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I Came to Earth!

A trip across the room: from heaven, to a family on earth, and home again with Jesus

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • ⚡ Fast Sunday
  • 📅 Sunday, January 3, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father sent me to earth, and Jesus shows me the way back home to Him.

I can follow Jesus back home to Heavenly Father.

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

The 2027 manual adds a Primary lesson for each fast Sunday (Appendix B), taught instead of the regular Come, Follow Me lesson. January begins with Heavenly Father’s plan, often called the plan of happiness. Before we were born, we lived with Him as His spirit children. He made a plan for us to come to earth, get a body, and learn and grow (Abraham 3:24–26). Jesus Christ chose to do His Father’s will and help us come home (Moses 4:2; John 6:38). The Bible says the children of God “shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).

For three-year-olds, keep it to one tiny truth and three simple places: I lived with Heavenly Father (up in heaven), He sent me to a family on earth (a baby with a body), and Jesus shows me the way back home (John 14:6). Skip Satan and the war in heaven entirely; this age needs to hear only that Heavenly Father loves them and that Jesus helps them. When you mention going home, keep it happy and simple: someday we will see Heavenly Father again, and He will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). A child may have lost a grandparent or a baby sibling; answer gently if it comes up and mention it to the parent after class.

It’s fast Sunday. Sunbeams are far too young to fast, but some parents are fasting and may be tired or tender, and a few children may have skipped breakfast. Skip food rewards today; use cheers and high-fives instead.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a baby doll (or a rolled-up blanket) and a picture of Jesus. Rock the doll and say, “You were a tiny baby once, and before that you lived with Heavenly Father!” Swipe through the picture story, teach “Jesus is the way” with the path-and-roof motions, then walk everyone around the room in a line: point up (heaven), rock a baby (earth), and end at the picture of Jesus with a big hug (home). Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: rock a pretend baby and use three corners of the room as the three stops.

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. Draw a cloud, a house and a heart on three papers. Big and simple is perfect.
  2. Before class, tape (or lay yarn for) a wiggly path across the floor. Put the cloud at the start, the house in the middle, and the heart at the end with the picture of Jesus beside it.
  3. Add your children’s names in the My Class tab so you can greet each one by name.
  4. Read the story scenes once, and practice the “Jesus is the way” motions so you can lead them without looking.

If your class is wild

  • Some Sunbeams cry when a parent leaves. Let the parent stay a few minutes, then invite the child to be your “baby rocker” and hold the doll during the hook.
  • Attention signal: you say “Heavenly Father’s children!” and they answer “Hooray!” with arms up, then sit on their spots.
  • On the path walk, go first yourself and use a train: hands on shoulders, choo-choo, walking feet. Three-year-olds follow a leader much better than directions.
  • Potty breaks: follow your ward’s policy (usually a parent or the second adult takes the child). Two adults stay with the children, so never leave the class alone.
  • It’s fast Sunday: if a child is grumpy or hungry, a quiet job (holding the heart paper, turning your phone or tablet pages) often helps more than a snack. Check with the parent before giving any food.

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

You Were a Baby!

3 min

Holding a baby doll turns a big idea into something a three-year-old can see: I came to earth as a baby, and before that I lived with Heavenly Father.

  1. Bring out the baby doll wrapped in its blanket. Whisper: “Shh… look who came to class!”
  2. Let each child gently pat the baby. Say: “Once YOU were a tiny baby just like this!”
  3. Ask: “Can a baby run? Can a baby talk?” (No!) “Look at you now! You can run and talk and sing!”
  4. SAY“Before you were a baby, you lived with Heavenly Father. Today we’ll learn about His happy plan for you.”
🌪️ Keep the doll in your lap and let children pat it one at a time from their spots. Whoever sits nicely gets to rock it next.

Class screen: 👶 You were a tiny baby!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby doll or a small blanket rolled up like a baby

The Invisible Baby

  1. Cradle a pretend baby in your arms. Whisper: “Shh… I’m holding a tiny, tiny baby. Can you see it?”
  2. Everyone makes their own pretend baby and rocks it: “Shh, shh.”
  3. SAY“Once YOU were a tiny baby just like this! Can a baby run? Can a baby talk?” (No!) “Look at you now!”
  4. SAY“Before you were a baby, you lived with Heavenly Father. Today we’ll learn about His happy plan for you.”

Class screen: 🤱 Rock your pretend baby!

2. Story

Picture Story: The Happy Plan

5 min

Eight short picture scenes walk through heaven, earth, and home again, with an action for each.

  1. Sit close together on the floor. Say: “Let’s see where you were before you were a baby!”
  2. Swipe through the scenes on your phone or tablet. Read the short sentences, then do the action together.
  3. Give the baby doll to one child for scene 5 (the Baby Rocker).
  4. After scenes 1, 5 and 7, point along with the class: up (heaven), down (earth), then forward (home with Jesus).
🌪️ If they get loud after the Hooray scene, whisper the next line. They will lean in to hear you.

Class screen: 🌍 Heavenly Father’s happy plan!

3. Wiggle break

Up, Down, Hug!

2 min

Three big moves for heaven, earth and home help the three places stick, and Sunbeams get to wiggle the bodies Heavenly Father gave them.

  1. Teach three moves. “Heaven!” = stretch up on tiptoes. “Earth!” = squat down and pat the floor. “Home!” = give yourself a big hug.
  2. Call them out slowly, then faster and faster. Mix up the order and try to trick them.
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father gave you a body! Let’s use it!” Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” (Children’s Songbook, 275) once slow and once super fast.

Class screen: 🤸 Heaven! Earth! Home! · ☁️ Up high · 🌍 Down low · 🤗 Big hug

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: John 14:6

3 min

Path-and-roof motions help Sunbeams remember that Jesus shows them the way home.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “Jesus said something in the Bible. Listen!”
  2. Read John 14:6 slowly: “I am the way.” Say: “Jesus shows us the way home to Heavenly Father.”
  3. Teach the motions (see Key Verse) one at a time. Then say it together: “Jesus is the way home.”
  4. Say it three ways: a tiny baby voice, a regular voice, and a big grown-up voice.
  5. End each time with folded arms and a smile.

Class screen: 📖 Jesus is the way home. · ☝️ Jesus · 🛤️ is the way · 🏡 home

5. Game

Follow the Path Home

4 min

Walking a real path from the cloud, to the house, to Jesus lets three-year-olds feel the whole plan with their feet.

  1. Line up at the cloud. Say: “This is heaven, where we lived with Heavenly Father.” Everyone points up and says, “I lived with Heavenly Father!”
  2. Make a train (hands on shoulders) and choo-choo along the path to the house. Say: “This is earth! We came to a family.” Everyone rocks a pretend baby.
  3. Choo-choo to the heart and the picture of Jesus. Say: “Jesus shows us the way home!” Everyone gives a big hug and cheers.
  4. Walk it again with a new leader right behind you: tiptoe feet, then stompy feet, then bunny hops.
🌪️ You lead every round. Three-year-olds will copy your feet, so walk slowly and make each stop dramatic.

Class screen: 👣 Walk the path home! · ☁️ Heaven · 🏡 Earth · ❤️ Home with Jesus

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Three pieces of paper or paper plates: draw a cloud on one, a little house on one, and a big heart on one, Masking tape or a long piece of yarn to make a path on the floor, A picture of Jesus Christ (from your meetinghouse library, a Friend magazine, or home)

Follow the Leader Home

  1. Choose three spots in the room: a high place (heaven, by the window or a tall wall), the middle (earth), and the door or a corner (home).
  2. Start at the high place. Everyone points up and says, “I lived with Heavenly Father!”
  3. Make a train and choo-choo to the middle. Say: “This is earth! We came to a family.” Everyone rocks a pretend baby.
  4. Choo-choo to the last spot. Say: “Jesus shows us the way home!” Everyone gives a big hug and cheers. Tap Sound Board and play the cheer.
  5. Walk it again: tiptoe feet, then stompy feet, then bunny hops.

Class screen: 🚂 All aboard! Follow the leader home!

6. Talk it over

Show Me!

2 min

Quick show-me questions help Sunbeams connect the plan to their own family and body.

  1. Sit in a circle. Show one question at a time on your phone or tablet and read it out loud.
  2. Let them answer with fingers, faces and actions. Share your own quick answer too.
💬 Ask the class
  • Who lived with Heavenly Father before you were born? Point to yourself!
  • Who is in your family? Hold up fingers to show how many.
  • Show me one thing your body can do!
  • Who shows us the way home to Heavenly Father?

Class screen: 💬 Show me!

7. Song

I Am a Child of God

2 min

A song many Sunbeams already know settles the room and says the whole lesson in one line.

  1. SAY“You are Heavenly Father’s child! Let’s sing about it.”
  2. Sing “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2). Point to yourself on the word “child.”
  3. If they don’t know it yet, sing it slowly and let them sway and point.

Class screen: 🎵 I am a child of God!

8. Testimony

You Are His Child

2 min

Hearing their own name with Heavenly Father’s love helps each child feel the plan is for them.

  1. Lower your voice. Say: “Heavenly Father knows every one of you by name.”
  2. Go around the circle. Say softly to each child: “Emma, you are Heavenly Father’s child. He sent you to your family.”
  3. Share one simple sentence: “I know Heavenly Father loves me, and I know Jesus shows me the way home.”
  4. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays, a few at a time.

Class screen: 💛 You are Heavenly Father’s child. · Jesus is the way home

9. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

A picture reveal reviews the story if you have a few extra minutes.

  1. Tap Mystery Picture. A picture from today’s lesson is hiding behind tiles.
  2. Ask a quick “show me”: “Show me heaven!” “Show me how you rock a baby!” After each one, tap away a tile.
  3. Let everyone shout a guess. When the picture is uncovered, act it out together.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🖼️ What’s hiding?

Story drama

The Happy Plan

Abraham 3:24–26; Job 38:7; Moses 4:2; John 14:6; Revelation 21:4 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Cloud PointersEveryone points up to heaven in scene 1.
  • Cheer CrewEveryone jumps and shouts “Hooray!” in scene 3.
  • Baby RockerOne child rocks the baby doll in scene 5 while everyone else rocks a pretend baby.
  • Growing SeedsEveryone curls up small and grows up tall in scene 6.
  • Path MarchersEveryone marches in place, following the way home, in scene 7.

Scenes

  1. ☁️💛 You lived with Heavenly Father

    Before you were a baby, you lived in heaven with Heavenly Father. He knows your name, and He loves you!

    🎬 Point up high. Then give yourself a big hug.

  2. 🌍✨ Heavenly Father made a happy plan

    Heavenly Father made a happy plan. You would go to a beautiful earth and get a body!

    🎬 Draw a big round earth in the air with one finger.

  3. 🙌🎉 We shouted for joy!

    When we heard the plan, we were so happy. The Bible says we shouted for joy!

    🎬 Jump up and shout, “Hooray!” Then sit back down.

  4. 💛👍 Jesus said yes!

    We would need help to come back home. Jesus said yes! He would do what Heavenly Father wanted.

    🎬 Nod your head: yes, yes, yes! Give a thumbs-up for Jesus.

  5. 👶🏡 You came to a family

    Then you came to earth as a tiny baby, into a family. You got a body that can wiggle and hug!

    🎬 Rock a pretend baby. Then wiggle your fingers and your toes.

  6. 🌱🙏 On earth we learn and grow

    On earth you learn and grow. You learn to pray, to share, and to be kind, just like Jesus.

    🎬 Curl up small like a seed. Grow, grow, grow up tall!

  7. 👣🛤️ Jesus shows us the way home

    Jesus shows us the way back home to Heavenly Father. When we follow Jesus, we are on the way home.

    🎬 March in place and say, “Follow Jesus! Follow Jesus!”

  8. 😊🏡 Home again, no more tears!

    Someday we will see Heavenly Father again. He will wipe away every tear, and we will be so happy.

    🎬 Wipe a pretend tear from your cheek. Then show your biggest smile.

Key verse

John 14:6 ↗
“I am the way”
In kid words: Jesus is the way home.
🙌 “Jesus” = point to the picture of Jesus (or point up) · “is the way” = hold both hands flat in front of you and slide them forward like a path · “home” = touch your fingertips over your head to make a roof · then fold your arms and smile!

More verses

Job 38:7 ↗
“all the sons of God shouted for joy”
In kid words: Before we were born, all of Heavenly Father’s children cheered for His happy 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.
Revelation 21:4 ↗
“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes”
In kid words: Someday Heavenly Father will wipe away every tear.

Forehead Guess words13 words

  • ☁️ Cloud
  • 🌍 Earth
  • 👶 Baby
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family
  • 🏡 House
  • ❤️ Heart
  • ⭐ Star
  • 👣 Feet
  • 🛤️ Path
  • 🎉 Hooray
  • 🌱 Seed
  • 🙏 Prayer
  • 😊 Smile
Clues for each word
  • Cloud: Point up high to heaven
  • Earth: Our big round world
  • Baby: You were one once!
  • Family: Heavenly Father sent you to one
  • House: Where your family lives
  • Heart: It means love
  • Star: Twinkles in the sky
  • Feet: March along the path
  • Path: Jesus shows us the way
  • Hooray: We shouted for joy!
  • Seed: Starts small and grows tall
  • Prayer: Fold your arms and talk to Heavenly Father
  • Smile: Show me a happy face
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Before you were born, who did you live with?
    • A. 🦁 A lion
    • B. ☁️ Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ☁️ Heavenly Father You lived with Heavenly Father. He knows your name and loves you!

  2. When we heard the happy plan, what did we do?
    • A. 🙌 Shouted for joy!
    • B. 😴 Fell asleep
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙌 Shouted for joy! Job 38:7. All of Heavenly Father’s children shouted for joy.

  3. How did you come to earth?
    • A. 🚀 In a rocket
    • B. 👶 As a tiny baby
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👶 As a tiny baby You came as a tiny baby into a family.

  4. Where did Heavenly Father send you?
    • A. 🏡 To a family
    • B. 🌙 To the moon
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🏡 To a family Heavenly Father sent you to a family on earth to learn and grow.

  5. What can your body do?
    • A. 🪨 Nothing
    • B. 👏 Clap and hug!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👏 Clap and hug! Heavenly Father gave you a body that can clap, jump, hug and sing!

  6. Who shows us the way home?
    • A. 🚗 A car
    • B. 🐶 A puppy
    • C. ❤️ Jesus
    Show answer

    ✅ C. ❤️ Jesus John 14:6. Jesus said, “I am the way.”

  7. Someday Heavenly Father will wipe away every…
    • A. 😢 Tear
    • B. 🍝 Noodle
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 😢 Tear Revelation 21:4. When we go home, there will be no more tears.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    The whole lesson in one song they may already know. Find it ↗

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

    Hum it softly during scene 1, or sing it if your class knows it. Find it ↗

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

    Wiggle the body Heavenly Father gave you, slow and then super fast. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Family Picture Hug

This week, look at a picture of your family with Mom or Dad. Point to each person and say, “Heavenly Father sent me to this family!” Then give everyone a hug.

Text the parents

Today your Sunbeam learned about Heavenly Father’s happy plan: we lived with Him before we were born, He sent us to earth as babies into families, and Jesus shows us the way back home (John 14:6). We walked a path across the room from heaven, to earth, to a picture of Jesus. Ask your child: “Who did you live with before you were a baby?” and “Who shows us the way home?” Then look at a baby picture of them together.

📝 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?

⭐ Twinkle Stars, Shout for Joy · 2 min

  1. Everyone makes twinkle fingers up high like morning stars.
  2. SAY“The Bible says that when the earth was made, the morning stars sang together, and all of God’s children shouted for joy!” (Job 38:7)
  3. Twinkle quietly… then on “Joy!” everyone jumps and cheers. Do it three times, quieter twinkles each time.

🎁 My Body Is a Gift · 3 min

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father gave you a body. What can it do?”
  2. Point to a body part and do something kind with it: eyes (look at a friend and smile), ears (listen to a whisper), hands (wave), feet (tiptoe), arms (hug yourself).
  3. End with: “Thank you, Heavenly Father, for my body!”

🖍️ Draw My Family · 4 min

  1. Give each child a paper and a crayon. Say: “Heavenly Father sent you to a family. Let’s draw them!”
  2. Help each child draw simple circle faces for the people in their family. Ask: “Who is this?” and write the names for them.
  3. Draw a little heart at the top and say: “Heavenly Father sent me here!” Send the drawings home.

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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