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Heave! Ho! Out of the Mud!

A grumpy king burns God’s words, a prophet sinks in squishy mud, and a brave helper comes with ropes and soft rags

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • Week 44
  • 📅 Sunday, November 1, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father and Jesus love me forever, and I can be a brave, kind helper like Ebed-melech.

I can be brave and kind like Ebed-melech when someone needs help.

Study it yourself firstRead Jeremiah 31–33; 36–39; Lamentations 1; 3 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Jeremiah 31–33; 36–39; Lamentations 1; 3)
Know the chapters

Jeremiah was a prophet in Jerusalem just before the city was destroyed. In Jeremiah 36 the Lord told him to write His words on a scroll, and his helper Baruch wrote them all down. When the scroll was read to King Jehoiakim beside a winter fire, the king cut it up and burned it. The Lord simply had Jeremiah and Baruch write it again. People can burn paper, but they can’t stop God’s word.

Years later (Jeremiah 38) angry leaders lowered Jeremiah on ropes into a deep, empty water pit, and he sank in the mud at the bottom. Ebed-melech, a servant from Ethiopia who worked in the palace, went straight to King Zedekiah and said it was wrong. With thirty men, ropes and some old soft rags so the ropes wouldn’t hurt Jeremiah’s arms, he pulled the prophet out. The Lord later promised to keep Ebed-melech safe “because thou hast put thy trust in me” (39:18). He is a wonderful hero for little ones: an ordinary helper who was brave and kind at the same time.

Jeremiah 31:3 tells us the Lord loves His people “with an everlasting love,” a love that never ends. In 31:33 He promises to write His law in our hearts. The 7-year-olds in your class are getting ready to be baptized, when they will promise to remember Jesus and help others, and Heavenly Father will promise them the Holy Ghost. Lamentations is a book of sad poems about Jerusalem, but it also says the Lord’s kindness is “new every morning” (3:23). Because of Jesus Christ, we can repent and start fresh, and the sacrament each Sunday helps us do that.

For a class of 4- to 7-year-olds, keep the pit squishy and silly, not scary, and keep coming back to two words: brave and kind. Let your readers (usually the 6- and 7-year-olds) read the short screen lines and the scroll; let the 4- and 5-year-olds make the sounds, pull the rope and do the motions.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Jeremiah 38:6–13 so you can tell it in your own words. Bring a jump rope or scarf and a sock. Run the Story Drama from your phone or tablet and let the whole class pull Jeremiah out, then play Forehead Guess and do the key verse motions. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing” and the rope, scroll and hearts all become invisible.

What to bring5 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. Cut one paper heart per child, about the size of your hand.
  2. Roll the paper into a scroll and tape it. Tie or tuck the sock onto one end of the rope.
  3. Set the coin or rock and the banana or bubbles in a bag so you can pull them out one at a time.
  4. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out roles with one tap. Give a reading part (Baruch) to a child who reads well.

If your class is wild

  • Day-after-Halloween sugar is real. If they’re bouncing, jump straight to the Tug of War wiggle, then come back.
  • In the rescue, nobody drags anybody. Jeremiah holds the rope and walks himself up while the crew pulls hand over hand.
  • The grumpy king gets three pretend tears of the scroll, then crosses his arms and says, “Hmph!” That’s his whole job.
  • Little ones who don’t want a part can be the “squish squish” mud sounds from their seats. That still counts!
  • Pair a reader with a pre-reader for Forehead Guess so everyone can play.

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

Forever or Not?

3 min

A quick guessing game teaches the big word “everlasting” before we meet Jeremiah.

  1. Let each child say their Halloween costume in one word. Then say: “Today I brought a guessing game. Some things last a long time, and some things don’t.”
  2. Pull out the banana, flower or bubbles. Ask: “Will this last forever?” (Blow a few bubbles and let the kids pop them. They’re gone so fast!)
  3. Pull out the coin or rock. Ask: “Will this last a long, long time?” Let a reader tell what’s on the coin.
  4. SAY“Some things are everlasting. That means they never, ever end. The Lord told the prophet Jeremiah that His love is everlasting. Heavenly Father and Jesus love you, and Their love never ends!”
  5. SAY“Let’s find out what happened to Jeremiah. He needed that love, because he got stuck in some very squishy mud!”
🌪️ Bubbles are for popping from your seat. Anyone who runs after them sits out the next round.

Class screen: 🫧 Will it last forever? · Pop! 🫧 · Forever! 💖

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Something that lasts a long time (a coin or a rock) and something that doesn’t (a banana, a flower or a bottle of bubbles)

Pop or Forever?

  1. Let each child say their Halloween costume in one word. Then say: “Some things last a long time, and some things don’t. Let’s play Pop or Forever!”
  2. Teach the moves: for things that end fast, crouch down and jump up with a “POP!” like a bubble. For things that last a long time, give yourself a big hug.
  3. Call out: a bubble (pop!), a mountain (hug), an ice cream cone on a hot day (pop!), the sun (hug), a sneeze (pop!).
  4. SAY“Some things are everlasting. That means they never, ever end. The Lord told the prophet Jeremiah that His love is everlasting. Heavenly Father and Jesus love you, and Their love never ends!”
  5. SAY“Let’s find out what happened to Jeremiah. He got stuck in some very squishy mud!”

Class screen: 🫧 Pop or forever? · Pop! 🫧 · Forever! 💖

2. Story

Story Drama: Jeremiah and the Muddy Pit

7 min

Acting out the rescue shows that God’s words can’t be stopped and that a regular helper can be brave and kind.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Give Baruch to a reader. Everyone else is the Rescue Crew.
  2. Give Baruch the scroll. Read each scene and pause for the action. Let a reader read the big caption on each screen.
  3. At scene 3, lead the cheer: “Can’t stop God’s words!”
  4. For the rescue, Jeremiah sits on the floor holding one end of the rope with the sock tucked under his arm. The crew pulls hand over hand while Jeremiah walks himself up. Nobody drags anybody.
  5. Ask: “Was Ebed-melech brave? Was he kind? How?” (He spoke up, and he sent down soft rags.)
🌪️ If the mud crew gets too loud, whisper the next line. They’ll get quiet to hear it.

Class screen: 🎭 Story Drama time! · Everyone gets a part

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A jump rope, long scarf or towel (the rope) and an old sock or washcloth (the soft rags), A sheet of paper rolled up and taped into a scroll

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Give Baruch to a reader. Everyone else is the Rescue Crew.
  2. Everything is invisible today! Baruch writes on an invisible scroll. Each time the king tears a strip, the whole class goes, “RRRIP!” Tap the fire sound on the Sound Board.
  3. Read each scene and pause for the action. At scene 3, lead the cheer: “Can’t stop God’s words!”
  4. For the rescue, Ebed-melech lowers an invisible rope with invisible soft rags. Jeremiah tucks them under his arms: “Ahh, soft!”
  5. The crew pulls an invisible rope, “Heave! Ho!”, while Jeremiah slowly walks himself up as if the rope were lifting him. Nobody touches anybody.
3. Wiggle break

Heave-Ho Tug of War

2 min

Thirty men pulled together to save Jeremiah. Now the class pulls together to burn off some wiggles.

  1. Split the class into Team Rope and Team Rags. Tap Tug of War.
  2. Each team taps its side of your phone or tablet as fast as it can. Play two quick rounds.
  3. Between rounds, everyone stands and pulls an invisible rope: “Heave! Ho! Heave! Ho!”
  4. SAY“Ebed-melech couldn’t pull Jeremiah out alone. Helpers work together!”
🌪️ Your phone or tablet stays flat on the table, fingertips only. Little ones can tap too; give them the spot closest to their team’s side.
🪢 Tug of War (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🪢 Heave! Ho! Pull together! · Team Rope · Team Rags

4. Scripture

Forever Love: Jeremiah 31:3

3 min

Kids learn a short verse with motions that says Heavenly Father’s love never ends.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a reader to read it out loud, slowly.
  2. Teach the motions one part at a time. Everyone says it with motions three ways: normal voice, tiny mouse voice, then big Ebed-melech voice.
  3. Hide the screen and see if the class can say it alone.
  4. SAY“Jeremiah was stuck in the mud, but Heavenly Father still loved him. When you feel stuck or sad, His love is still there. It’s everlasting!”
🌪️ Tiny mouse voice works like magic for a loud room. Stay in mouse voice until they’re calm.

Class screen: 💖 I have loved thee with an everlasting love · Jeremiah 31:3

5. Object lesson

Promise Hearts

3 min

The Lord said He would write His words in our hearts. Kids fill a heart with a promise they can keep, just like the promises we make at baptism.

  1. Hand each child a paper heart. Say: “The Lord told Jeremiah He wants to write His words in our hearts. When we’re baptized, we make promises with Heavenly Father.”
  2. SAY“We promise to always remember Jesus, to keep His commandments, and to help people, like Ebed-melech did. Heavenly Father promises us the Holy Ghost.”
  3. Kids draw one promise on their heart: a picture of Jesus, a helping hand, praying, or being kind. Readers can write a word like “Help” or “Jesus.”
  4. Ask any 7-year-olds: “Who is getting baptized soon?” Celebrate each one. Everyone else can say how old they’ll be when they’re baptized.
  5. SAY“Put your heart in your pocket. It can remind you of your promise all week.”
🌪️ Crayons live in the middle of the table. When your heart is done, hold it up high so I can see.

Class screen: ❤️ What promise is in your heart? · Remember Jesus · Help others · Keep His commandments

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: One paper heart per child and a few crayons

Invisible Promise Hearts

  1. Everyone makes a heart with their hands. Say: “The Lord told Jeremiah He wants to write His words in our hearts. When we’re baptized, we make promises with Heavenly Father.”
  2. SAY“We promise to always remember Jesus, to keep His commandments, and to help people, like Ebed-melech did. Heavenly Father promises us the Holy Ghost.”
  3. Go around the circle. Each child “writes” a promise inside their hand-heart with one finger and says it out loud: “Help my sister,” “Remember Jesus,” “Say my prayers.”
  4. Ask any 7-year-olds: “Who is getting baptized soon?” Celebrate each one.
  5. Everyone presses their hand-heart onto their chest: “Written in my heart!”
6. Game

Forehead Guess: Muddy Pit Edition

3 min

A Heads Up–style game reviews the people and things from 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 without saying the word. The picture and hint help the littlest ones know what to say or act out.
  3. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. Each guesser gets about 30 seconds.
  4. Pair a pre-reader with a reader so everyone gets a turn to guess.
🌪️ Clue-givers stay in their seats and raise a hand. Acting it out is allowed: squish in the mud, pull a rope, crackle like a fire.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

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

7. Talk it over

Brave and Kind

2 min

Kids think of real ways to be an Ebed-melech this week.

  1. Tap Name Spinner to pick who answers each question. They can ask a friend for help.
  2. For the little ones, act out the answer instead of saying it.
  3. Share your own answer to one question.
💬 Ask the class
  • What did Ebed-melech do that was brave?
  • What did he do that was kind?
  • A friend falls down at recess. What can you do?
  • Someone is being left out. How can you help?
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🦸 How can I be brave and kind? · Like Ebed-melech!

8. Testimony

New Every Morning

2 min

End calm: because of Jesus, every day is a fresh start.

  1. Kids rest their heads on their arms like it’s nighttime. Whisper: “Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has hard days.”
  2. Say softly: “The scriptures say the Lord’s kindness is new every morning.” Then: “Good morning!” Kids stretch up slowly like the sun coming up.
  3. SAY“Because of Jesus, when we say sorry and try again, we get a fresh start. That’s what the sacrament is for, every Sunday.”
  4. Share one or two sentences of testimony about Jesus Christ, our greatest Rescuer. Invite a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🌅 His kindness is new every morning! · Every day is a fresh start

9. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team quiz reviews the story 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 their answer. Tap the team that got it right.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

Story drama

Jeremiah and the Muddy Pit

Jeremiah 36; 38:1–13; 39:15–18 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • JeremiahThe prophet. Says God’s words, sinks slowly into the mud, then holds the rope and walks himself up.
  • BaruchJeremiah’s helper (a great part for a reader). Writes on the scroll and reads it in a big voice.
  • King JehoiakimThe grumpy king. Pretends to tear three strips off the scroll and toss them in the fire. “Hmph!”
  • Ebed-melechThe brave palace helper. Marches to the king, says, “This is wrong!” and leads the rescue.
  • King ZedekiahA later king who listens and says, “Take thirty men and pull him out!”
  • Rescue CrewEveryone else: the crackling fire, the squishy mud sounds, and the thirty helpers who pull.

Scenes

  1. 📜✍️ Write God’s words on a scroll!

    Jeremiah was a prophet. The Lord told him to write down His words. His helper Baruch wrote every word on a long roll of paper called a scroll.

    🎬 Jeremiah pretends to talk. Baruch writes fast. Everyone writes in the air: “Scritch, scratch!”

  2. 👑🔥 The grumpy king burns the scroll

    The scroll was read to King Jehoiakim while he sat by a warm fire. He did not like God’s words. So he cut the scroll into pieces and tossed them into the fire!

    🎬 The king tears three pretend strips and tosses them in. The crew warms their hands: “Crackle, crackle!”

  3. 📜✨ “Write it all again!”

    Did the king win? No way! The Lord told Jeremiah to get another scroll and write it all again. And Baruch did. You can burn paper, but you can’t stop God’s words.

    🎬 Baruch writes super fast again. Everyone cheers: “Can’t stop God’s words!”

  4. 🕳️🟤 Down into the squishy mud

    Later, some angry men didn’t like Jeremiah’s messages either. They let him down on ropes into a deep, empty pit. There was no water at the bottom, just squishy mud, and Jeremiah sank down in it. But Heavenly Father knew right where he was.

    🎬 Jeremiah slowly sinks down to sit on the floor. The crew squishes their feet: “Squish, squish!”

  5. 🧑🏾📣 Ebed-melech speaks up!

    A helper in the king’s palace named Ebed-melech heard what happened. He wasn’t a prince or a prophet. But he marched right to the king and said, “This is wrong! Jeremiah needs help!”

    🎬 Ebed-melech marches in place, points and says, “This is wrong!” The crew says, “Wow, he’s brave!”

  6. 🤴👍 “Take thirty men and pull him out!”

    King Zedekiah listened. He said, “Take thirty men with you and pull Jeremiah out.” Thirty is a LOT of helpers!

    🎬 King Zedekiah gives a thumbs-up. Everyone flashes ten fingers three times: “Ten, twenty, thirty!”

  7. 🪢🧦 Soft rags so the ropes won’t hurt

    Ebed-melech found some old, soft rags. He let them down on the ropes and called, “Put these under your arms so the ropes won’t hurt you.” He was brave AND kind!

    🎬 Ebed-melech lowers the rope and sock. Jeremiah tucks the sock under his arm: “Ahh, soft!”

  8. 💪🎉 Heave! Ho! Out of the mud!

    Everybody pulled together. Heave! Ho! Up, up, up came Jeremiah, out of the mud! The Lord promised to keep Ebed-melech safe, because he trusted the Lord.

    🎬 The crew pulls hand over hand, “Heave! Ho!”, while Jeremiah walks himself up to standing. Everyone cheers!

Key verse

Jeremiah 31:3 ↗
“I have loved thee with an everlasting love”
In kid words: The Lord says, “I love you forever and ever.”
🙌 “I have loved thee” = hug yourself · “with an everlasting” = draw a giant circle in the air that never stops · “love” = make a heart with your hands and hold it out to a friend.

More verses

Jeremiah 38:13 ↗
“So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon”
In kid words: They pulled Jeremiah up with ropes, right out of the pit!
Jeremiah 36:28 ↗
“Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words”
In kid words: Get another scroll and write all the same words again!
Jeremiah 31:33 ↗
“write it in their hearts”
In kid words: God wants His words to live in our hearts.
Lamentations 3:22–23 ↗
“They are new every morning”
In kid words: The Lord’s kindness is brand-new every morning.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 🧔 Jeremiah
  • 📜 Scroll
  • 👑 King
  • 🔥 Fire
  • 🟤 Mud
  • 🕳️ Hole
  • 🪢 Rope
  • 🧦 Sock
  • 🧑🏾 Ebed-melech
  • 🦁 Brave
  • ❤️ Heart
  • ✏️ Pencil
  • 💧 Baptism
  • 🌅 Sunrise
  • 🫧 Bubbles
  • 🤝 Helper
Clues for each word
  • Jeremiah: The prophet who got stuck in the mud
  • Scroll: A long paper all rolled up
  • King: He wears a crown
  • Fire: Hot! Crackle, crackle!
  • Mud: Squishy, brown and sticky
  • Hole: A deep pit in the ground
  • Rope: Pull, pull, pull!
  • Sock: Soft and goes on your foot
  • Ebed-melech: The brave helper who saved Jeremiah
  • Brave: Not scared to do what’s right
  • Heart: God writes His words here
  • Pencil: You write with it
  • Baptism: You go all the way under the water
  • Sunrise: The sun comes up in the morning
  • Bubbles: Pop! They don’t last long
  • Helper: Someone who helps you
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Who wrote God’s words on the scroll?
    • A. Baruch ✍️
    • B. The king 👑
    • C. A dog 🐕
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Baruch ✍️ Baruch was Jeremiah’s helper. He wrote it all down, and then wrote it again!

  2. What did the grumpy king do with the scroll?
    • A. Ate it 🍽️
    • B. Burned it 🔥
    • C. Hugged it 🤗
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Burned it 🔥 He tossed it in the fire, but God had it written again.

  3. What was at the bottom of the pit?
    • A. Toys 🧸
    • B. Water 💧
    • C. Mud 🟤
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Mud 🟤 No water, just squishy mud. Jeremiah sank right in!

  4. Who bravely helped Jeremiah?
    • A. Ebed-melech 🧑🏾
    • B. The grumpy king 👑
    • C. Nobody 🙈
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Ebed-melech 🧑🏾 Ebed-melech told the king it was wrong and came to the rescue.

  5. How did they pull Jeremiah out?
    • A. With a ladder 🪜
    • B. With ropes 🪢
    • C. With a crane 🏗️
    Show answer

    ✅ B. With ropes 🪢 They pulled him up with ropes (Jeremiah 38:13).

  6. Why did Ebed-melech send down soft rags?
    • A. To make a pillow 🛏️
    • B. To clean the mud 🧽
    • C. So the ropes wouldn’t hurt 🧦
    Show answer

    ✅ C. So the ropes wouldn’t hurt 🧦 He was brave AND kind.

  7. How long does Heavenly Father love you?
    • A. One day 📅
    • B. Forever 💖
    • C. Only when I’m good 👍
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Forever 💖 “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” It never ends!

  8. When is the Lord’s kindness brand-new?
    • A. Every morning 🌅
    • B. Only on birthdays 🎂
    • C. Never 🚫
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Every morning 🌅 It’s new every morning. Every day is a fresh start.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Dare to Do Right Children’s Songbook, p. 158

    Ebed-melech dared to do right when nobody else did. Sing it after the story. Find it ↗

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

    Goes with the key verse about Heavenly Father’s everlasting love. Find it ↗

  • When I Am Baptized Children’s Songbook, p. 103

    Goes with the Promise Hearts and the promises we make at baptism. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Be an Ebed-melech

This week, look for someone who needs help: a friend who fell down, a brother or sister who is sad, or someone left out. Be brave and kind, and help them. Tell your family about it at dinner.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we acted out how a brave helper named Ebed-melech pulled the prophet Jeremiah out of a muddy pit with ropes and soft rags, and we learned that Heavenly Father loves us “with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). Ask your child: what did Ebed-melech do that was brave, and what did he do that was kind?

📝 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?

🟤 Squishy Mystery Mud · 4 min

  1. Before class, stir about ½ cup of water into 1 cup of cornstarch in a bowl until it feels hard when you tap it but drips when you lift it.
  2. Let kids who are sitting ready tap it fast (hard!) and then sink a finger in slowly (goo!).
  3. Set a small toy person on top and watch it sink, then pull it out slowly. Ask: “Could Jeremiah climb out by himself? Who helped him?” Throw the mud in the trash, not the sink.

📖 Storybook or Scriptures? · 3 min

  1. Hold up a children’s picture book and your scriptures. Ask: “How are these the same? How are they different?”
  2. SAY“The scriptures are special because they are God’s words, written by prophets like Jeremiah.”
  3. Let a reader find and read Jeremiah 36:28 out loud. Share a scripture that is special to you.

🦸 Helper Hero Skits · 4 min

  1. Pair a younger child with an older one. Give each pair a quick situation: a friend dropped their crayons · someone is crying on the playground · a little brother can’t reach the sink.
  2. Each pair acts out the brave, kind choice in 20 seconds.
  3. After each one, the class shouts, “Heave! Ho! Helper hero!”

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