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Come and See!

Jesus is the Light no darkness can beat, and His first followers couldn’t wait to bring their friends

  • 💧 CTR 8
  • Week 3
  • 📅 Sunday, January 17, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, and when I find Him I can invite others to “come and see.”

I can follow Jesus’s light and invite a friend or family member to come and see.

Study it yourself firstRead John 1 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (John 1)
Know the chapters

John 1 doesn’t start with a manger. It starts “In the beginning.” The Apostle John, who wrote this book, wants us to know that Jesus lived with Heavenly Father before He was born, and that under the Father’s direction He created the earth and everything on it (John 1:1–3). John calls Him “the Word,” because Jesus speaks for Heavenly Father and shows us exactly what the Father is like. He also calls Jesus the Light: “the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5). Darkness couldn’t understand that Light, and it couldn’t put it out.

Then the story jumps to John the Baptist, the baby from two weeks ago, now grown and teaching by the Jordan River. When he saw Jesus, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:29, 36). For centuries Israel had offered lambs as a symbol of the Savior. Now the real Savior was here, and He would give His life for everyone. The sacrament each week helps us remember that.

The heart of this week for eight-year-olds is John 1:35–51, a chain reaction. Two of John’s followers start following Jesus, and He invites them: “Come and see.” One of them, Andrew, runs to get his brother Simon: “We have found the Messias” (the Christ). Jesus gives Simon a new name, Cephas, meaning a stone (we know him as Peter). Jesus calls Philip, and Philip finds his friend Nathanael. Nathanael doubts anything good can come from Nazareth, and Philip doesn’t argue; he just says, “Come and see.” Jesus already knew Nathanael, having seen him under a fig tree, and Nathanael declares that Jesus is the Son of God.

Kids often think sharing the gospel is only for missionaries. But at baptism they promised to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all places (Mosiah 18:9). A simple, friendly “come and see” is exactly how Andrew and Philip did it: invite a friend to Primary or an activity, to a sibling’s baptism, or to hear a favorite scripture story. Also point out Nathanael’s moment: Jesus knew him before they ever met. Jesus knows each child in your class by name.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read John 1:1–5 and 35–51. Open Teach Mode and let your phone or tablet carry the story drama, then teach John 1:41 with the motions, play the Come and See Chain (no supplies at all) and Forehead Guess. For the hook, just turn off the lights and use the glowing screen as your light.

What to bring3 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. Check the room: can you make it dark enough? Know where the light switch is, and plan to leave the door cracked a little for safety.
  2. Test your flashlight.
  3. Pick “Jesus’s spot” at the front of the room: a picture of the Savior if you have one, or your open scriptures on a chair. No child plays Jesus; you will read His words from there.
  4. For the bonus Fig Tree Notes, write one note per child before class: one true, specific good thing you have noticed about them (“I saw you help Mia pick up the crayons”). Fold each note and write the child’s name on the outside.
  5. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out story parts with one tap.

If your class is wild

  • Lights-out is exciting. Say the rule before the switch: “In the dark, bodies freeze and mouths close. Anyone who moves turns the lights back on.”
  • Andrew and Philip are great roles for runners: they get to hurry across the room (tiptoe only!) to find someone.
  • Make your most doubtful, arms-crossed kid Nathanael. Their big change of heart is the best moment of the drama.
  • The Fig Tree is perfect for a kid who wants a part but not lines: stand tall, wave leafy branch arms, and never talk.
  • In the Come and See Chain, the chain walks. If it starts running, it freezes and counts to five before moving again.

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 the Dark Beat the Light?

3 min

A lights-out moment makes John 1:5 something they see, not just hear.

  1. Say the rule first: “In the dark, bodies freeze and mouths close.” Then turn off the lights (door cracked for safety).
  2. Whisper: “Can anybody see? Darkness is everywhere.” Wait three seconds, then click on the flashlight and shine it at the ceiling.
  3. Ask: “What happened to the dark?” (It disappeared!) “Does anyone have a flashlight that shines DARK? Could we turn on the dark and make the light go away?” (No!)
  4. Turn the lights back on. Say: “John wrote that Jesus is the Light, and the darkness can’t beat Him. Today we’ll meet the first people who found that Light and couldn’t wait to tell their friends.”
🌪️ Keep it dark for five seconds max. Stand right by the switch so you can flip it on instantly.

Class screen: 🔦 Can the dark beat the light? · Lights out… · Freeze! · Click!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (a phone flashlight works)

Can the Dark Beat the Glow?

  1. Say the rule first: “In the dark, bodies freeze and mouths close.” Then turn off the lights (door cracked for safety). Turn your phone or tablet face down so the room is as dark as possible.
  2. Whisper: “Can anybody see? Darkness is everywhere.” Wait three seconds, then flip your phone or tablet over so this bright screen glows at the class.
  3. Ask: “What happened to the dark?” (It went away!) “Could we turn on the dark and make the light go away?” (No!)
  4. Turn the lights back on. Say: “John wrote that Jesus is the Light, and the darkness can’t beat Him. Today we’ll meet the first people who found that Light and couldn’t wait to tell their friends.”

Class screen: ☀️ Can the dark beat the light? · Lights out… · Freeze! · Glow!

2. Story

Story Drama: We Found Him!

6 min

Kids feel the chain reaction of invitations by being part of it.

  1. Point to Jesus’s spot at the front. Say: “Nobody plays Jesus. This spot is where He is, and I’ll read His words.”
  2. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode to assign them). Everyone else is the Crowd.
  3. Read each scene aloud and pause for the action cue.
  4. Every time you read “Come and see,” everyone repeats it in a happy whisper.
  5. At the last scene, link arms into one long line and walk it slowly back to your seats.
🌪️ Hurrying is tiptoe-hurrying. If Andrew or Philip actually runs, they go back and try again in slow motion.

Class screen: 🎭 Story Drama: We found Him! · Everyone gets a part · Listen for “Come and see”

3. Wiggle break

Creation Station

2 min

John 1:3 turns into a fast “become it” game.

  1. SAY“John said all things were made by Jesus. When I call something He made, BECOME it for five seconds!”
  2. Call fast: the sun (big circle arms) · an ocean wave · an elephant · a hummingbird · a tall tree · a bunny · a mountain · a snake (on your feet, just your arms!).
  3. Finish with: “People!” Everyone gives a neighbor a gentle high-five. Say: “And He made YOU.”

Class screen: 🌍 Become what Jesus created! · ☀️ 🌊 🐘 🐦 🌳 🐰 ⛰️

4. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: John 1:41

3 min

Motions help kids memorize Andrew’s exciting words.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet and read it once slowly. Explain: “Messias” is another way to say Messiah, which means the Christ, the Savior.
  2. Teach the motions one phrase at a time.
  3. Say it three ways: whisper it like a secret, say it like you’re running out of breath from hurrying, then shout it like breaking news.
  4. Ask: “Who did Andrew tell first?” (His own brother!) “Who could you tell first?”

Class screen: 👬 We have found the Messias!

5. Game

The Come and See Chain

4 min

Kids practice inviting, one friend at a time, until the whole class has come to Jesus’s spot.

  1. Everyone sits somewhere around the room “under their fig tree” (arms up like branches). Pick one kid to be Andrew.
  2. Andrew walks to someone, looks them in the eye, says their name and “Come and see!” They link arms.
  3. Now the newest person in the chain does the next invitation. The chain walks to each new friend.
  4. When everyone is in the chain, it walks to Jesus’s spot and sits down reverently. Tap Big Timer to time it.
  5. Play again and try to beat your time, but only with kind, clear invitations. Say: “That’s how the Church grew: one invitation at a time.”
🌪️ If the chain breaks or runs, it freezes and counts to five. Give the shyest kids the first invitations so they aren’t last to be picked.
⏱️ Big Timer (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🔗 Say their name… and “Come and see!” · Look them in the eye · Link arms · Walk, don’t run

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Come and See Round

3 min

A Heads Up–style guessing game that reviews every person and idea from today.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. One kid holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. The class gives clues without saying the word. The hint under each word helps if they get stuck.
  3. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. Each turn lasts 45 seconds.
  4. When a turn ends, the guesser picks the next guesser Andrew-style: say their name and “Come and see!”
🌪️ Pick someone who hasn’t had a turn yet. Clue-givers stay in their seats.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues, don’t say the word!

7. Talk it over

Talk It Over

2 min

Turn the story into a real invitation they could make this week.

  1. Sit close. Ask one question at a time and share your own answer too.
  2. Help kids think of real, doable invitations.
💬 Ask the class
  • Andrew couldn’t wait to tell his brother about Jesus. Who is someone you could tell?
  • Nathanael wasn’t sure at first. Why do you think Philip just said “Come and see” instead of arguing?
  • What could you invite a friend to come and see? (Primary, an activity, a baptism, a family night…)

Class screen: 💬 Let’s talk!

8. Testimony

Testimony & the Invitation Challenge

2 min

End calm and reverent, with something to do at home.

  1. Lower your voice. Share one or two sentences about how Jesus has been a light for you, or about someone who invited you to come closer to Him.
  2. SAY“Jesus knew Nathanael before they ever met. He knows each of you by name, too.”
  3. Introduce the Come and See challenge on the screen.
  4. Ask a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 💌 This week: invite someone to “come and see!” · A friend, a cousin, a neighbor · Tell us next week!

9. Object lesson

Fig Tree Notes

3 minBONUS

Kids feel what Nathanael felt: Jesus sees and knows them personally.

  1. SAY“Jesus told Nathanael that He saw him under the fig tree, before they had even met. Nathanael was amazed that Jesus already knew him.”
  2. SAY“I’ve been watching too, and I noticed something about each of you.” Hand each child their folded note.
  3. Let them read their note silently (help new readers with a whisper).
  4. SAY“If I noticed that, imagine how well Jesus knows you. He knows your name, your worries and all the good you do.”

Class screen: 🌳 Jesus sees you under your fig tree!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Sticky notes or small scraps of paper and a pen (for the bonus Fig Tree Notes)

I Saw You Under the Fig Tree

  1. SAY“Jesus told Nathanael that He saw him under the fig tree, before they had even met. Nathanael was amazed that Jesus already knew him.”
  2. SAY“I’ve been watching too.” Go around the circle and say to each child: “[Name], I saw you under the fig tree…” then one true, specific good thing you have noticed about them.
  3. Tap ding on the Sound Board after each one.
  4. SAY“If I noticed that, imagine how well Jesus knows you. He knows your name, your worries and all the good you do.”
10. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team quiz reviews everything they learned.

  1. Split into two teams. Tap Scripture Showdown to start.
  2. Read each question 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!

Story drama

We Found Him!

John 1:1–5, 29–51 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • John the BaptistTeaches by the river, then points and says, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
  • AndrewFollows Jesus, then tiptoe-hurries to bring his brother.
  • Simon PeterGets brought to Jesus and gets a new name that means “stone.”
  • PhilipHears “Follow me” and hurries to find his friend Nathanael.
  • NathanaelSits under the fig tree with arms crossed, doubts, then believes.
  • The Fig TreeStands tall and waves leafy branch arms over Nathanael. Never talks!
  • The CrowdEveryone else: become the creation, the river crowd, and the growing line of followers.

Scenes

  1. 🌌✨ Before the world began

    Long before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He lived with Heavenly Father. John wrote that in the beginning, Jesus was already there. Under Heavenly Father’s direction, Jesus created the earth: mountains, oceans, animals, everything!

    🎬 The Crowd becomes creation: mountains (arms up to a point), oceans (arms wave), birds (flap), lions (roar!).

  2. 🌑➡️☀️ A Light the dark can’t beat

    John called Jesus the Light. His light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can’t put it out. Then Jesus came to earth as a baby, grew up, and now He was ready to begin His work.

    🎬 Everyone covers their eyes, then flings their hands open like a sunburst: “LIGHT!”

  3. 🏞️🐑 “Behold the Lamb of God!”

    John the Baptist was teaching by the river. When he saw Jesus walking by, he pointed and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” He meant that Jesus is the Savior, who would give His life for everyone.

    🎬 John points toward Jesus’s spot. The Crowd leans and looks: “Where? There!”

  4. 👣 Two followers follow Jesus

    Two of John’s followers started following Jesus. Jesus turned and asked, “What seek ye?” They asked where He was staying. Jesus said, “Come and see.” They went with Him and stayed with Him that day!

    🎬 Andrew and a friend tiptoe toward Jesus’s spot. When you read “Come and see,” everyone repeats it softly.

  5. 🏃‍♂️👬 Andrew runs to find his brother

    Andrew was so excited he couldn’t keep it to himself. The first thing he did was find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messias!” That means the Christ, the Savior everyone had been waiting for.

    🎬 Andrew tiptoe-hurries to Simon, grabs his arm, and says, “We found Him!”

  6. 🪨 Simon gets a new name

    Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said he would be called Cephas, which means a stone. We know him as Peter. A stone is strong and steady, and Simon would grow into a strong, steady leader.

    🎬 Simon stands strong like a rock. The Crowd gently knocks on the air near him: “Solid!”

  7. 🚶‍♂️ Jesus says, “Follow me”

    The next day Jesus found Philip and said, “Follow me.” And Philip did! Then Philip hurried off to find his friend Nathanael.

    🎬 Philip jumps up, follows the line for three steps, then hurries toward the Fig Tree.

  8. 🌳🤨 “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

    Nathanael was sitting under a fig tree. Philip said, “We found the Savior! It’s Jesus of Nazareth!” Nathanael wasn’t so sure. “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip didn’t argue. He just said, “Come and see.”

    🎬 The Fig Tree waves its branches. Nathanael crosses his arms, then shrugs and stands up.

  9. 😲🙏 “When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee”

    When Nathanael came near, Jesus told him that He had seen him under the fig tree even before Philip called him. Nathanael was amazed. Jesus already knew him! Nathanael said, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God.”

    🎬 Nathanael’s jaw drops. He kneels and says the line. Everyone repeats: “Thou art the Son of God!”

  10. 🔗🌍 The line keeps growing

    One friend brought another, and that friend brought another. Today millions of people all over the world follow Jesus, and it all started with a simple invitation: “Come and see.”

    🎬 Everyone links arms in one long line, from Andrew all the way to the last Crowd member.

Key verse

John 1:41 ↗
“He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias”
In kid words: The first thing Andrew did was find his brother and tell him, “We found the Savior!”
🙌 “He first findeth” = hand over your eyes, searching · “his own brother Simon” = arm around an invisible brother · “and saith unto him” = cup your hands around your mouth · “We have found” = jump and point forward with both hands · “the Messias” = point up and whisper, “the Christ!”

More verses

John 1:5 ↗
“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
In kid words: Jesus’s light shines in the dark, and the dark can’t understand it or put it out.
John 1:39 ↗
“He saith unto them, Come and see.”
In kid words: Jesus said, “Come and see.”
John 1:3 ↗
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
In kid words: Jesus made everything, and nothing was made without Him.
John 1:29 ↗
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
In kid words: Look! There is Jesus, the Savior who takes away the sins of the world.

Forehead Guess words17 words

  • 💡 Light
  • 🌑 Darkness
  • 🐑 Lamb
  • 🧔 John the Baptist
  • 🎣 Andrew
  • 🪨 Simon Peter
  • 🏃 Philip
  • 🤨 Nathanael
  • 🌳 Fig Tree
  • 🏡 Nazareth
  • 👑 Messiah
  • 👬 Brother
  • 🏞️ River
  • 🌍 Creation
  • 💌 Invite
  • 👣 Follow
  • 🌌 Beginning
Clues for each word
  • Light: Jesus is the ___ of the world
  • Darkness: It can’t put out Jesus’s light
  • Lamb: John called Jesus the ___ of God
  • John the Baptist: Pointed at Jesus by the river
  • Andrew: Hurried to tell his brother Simon
  • Simon Peter: Jesus gave him a name meaning “stone”
  • Philip: Jesus told him, “Follow me”
  • Nathanael: Doubted at first, then believed
  • Fig Tree: Nathanael was sitting under it
  • Nazareth: Nathanael doubted anything good could come from there
  • Messiah: Another name for the Savior, the Christ
  • Brother: The first person Andrew went to find
  • River: Where John the Baptist was teaching
  • Creation: Jesus made the earth for Heavenly Father
  • Invite: Ask a friend to “come and see”
  • Follow: What Jesus asked Philip to do
  • Beginning: “In the ___ was the Word”
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Where does the book of John start the story of Jesus?
    • A. In Bethlehem
    • B. In the beginning, before the earth was made
    • C. At a wedding
    Show answer

    ✅ B. In the beginning, before the earth was made John 1:1. Jesus lived with Heavenly Father long before He was born.

  2. What did John the Baptist call Jesus when He walked by?
    • A. The Lamb of God
    • B. A great fisherman
    • C. The King of Rome
    Show answer

    ✅ A. The Lamb of God John 1:29, 36. Jesus is the Savior who takes away the sins of the world.

  3. What did Jesus say when two followers asked where He was staying?
    • A. “Go away”
    • B. “Maybe later”
    • C. “Come and see”
    Show answer

    ✅ C. “Come and see” John 1:39. They went and stayed with Him that day!

  4. Who was the first person Andrew went to find?
    • A. His brother Simon
    • B. His mom
    • C. The king
    Show answer

    ✅ A. His brother Simon John 1:41. He told Simon, “We have found the Messias!”

  5. What does the name Cephas mean?
    • A. Fish
    • B. A stone
    • C. Light
    Show answer

    ✅ B. A stone A stone is strong and steady, and Peter became a strong leader of Jesus’s Church.

  6. Where was Nathanael sitting when Jesus saw him?
    • A. On a boat
    • B. On a mountain
    • C. Under a fig tree
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Under a fig tree Jesus knew him before they ever met, and He knows you too.

  7. What did Nathanael say after Jesus told him about the fig tree?
    • A. “Who told you?”
    • B. “Thou art the Son of God”
    • C. “I like figs”
    Show answer

    ✅ B. “Thou art the Son of God” John 1:49. Nathanael went from doubting to believing in one conversation.

  8. Who created the earth under Heavenly Father’s direction?
    • A. Jesus Christ
    • B. The angels
    • C. Nobody did
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Jesus Christ John 1:3: all things were made by Him.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    Jesus lived with Heavenly Father before He came to earth, and so did we. Find it ↗

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

    Andrew and Philip couldn’t stop telling about Jesus. Find it ↗

  • I Hope They Call Me on a Mission Children’s Songbook, p. 169

    You don’t have to wait to be a missionary. “Come and see” works today. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Come and See

Be like Andrew and Philip. Invite one person this week to come and see something about Jesus: a Primary activity, family prayer, a favorite scripture story or a Church video. Come ready to tell the class what happened!

Text the parents

Today in Primary we learned that Jesus is the Light the darkness can’t beat, and we acted out how His first followers found Him and brought their friends with two simple words: “Come and see.” We learned John 1:41, “We have found the Messias.” Your child’s challenge is to invite someone to come and see something about Jesus this week. Ask your child: who did Andrew go find first, and who could you invite?

📝 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?

🔎 Light Hunt · 4 min

  1. Give pairs John 1:4–9 and have them count how many times they find the word “light.”
  2. Ask: “What do lights help us do?” (See, stay safe, find our way, not be scared.)
  3. Ask: “How does Jesus do those same things for us?”

🍞 The Lamb and the Sacrament · 4 min

  1. Read John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
  2. Explain: long ago, people offered lambs to remember that a Savior would come. Jesus is the Savior they were waiting for.
  3. Ask: “What do we do every Sunday to remember Jesus?” (The sacrament!) Practice one reverent thing to think about during the sacrament next week.

🌳 Thank-You Creation Walk · 5 min

  1. If you can, step outside or look out a window. Each kid points to one thing Jesus created and says, “Thank You for the ___!”
  2. Read John 1:3.
  3. Back inside, say a class prayer of thanks using the things they named.

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.

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