small coins)

Sparrow Flyers

  1. SAY“In Jesus’s time, little birds called sparrows were so cheap that you could buy two with one tiny coin.”
  2. Everyone becomes a sparrow and flaps around the room. When you say, “Land!” every sparrow lands softly on the floor.
  3. Walk around and name every single sparrow: “I see Ava. I see Leo…” Say: “Jesus said Heavenly Father notices every sparrow. And you are worth even more than lots of sparrows!”
  4. Let a reader read Matthew 10:31 from the screen. Say: “Heavenly Father knows your name. He knows when you’re scared, and He loves you.”

Class screen: 🐦 Heavenly Father sees every sparrow!

5. Scripture

Brave Verse: Mark 5:36

3 min

Five short words with motions give kids something to say to themselves when they feel afraid.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a reader to read it; everyone else does the motions.
  2. Say it together three ways: whispering (like at night), normal voice, and brave voice.
  3. Play “Scary or Not?”: name something (thunder, a new school, the dark, a big dog, a shot at the doctor). If it can feel scary, everyone says the verse with motions.
  4. SAY“When we’re scared, we can remember Jesus and believe. We can pray, and Heavenly Father will help us.”

Class screen: 💪 Be not afraid, only believe · Mark 5:36

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Arise Edition

3 min

A Heads Up–style game reviews the story with easy picture words.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. One child holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. Classmates give clues or act it out without saying the word. The picture helps pre-readers know what it is.
  3. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. About 30 seconds per guesser.
  4. Pair younger guessers with an older buddy who can whisper hints.
🌪️ Clue-givers raise a hand and wait to be called on. Flapping like a sparrow is always a good clue.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Act it out. Don’t say the word!

7. Talk it over

Heavenly Father Knows Me

2 min

Kids connect the story to their own fears and to the priesthood blessings and Apostles they know.

  1. Sit close. Tap Name Spinner to pick who answers.
  2. Little ones can answer with a face, a point or an action.
  3. If you brought pictures of the Apostles, show them for the last question.
💬 Ask the class
  • How do you think Jairus felt when his daughter got up?
  • What does Heavenly Father know about you?
  • Have you ever had a priesthood blessing? How did it help?
  • Jesus called twelve Apostles. Who leads the Church today?
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 💬 Let’s talk!

8. Testimony

Only Believe

3 min

End calm with the teacher’s witness that Jesus has power to help and Heavenly Father knows each child.

  1. Everyone sits still. Softly sing or hum “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228).
  2. SAY“Jesus gave His Apostles power to bless and heal. Today worthy priesthood holders can give blessings with that same power, and our 7-year-olds will be baptized by that power.”
  3. Share a short testimony: that Heavenly Father knows each child’s name and that Jesus can help when they’re afraid.
  4. Show the challenge on the screen. Invite a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 💖 Heavenly Father knows my name · Be not afraid, only believe

9. Game

Two by Two

3 minBONUS

Jesus sent His Apostles out two by two to help people; kids practice helping in pairs.

  1. SAY“Jesus gave His twelve Apostles power and sent them out in pairs to teach and help.”
  2. Put kids in pairs. Call out a job and each pair acts it out together: “Carry groceries!” “Help someone who fell!” “Share a snack!” “Tell someone about Jesus!”
  3. Count off twelve kids (or twelve jumps if you have fewer): “Twelve Apostles!”
  4. SAY“We have twelve Apostles today too, and they still teach about Jesus.”

Class screen: 👫 Go two by two and help!

10. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team quiz reviews the lesson if you have extra time.

  1. Split into two teams. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  2. Read each question and the choices out loud for the pre-readers.
  3. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer. Tap the team that got it right.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

Story drama

The Girl Who Woke Up

Mark 5:22–43 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • JairusA worried dad who kneels at Jesus’s feet and begs, “Please come help my little girl!”
  • Jairus’s DaughterLies very still on the floor, then gets up and walks when Jesus’s words are read.
  • The Woman Who ReachedTiptoes through the crowd and reaches out to touch the edge of Jesus’s robe.
  • MessengerA reader who runs in with sad news, reading the line from the screen.
  • Peter, James and JohnThree Apostles who walk with Jesus into the girl’s room.
  • The CrowdEveryone else! Walk in a squished-together bunch, bump in slow motion, and gasp.

Scenes

  1. 👨🙏 A worried dad asks for help

    A man named Jairus pushed through a big crowd and fell down at Jesus’s feet. He cried that his little daughter was very sick, and he begged Jesus to come and put His hands on her so she could get better. And Jesus went with him.

    🎬 Jairus kneels by the teacher and says, “Please come help my little girl!”

  2. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑👣 A great big crowd!

    So many people wanted to be close to Jesus. They crowded all around Him as He walked down the road.

    🎬 The Crowd squishes together and shuffles along in slow motion: “Excuse me! Excuse me!”

  3. 🤒👩 A woman sick for twelve years

    In the crowd was a woman who had been sick for twelve whole years. She had gone to lots of doctors, but she only got worse. She thought that if she could just touch His clothes, she would be well.

    🎬 Everyone counts to twelve on their fingers. The Woman Who Reached tiptoes into the crowd.

  4. 🤲✨ She reaches out and is healed

    She squeezed through the people, stretched out her hand, and touched the edge of Jesus’s robe. Right away she felt it: she was healed!

    🎬 The woman reaches out and touches the scarf (or the teacher’s sleeve). Everyone gasps, “Ohhh!”

  5. ❓❤️ “Who touched my clothes?”

    Jesus stopped. He asked, “Who touched my clothes?” The woman came and knelt down and told Him the truth. Jesus looked at her with love, called her “Daughter,” and told her that her faith had made her well.

    🎬 The Crowd freezes. The woman kneels and smiles. Everyone whispers, “Her faith made her well!”

  6. 🏃😢 Sad news from home

    Just then a messenger came running from Jairus’s house. “Thy daughter is dead,” he said. There was no need to trouble Jesus anymore. Jairus was so sad.

    🎬 The Messenger runs in and reads the news from the screen. Jairus covers his face.

  7. 💪💖 “Be not afraid, only believe”

    Jesus heard it. He turned to Jairus and said, “Be not afraid, only believe.” Then He took Peter, James and John and went to the house.

    🎬 Everyone says it together with the motions: “Be not afraid, only believe.” Peter, James and John walk with Jairus to the daughter.

  8. 👧🛏️ Jesus says she is only sleeping

    At the house, people were crying. Jesus said she was not dead, only sleeping. Some people laughed at Him. So He sent them outside and took only the mom, the dad and His three Apostles into her room.

    🎬 The Daughter lies very still. Everyone else tiptoes and whispers, “Shhh.”

  9. 🤝🌅 Jesus takes her hand: “Arise!”

    Jesus took the girl by the hand and said, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.” (Damsel means girl.) She got right up and walked! She was twelve years old. Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

    🎬 The teacher reads Jesus’s words. The Daughter gets up and walks around the room. Everyone cheers quietly with jazz hands.

Key verse

Mark 5:36 ↗
“Be not afraid, only believe”
In kid words: Jesus said, “Don’t be scared. Just believe in Me.”
🙌 “Be not” = shake your head no · “afraid” = cover your face, then peek out · “only” = hold up one finger · “believe” = hand on your heart, then point up to heaven.

More verses

Mark 5:34 ↗
“Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace”
In kid words: Jesus told the woman, “Your faith in Me has made you well. Go and feel peace.”
Matthew 10:30–31 ↗
“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
In kid words: Heavenly Father even knows how many hairs are on your head. Don’t be afraid: you matter more than lots of little birds!
Matthew 10:1 ↗
“when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power”
In kid words: Jesus chose twelve Apostles and gave them His power to help and heal.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Crowd
  • 👨 Dad
  • 👧 Girl
  • 😴 Sleep
  • ⏰ Wake Up
  • ✋ Hand
  • 👘 Robe
  • 🔢 Twelve
  • 🩺 Doctor
  • 🐦 Bird
  • 🪙 Penny
  • 💇 Hair
  • 🏃 Run
  • 🍞 Eat
  • 🧔 Apostles
  • 💖 Believe
Clues for each word
  • Crowd: Lots and lots of people squished together
  • Dad: Jairus was one. He loved his girl
  • Girl: Jairus’s daughter was one
  • Sleep: Jesus said she was only doing this
  • Wake Up: What you do in the morning
  • Hand: Jesus took the girl by this
  • Robe: The woman touched the edge of it
  • Twelve: The girl was this many years old
  • Doctor: The woman went to lots of them
  • Bird: A sparrow is a little one
  • Penny: A tiny coin
  • Hair: Heavenly Father knows how many you have
  • Run: The messenger did this to bring news
  • Eat: Jesus said to give the girl something to do this
  • Apostles: Jesus chose twelve of them
  • Believe: Be not afraid, only…
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Why did Jairus come to Jesus?
    • A. His daughter was very sick 🤒
    • B. He wanted a snack 🍪
    • C. He lost his dog 🐕
    Show answer

    ✅ A. His daughter was very sick 🤒 He believed Jesus could make his little girl well.

  2. What did the woman in the crowd touch?
    • A. His shoes 👟
    • B. The edge of His robe 👘
    • C. A tree 🌳
    Show answer

    ✅ B. The edge of His robe 👘 She reached out with faith, and she was healed right away.

  3. How many years had the woman been sick?
    • A. Two ✌️
    • B. One hundred 💯
    • C. Twelve 🔢
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Twelve 🔢 Twelve years! And the girl was twelve years old too.

  4. What did Jesus tell Jairus after the sad news?
    • A. “Be not afraid, only believe.” 💖
    • B. “Go home.” 🏠
    • C. “Try again tomorrow.” 📅
    Show answer

    ✅ A. “Be not afraid, only believe.” 💖 Mark 5:36. He wanted Jairus to keep believing.

  5. What did the girl do when Jesus took her hand?
    • A. Kept sleeping 😴
    • B. Got up and walked 🚶‍♀️
    • C. Flew away 🕊️
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Got up and walked 🚶‍♀️ Jesus told her to arise, and she got right up!

  6. What did Jesus say to give the girl?
    • A. A toy 🧸
    • B. A bath 🛁
    • C. Something to eat 🍞
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Something to eat 🍞 Jesus cared about everything she needed, even lunch!

  7. Who knows how many hairs are on your head?
    • A. Heavenly Father 💖
    • B. Nobody 🤷
    • C. Your hairbrush 🪮
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Heavenly Father 💖 He knows you that well, and He loves you.

  8. How many Apostles did Jesus choose?
    • A. Three 3️⃣
    • B. Twelve 🔢
    • C. Fifty 5️⃣0️⃣
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Twelve 🔢 Twelve Apostles, and we have twelve Apostles today too.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • My Heavenly Father Loves Me Children’s Songbook, p. 228

    He knows every sparrow, and He knows and loves each child. Find it ↗

  • Faith Children’s Songbook, p. 96

    The woman and Jairus both believed in Jesus. Find it ↗

  • Tell Me the Stories of Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 57

    A gentle way to start the story drama. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Sparrow Spotter

This week, look for little birds outside. Every time you see one, remember: Heavenly Father knows that bird, and He knows and loves you even more. When you feel scared, say, “Be not afraid, only believe.”

Text the parents

Today in Primary we acted out Jairus’s daughter waking up when Jesus took her hand, and the woman who was healed when she touched His robe (Mark 5:22–43). We learned that Jesus has power to heal and that Heavenly Father knows us so well He knows how many hairs are on our heads (Matthew 10:30). Ask your child: what did Jesus say to the girl, and what can you say when you feel scared?

📝 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?

🤲 Reach for the Robe · 3 min

  1. Hang a scarf or dish towel over a chair. The class makes a slow-motion crowd around it.
  2. One child at a time tiptoes through the crowd to touch the edge of the scarf while the crowd gently sways.
  3. Each child who reaches it says one thing they believe about Jesus.

🧔 Meet the Apostles · 4 min

  1. Show pictures of the living prophet and Apostles in the Gospel Library app.
  2. Point to one picture at a time and let kids say something they notice: glasses, a smile, a tie.
  3. SAY“Jesus chose twelve Apostles long ago, and He calls Apostles today to teach us about Him.”

🍞 Snack Time, Jesus Style · 2 min

  1. Remind the class that after the girl woke up, Jesus told her family to give her something to eat.
  2. Pass out a cracker to each child (check for food allergies and your ward’s snack policy first).
  3. SAY“Jesus cares about big things and little things, like being hungry. He cares about everything that matters to you.”

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