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Come unto Me

A tug with a towel, yoke buddies, a sheep in a pit, and a man who stretched out his hand on the Sabbath

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • Week 11
  • 📅 Sunday, March 14, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus Christ helps me carry hard things, and Sunday is a special day to come to Him and do good.

I can come to Jesus when something feels hard, and I can do good things on the Sabbath.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 11–12; Luke 11 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 11–12; Luke 11)
Know the chapters

In Matthew 11:28–30 Jesus gives a gentle invitation: come to Him when you are tired and your load is heavy, and He will give you rest. He invites us to take His yoke. A yoke is a wooden bar that joins two oxen so they can pull a heavy load together. When we come to Jesus and make promises with Him, like at baptism, it’s as if we are yoked with Him. He pulls with us, and the load gets lighter.

Matthew 12:9–13 shows what the Sabbath is for. In the synagogue there was a man with a withered hand, shriveled so he couldn’t use it. Some Pharisees were watching to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath, so they could complain. Jesus asked: if your one sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you lift it out? A person matters much more than a sheep, so it is right to do good on the Sabbath. Then He told the man, “Stretch forth thine hand,” and it was healed.

Luke 11:9–13 adds prayer. Jesus said to ask, seek and knock. He asked what dad would give his hungry child a stone instead of bread. If parents know how to give good gifts, Heavenly Father will surely give the Holy Ghost to those who ask Him.

Four- to seven-year-olds have real heavy loads: missing Mom at a new school, a friend who won’t play, a sick pet, feeling bad after a mistake. Keep it simple: bring it to Jesus. Pray, sing about Him, and on Sunday take the sacrament and do something kind. For the 7-year-olds, the yoke is a picture of the baptism promise: Jesus and me, pulling together.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Matthew 11:28–30 and Matthew 12:9–13. Start with the towel tug (or your phone or tablet Tug of War), open the Story Drama in Teach Mode for the sheep and the healed hand, then teach “Come unto me… and I will give you rest” with the motions. Play Forehead Guess and close with your testimony about the sacrament. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: the kids link arms and become yoke buddies.

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 books in the grocery bag. Check that it’s heavy for one child but easy for two.
  2. For the bonus game, put the bread and the rock in the paper bag and fold the top.
  3. Clear a spot on the floor for the “pit” where the sheep will fall in.
  4. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out roles with one tap.

If your class is wild

  • Pulling games get loud fast. Set one rule first: when the teacher lets go, everyone lets go. Practice it once.
  • The yoke only works with slow, careful walking. Make it a “turtle walk” and nobody trips.
  • Give readers the Pharisees’ question and the screen captions. Little ones love being the sheep and the grain.
  • If a child shares a real heavy thing (a sick grandparent, parents fighting), thank them warmly and quietly tell a leader after class.

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

Can You Pull It Alone?

2 min

A tug that’s too hard alone and easy with helpers shows why we need Jesus.

  1. Sit on the floor holding one end of the towel. Invite the smallest child to pull you across the floor alone. Hold on (gently!) so they can’t do it.
  2. SAY“Too heavy? Who can help?” Add one helper, then another, then everyone. Let them pull you a few inches.
  3. SAY“Some things are too hard to do alone. Jesus said, ‘Come unto me.’ He is the best helper of all.”
🌪️ When the teacher lets go, everybody lets go. Practice that once before you start pulling.

Class screen: 💪 Too heavy alone? Get a helper!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A bath towel or beach towel (for the tug)

Tug of War: One vs. Everybody

  1. Tap Tug of War. Put one child on one side of your phone or tablet and everyone else on the other side.
  2. Say, “Go!” The big team wins easily. Ask the one child, “Was that hard alone?”
  3. Play again with even teams. Say: “Some things are too hard to do alone. Jesus said, ‘Come unto me.’ He is the best helper of all.”

Class screen: 💪 Too hard alone? Get a helper!

2. Story

Story Drama: Stretch Out Your Hand!

7 min

The sheep in the pit and the healed hand help kids see that the Sabbath is a day to do good.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Everyone without a part is one of the People at Church.
  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.
  4. After scene 8, ask: “Is it good to help someone on Sunday?” (Yes!) “What’s one good thing you could do next Sunday?”
🌪️ The sheep tumbles gently, sitting first. The shepherd helps with hands only, no dragging.

Class screen: ✋ Stretch forth thine hand! · Sheep in a pit 🐑 · A healed hand ✨

3. Wiggle break

Stretch and Rest

2 min

A stretching game gets the wiggles out and repeats the story’s big moment.

  1. Everyone stands. Call out stretches: “Stretch forth your hand… up to the sky! Out to the side! Down to your toes! Behind your back!”
  2. Speed up, then slow down. Let a 6- or 7-year-old call a round.
  3. Finish with: “Now rest!” Everyone lies down or sits with hands under their cheek like a pillow and breathes slowly.
  4. SAY“Jesus said, ‘I will give you rest.’ He helps us feel better when we come to Him.”
🌪️ Arms stretch in your own bubble. If anyone bumps, everyone “rests” for five slow breaths.

Class screen: 🙆 Stretch! Stretch! Now… rest!

4. Object lesson

Yoke Buddies

3 min

Carrying a heavy bag with a partner shows how Jesus pulls with us when we come to Him.

  1. SAY“Long ago, two oxen wore a yoke: a wooden bar that joined them so they could pull a heavy load together.”
  2. Let one child try to carry the heavy bag across the room alone. “Oof!”
  3. Hang the bag on the middle of the broom handle. Two kids hold the ends and carry it together with a slow turtle walk. “Easy!” Give several pairs a turn.
  4. SAY“Jesus said, ‘My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ When we come to Jesus and keep our promises, like at baptism, He helps carry our heavy things.”
🌪️ Turtle walk only. If a pair runs, the “ox” team has to walk back and try again in slow motion.

Class screen: 🐂 Together, the load is light! · Matthew 11:29–30

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A broom or mop handle (or a long cardboard tube) and a grocery bag with 3 or 4 books in it

Invisible Heavy Rock

  1. SAY“Long ago, two oxen wore a yoke: a wooden bar that joined them so they could pull a heavy load together.”
  2. One child pretends to carry a giant invisible rock across the room alone: huffing, puffing, wobbling. “Oof!”
  3. Now two kids link elbows like oxen in a yoke and carry the invisible rock together, smiling and easy. Give several pairs a turn.
  4. SAY“Jesus said, ‘My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ When we come to Jesus and keep our promises, like at baptism, He helps carry our heavy things.”

Class screen: 🐂 Together, the load is light!

5. Scripture

Rest Verse: Matthew 11:28

3 min

Jesus’s own invitation, with motions, gives kids words to remember when things feel heavy.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a reader to read it slowly while little ones watch the motions.
  2. Teach the motions one part at a time, then say it together twice.
  3. Play “Heavy or Light?”: name something (a feather, a school bus, feeling sad, a lost toy, being sick). For heavy things, everyone does the “heavy laden” slump, then the verse.
  4. SAY“When something feels heavy inside, we can come to Jesus. We can pray, and He will help us feel rest.”

Class screen: 🤗 Come unto me… and I will give you rest · Matthew 11:28

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Come unto Me Edition

3 min

A Heads Up–style game reviews the lesson 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. “Baa!” is allowed only once per round.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

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

7. Talk it over

Heavy Things and Sunday Things

2 min

Kids name real heavy feelings and good things they can do on the Sabbath.

  1. Sit close. Tap Name Spinner to pick who answers.
  2. Little ones can act out their answer or point.
  3. Share your own answer to one question first.
💬 Ask the class
  • What is something that can feel heavy, even if you can’t hold it?
  • What can you do when something feels hard?
  • What is a good thing you can do on Sunday?
  • How can you help someone else carry something heavy?
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 💬 Let’s talk!

8. Testimony

Rest in Jesus

3 min

End calm, connecting coming to Jesus with the sacrament and the Sabbath.

  1. Everyone sits very still. Softly sing or hum “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74).
  2. SAY“Every Sunday we can come to Jesus in a special way. When we take the sacrament, we remember Him and our baptism promises. Our 7-year-olds will make those promises soon.”
  3. Share a short testimony: a time Jesus helped you carry something heavy.
  4. Show the challenge on the screen. Invite a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🍞 On Sunday I can come to Jesus · Sacrament 🍞💧 · Pray 🙏 · Do good 💖

9. Game

Ask, Seek, Knock

3 minBONUS

A surprise bag shows that Heavenly Father gives good gifts, like the Holy Ghost, when we ask.

  1. Hold up the paper bag. A child knocks on it three times and says, “I’m hungry! May I have some bread?”
  2. Pull out the rock first. Say: “Would a mom or dad give you a rock when you asked for bread?” (No!) Then pull out the bread.
  3. SAY“Jesus said if parents know how to give good gifts, Heavenly Father gives even better ones. When we pray and ask, He sends the Holy Ghost to help and comfort us.”
  4. Let a reader read Luke 11:9 from the screen.

Class screen: 🚪 Ask! Seek! Knock! · Luke 11:9

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A paper bag with a slice of bread (or a cracker) and a clean rock inside (just for show, not for eating), for the bonus Ask, Seek, Knock

Bread or Rock?

  1. Pick a child to knock on the door (or the table) three times and ask, “May I have some bread?”
  2. The teacher pretends to hand them a heavy rock. Everyone shouts, “No way!” Then pretend to hand over a warm loaf. Everyone sniffs: “Mmm!”
  3. Try a fish and a snake the same way (Luke 11:11).
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father gives good gifts. When we pray and ask, He sends the Holy Ghost to help and comfort us.”
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

Stretch Out Your Hand!

Matthew 12:9–13 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Man with the Hurt HandHolds one hand tucked and curled up, then stretches it out wide when it’s healed.
  • Grumpy PhariseesReaders who fold their arms, frown and ask the trick question from the screen.
  • SheepSays “Baa!” and tumbles gently into the pretend pit.
  • ShepherdHurries to the pit and helps the sheep climb out.
  • People at ChurchEveryone else! Sit and listen in the synagogue, gasp and cheer quietly.

Scenes

  1. 🕍🌞 Jesus goes to church on the Sabbath

    It was the Sabbath, the Lord’s special day of rest. Jesus went into the synagogue. That was their church building, where people came to learn about God.

    🎬 The People at Church sit down and fold their arms reverently.

  2. ✋😢 A man with a hurt hand

    A man was there whose hand was withered. It was shriveled and curled up, and he couldn’t use it to hold things or work.

    🎬 The Man with the Hurt Hand tucks one hand close and curls it up. Everyone tries to pick something up with one curled hand. Hard!

  3. 😠❓ A trick question

    Some Pharisees were watching Jesus. They had made lots of extra rules about the Sabbath. They asked, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?” They wanted to catch Jesus doing something wrong.

    🎬 The Grumpy Pharisees fold their arms, frown and read the question from the screen.

  4. 🐑🕳️ Uh-oh! A sheep falls in a pit

    Jesus answered with a question. He asked them to imagine they had just one sheep, and it fell into a pit on the Sabbath.

    🎬 The Sheep says, “Baa!” and tumbles gently into the pretend pit. Everyone says, “Oh no!”

  5. 🧑‍🌾🐑 Would you help it out?

    Wouldn’t they grab their sheep and lift it out, even on the Sabbath? Of course they would!

    🎬 The Shepherd hurries over and helps the Sheep climb out. Everyone cheers softly, “Yay!”

  6. 🧍💖 People matter more than sheep

    Jesus said a person is worth much more than a sheep. “Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.” That means it is right to do good and help people on Sunday.

    🎬 Everyone points to a friend and says, “You matter!”

  7. ✋✨ “Stretch forth thine hand!”

    Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch forth thine hand.” The man stretched it out, and it was healed, just as strong as his other hand!

    🎬 The teacher reads Jesus’s words. The man slowly stretches his hand out wide and wiggles his fingers. Everyone stretches their hands out too.

  8. 😊🙌 A happy Sabbath!

    The Pharisees stomped away grumpy. But the man went home with two strong hands. Jesus showed that the Sabbath is a day to come to Him and do good.

    🎬 The Pharisees stomp away. The man claps with both hands. Everyone claps too, then folds their arms reverently.

Key verse

Matthew 11:28 ↗
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”
In kid words: Jesus said, “Come to Me when you are tired and things feel heavy, and I will help you rest.”
🙌 “Come unto me” = wave someone toward you · “all ye that labour” = wipe your forehead · “and are heavy laden” = slump your shoulders like you carry a heavy bag · “and I will give you rest” = hands under your cheek like a pillow, then a big, happy “Ahhh.”

More verses

Matthew 11:30 ↗
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
In kid words: When Jesus pulls with me, the load gets light.
Matthew 12:12 ↗
“it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days”
In kid words: It is right to do good things on Sunday.
Luke 11:9 ↗
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
In kid words: When I pray and ask, Heavenly Father listens and helps me.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 🐑 Sheep
  • ✋ Hand
  • 🙆 Stretch
  • 📅 Sunday
  • ⛪ Church
  • 😌 Rest
  • 🐂 Ox
  • 🏋️ Heavy
  • 🪶 Feather
  • 🎒 Backpack
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 🪨 Rock
  • 🐟 Fish
  • 🐍 Snake
  • 🚪 Knock
  • 🙏 Pray
Clues for each word
  • Sheep: Baa! It fell into a pit
  • Hand: Jesus healed the man’s hurt one
  • Stretch: Reach your arms out as far as you can
  • Sunday: The Sabbath day
  • Church: Where we go on Sunday
  • Rest: Jesus said He will give us this
  • Ox: A big animal that pulls with a yoke
  • Heavy: Hard to lift, not light
  • Feather: Something very light
  • Backpack: You carry it on your back to school
  • Bread: What the hungry child asked for
  • Rock: No dad would give this instead of bread
  • Fish: It swims, and you can eat it
  • Snake: Sssss! Not a good gift
  • Knock: Tap, tap, tap on a door
  • Pray: Talk to Heavenly Father
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Jesus said, “Come unto me… and I will give you…”
    • A. Candy 🍬
    • B. Rest 😌
    • C. Homework 📚
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Rest 😌 Matthew 11:28. Jesus helps us when things feel heavy.

  2. What is a yoke for?
    • A. Two animals pulling together 🐂
    • B. Eating eggs 🍳
    • C. Flying kites 🪁
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Two animals pulling together 🐂 A yoke joins two oxen so the load is easier. Jesus pulls with us!

  3. What was wrong with the man at church?
    • A. He had a cold 🤧
    • B. He lost his shoe 👟
    • C. His hand was hurt ✋
    Show answer

    ✅ C. His hand was hurt ✋ His hand was withered, shriveled so he couldn’t use it.

  4. What animal fell into a pit in Jesus’s story?
    • A. A cat 🐈
    • B. A sheep 🐑
    • C. A frog 🐸
    Show answer

    ✅ B. A sheep 🐑 Everyone would help their sheep, even on the Sabbath!

  5. Who matters more than a sheep?
    • A. People! 🧍
    • B. Nobody 🤷
    • C. Only kings 👑
    Show answer

    ✅ A. People! 🧍 Every person matters to Jesus, so it’s right to help people on Sunday.

  6. What happened when the man stretched out his hand?
    • A. It turned blue 🔵
    • B. He dropped something 🫳
    • C. It was healed ✨
    Show answer

    ✅ C. It was healed ✨ It was strong again, just like his other hand!

  7. Which is a good thing to do on the Sabbath?
    • A. Visit Grandma 👵
    • B. Be grumpy all day 😠
    • C. Never talk to anyone 🙊
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Visit Grandma 👵 The Sabbath is a day to come to Jesus and do good.

  8. What does Heavenly Father give to those who ask?
    • A. A rock 🪨
    • B. The Holy Ghost 🕊️
    • C. A snake 🐍
    Show answer

    ✅ B. The Holy Ghost 🕊️ Luke 11:13. He gives good gifts when we pray.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Feel My Savior’s Love Children’s Songbook, p. 74

    A gentle song about coming to Jesus, perfect for the testimony. Find it ↗

  • A Child’s Prayer Children’s Songbook, p. 12

    Ask, seek and knock: Heavenly Father hears children’s prayers. Find it ↗

  • Kindness Begins with Me Children’s Songbook, p. 145

    Doing good on the Sabbath starts with being kind. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Sunday Helper

Next Sunday, do one good thing to help someone: draw a picture for a grandparent, help set the table, or share a toy. When something feels heavy this week, say a prayer and ask Jesus to help you carry it.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned that Jesus said, “Come unto me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). We carried heavy bags with a buddy like oxen in a yoke, and we acted out Jesus healing a man’s hand on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:9–13). Ask your child: what did Jesus say about the sheep in the pit, and what good thing can we do together this Sunday?

📝 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?

📝 Sunday Do-Good List · 4 min

  1. Draw a big sun on a paper and write “Sunday Do-Good” at the top.
  2. Kids call out good things to do on the Sabbath. Readers write them; little ones draw a tiny picture next to each.
  3. Let each child pick one to try next Sunday.

🥣 Clean Inside and Out · 3 min

  1. Show a cup that is shiny outside but has a smudge of dirt inside.
  2. Ask: “Would you drink from it?” Say: “Jesus taught that being good on the inside matters, not just looking good on the outside” (Luke 11:39–41).
  3. Ask: “What makes our hearts clean inside?” (Repenting, loving others, praying.)

📅 Seven-Day Hop · 3 min

  1. Name the days of the week while hopping in place: “Monday, Tuesday…”
  2. On “Sunday,” everyone stops, folds their arms, and whispers one thing that makes Sunday special.
  3. Play again faster.

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