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Your Prayer Is Heard

A long wait, an angel in the temple, a daddy who couldn’t talk, and a baby who jumped for joy

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • Week 1
  • 📅 Sunday, January 3, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father hears my prayers.

I can fold my arms and pray, because Heavenly Father hears me.

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

Happy New Year, and welcome to the New Testament! Luke 1 tells about Zacharias and Elisabeth, a good, faithful couple who were very old and had prayed for a baby for years. While Zacharias served in the temple, the angel Gabriel came and said, “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard” (Luke 1:13). They would have a son named John. Because Zacharias doubted, he could not speak until the baby came. Gabriel also visited Mary and told her she would be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, and Mary trusted the Lord. When Mary visited Elisabeth, baby John leaped for joy. When John was born, Zacharias wrote “His name is John” and could talk again. Matthew 1 adds that an angel told Joseph in a dream to name the baby Jesus.

For three-year-olds, the whole lesson is one tiny truth: Heavenly Father hears my prayers. Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed and waited a long time, and Heavenly Father heard them. Say “Heavenly Father hears me!” so many times that the children say it with you. Practicing how to pray (fold arms, bow head, close eyes, talk to Heavenly Father, say amen) is a real gift for this age.

Keep the doctrine simple and true. Heavenly Father always hears us, even whisper prayers and prayers in our hearts. Sometimes His answer comes fast, and sometimes we wait, like Elisabeth and Zacharias did. Jesus is the Son of Heavenly Father, and Mary was His mother. If a child asks how, you can say, “Heavenly Father made it happen by His power” (Luke 1:35).

January is move-up month. Some children have just left nursery and may cry when a parent leaves. That’s normal. Let the parent stay a few minutes if needed, give the child a job (holding the baby doll is perfect), and keep smiling. Most tears stop once the fun starts.

Only have 5 minutes?

Wrap a doll (or a rolled-up towel) in a blanket. Let each child peek at the “baby” and tell them Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed for a baby for a long, long time. Let Teach Mode carry the picture story, teach “thy prayer is heard” with a cupped ear, and practice prayer arms together. End by whispering each child’s name: “Heavenly Father hears you.”

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. Wrap the doll snugly in the blanket so only a tiny bit peeks out. Keep it in a bag or on your lap under your arm.
  2. Put the notepad and crayon where you can reach them during story scene 7.
  3. Make name tags ahead if you have tape: a strip of masking tape with each name, stuck on a shoulder.
  4. Open this lesson in Teach Mode and add your children’s names in the My Class tab. New Sunbeams love hearing their own name.

If your class is wild

  • First-day tears: give the crying child a job, like holding the baby doll or being the one who says “Amen!” Invite the parent to sit in for a few minutes if your ward allows.
  • When Zacharias can’t talk, the whole class gets to be “quiet like Zacharias.” Use it any time you need a calm room: fingers on lips, “Shh, Zacharias can’t talk!”
  • Baby John’s jump can get big. Say, “Jump for joy… and land like a feather!” before every jump.
  • Potty breaks: never leave the class alone and never go somewhere alone with one child. Ask a Primary presidency member or the child’s parent to help, following your ward’s plan.
  • If a child says, “I prayed and didn’t get it,” say kindly, “Heavenly Father heard you. Sometimes we wait, like Elisabeth did.”

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

Who’s in the Blanket?

3 min

A sleeping “baby” and every child’s name make a calm, curious start on a brand-new Primary day.

  1. Sit in a circle. Say each child’s name and wave: “Hi, Emma! I’m so glad you’re here!”
  2. Hold the wrapped doll. Whisper: “Shh! I have something special in my blanket. Can you use whisper voices?”
  3. Walk around and let each child peek. Say: “It’s a baby!”
  4. SAY“Today’s story is about a mom and dad who prayed and prayed for a baby. Did Heavenly Father hear them? Let’s find out!”
🌪️ If everyone crowds in, say, “Babies like bottoms on the floor!” and bring the doll to each child.

Class screen: 👶 Shh! Who’s in the blanket?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby doll wrapped in a small blanket (or a rolled-up towel in a blanket)

  1. Sit in a circle. Say each child’s name and wave: “Hi, Emma! I’m so glad you’re here!”
  2. Rock your empty arms like you’re holding a baby. Whisper: “Shh! I’m holding a pretend baby. Can everyone rock a baby too?”
  3. Everyone rocks a pretend baby and whispers, “Shh, shh.”
  4. SAY“Today’s story is about a mom and dad who prayed and prayed for a baby. Did Heavenly Father hear them? Let’s find out!”

Class screen: 🤱 Rock a pretend baby. Shh!

2. Story

Picture Story: The Baby Who Was Worth the Wait

5 min

Seven short picture scenes, each with an action, show that Heavenly Father heard Zacharias and Elisabeth.

  1. Pick a Zacharias, an Elisabeth, an Angel Gabriel and a Mary. Everyone else is a Baby John Jumper.
  2. Show each picture on your phone or tablet, read the short lines, then do the action together.
  3. After each scene, cup your ear and say together: “Heavenly Father hears!”
  4. At scene 7, hand Zacharias the notepad. Write a big J while he holds it, and everyone shouts, “His name is John!”
🌪️ If the Baby John Jumpers can’t stop jumping, say, “Baby John is sleeping now!” Everyone curls up small and snores softly.

Class screen: 📖 Story time: a baby worth waiting for!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A small notepad or sheet of paper and a crayon (Zacharias’s writing pad)

  1. Pick a Zacharias, an Elisabeth, an Angel Gabriel and a Mary. Everyone else is a Baby John Jumper.
  2. Show each picture on your phone or tablet, read the short lines, then do the action together.
  3. After each scene, cup your ear and say together: “Heavenly Father hears!”
  4. At scene 7, Zacharias writes a big J in the air with his finger, and everyone shouts, “His name is John!”
3. Song

Sing: A Child’s Prayer

3 min

Singing about prayer while practicing prayer arms turns the tiny truth into something their bodies know.

  1. SAY“Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed. We can pray too! Show me your prayer arms.” Fold arms and bow heads together.
  2. Sing “A Child’s Prayer” (Children’s Songbook, 12), or just the first part. Fold your arms whenever you sing about praying.
  3. Practice a tiny prayer together, one phrase at a time: “Dear Heavenly Father… thank you for my family… in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father hears every prayer, even little ones!”

Class screen: 🎶 Fold your arms. Let’s pray!

4. Wiggle break

Jump for Joy Like Baby John

2 min

Crouching and leaping gets the wiggles out and remembers the happiest moment in the story.

  1. SAY“When Mary came to visit, baby John jumped for joy!”
  2. Everyone crouches small like a tiny baby. Count softly: “One, two, three…” Then everyone jumps up: “Joy!”
  3. Do it three times: a little jump, a medium jump, a great big jump. Land like a feather each time.
  4. Sing “Do As I’m Doing” (Children’s Songbook, 276) and end by sitting down with folded arms.

Class screen: 🦘 Crouch down small… jump for joy!

5. Scripture

Thy Prayer Is Heard

3 min

Four words from the angel, with two motions, help each child know Heavenly Father hears them.

  1. SAY“The angel told Zacharias happy words. Let’s say them!”
  2. Teach the motions. Then say together: “Thy prayer is heard.”
  3. Say it in a tiny whisper (Heavenly Father hears whispers too!), then a baby voice, then a happy big voice.
  4. Go around the circle. Say one child’s name and everyone points to that child and says it: “Sam, thy prayer is heard!”

Class screen: 👂 Thy prayer is heard. · 🙏 thy prayer · 👂 is heard

6. Game

What’s Hiding?

3 min

Guessing a hidden picture reviews the story with no reading at all.

  1. Open Mystery Picture. Say: “A picture from our story is hiding! Let’s find it.”
  2. Ask an easy question (“Who heard Zacharias’s prayer? Heavenly Father!”). For each right answer, a child taps away one tile.
  3. When they guess the picture, everyone does its action: jump for a baby, flap for an angel, fold arms for prayer.
  4. Play two or three pictures if they’re having fun.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🔍 What’s hiding? Tap and see!

7. Talk it over

Roll and Pray

2 min

Rolling a ball gives every child a turn to share, with or without words.

  1. Sit in a circle. Show a question on your phone or tablet and roll the ball to a child.
  2. The child answers with a word, a point or a show-me, then rolls the ball back to you.
  3. Help shy children with two choices: “Do you want to thank Heavenly Father for your dog or your grandma?”
💬 Ask the class
  • What can you thank Heavenly Father for?
  • Show me your prayer arms!
  • Who can you pray for?
  • Does Heavenly Father hear whisper prayers?

Class screen: ⚽ Roll the ball! Let’s talk!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A soft ball or a rolled-up pair of socks

  1. Sit in a circle. Show a question on your phone or tablet and cup your hands: “This is a prayer bubble!”
  2. Gently “hand” the bubble to a child. The child answers with a word, a point or a show-me, then hands it back.
  3. Help shy children with two choices: “Do you want to thank Heavenly Father for your dog or your grandma?”

Class screen: 🫧 Pass the bubble! Let’s talk!

8. Testimony

Heavenly Father Hears You

2 min

Hearing their own name with the truth is something a three-year-old can feel.

  1. Ask for whisper voices. Everyone folds their arms.
  2. SAY“Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed, and Heavenly Father heard them. I know He hears my prayers, and He hears yours too.”
  3. Go around the circle and whisper each child’s name: “Heavenly Father hears Lily.”
  4. Help a child say the closing prayer, one phrase at a time. Everyone says a big “Amen!”

Class screen: 💛 Heavenly Father hears me.

9. Game

Picture Quiz

4 minBONUS

Pointing at pictures lets pre-readers review the story and cheer.

  1. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question aloud and point to each picture.
  2. Children point to or shout the right picture. Everyone cheers every right answer.
  3. Skip team scores if they cause tears. With Sunbeams, everybody wins.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Picture quiz!

Story drama

The Baby Who Was Worth the Wait

Luke 1:5–64 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • ZachariasFolds his arms to pray, then puts a finger on his lips when he can’t talk.
  • ElisabethFolds her arms to pray, then rocks the baby doll at the end.
  • Angel GabrielStands tall on tiptoes and says, “Your prayer is heard!”
  • MaryNods her head and says, “Yes!”
  • Baby John JumpersEveryone! Crouch down small, then jump for joy when the story says so.

Scenes

  1. 🙏 Zacharias and Elisabeth pray for a baby

    Zacharias and Elisabeth loved Heavenly Father. They wanted a baby so much, so they prayed and prayed.

    🎬 Zacharias and Elisabeth fold their arms. Everyone folds arms too and whispers, “Please, a baby!”

  2. 👵 They wait… and wait… and get old

    They waited a long, long time. They got old, like grandmas and grandpas. But they kept on praying.

    🎬 Everyone walks in place slowly like a wobbly old grandpa, then folds arms again.

  3. 👼 An angel in the temple!

    One day Zacharias was working in the temple. Suddenly an angel was there! The angel said, “Your prayer is heard!”

    🎬 Angel Gabriel stands on tiptoes and says it. Everyone cups an ear: “Heavenly Father hears!”

  4. 🤐 Shh! Zacharias can’t talk

    Zacharias wasn’t sure he believed the angel. So he could not talk until the baby came. Not one word!

    🎬 Everyone puts a finger on their lips and talks only with their hands.

  5. 🙋‍♀️ The angel visits Mary. She says yes!

    The angel visited Mary too. He said she would have a baby named Jesus, the Son of God. Mary said yes!

    🎬 Mary nods and says, “Yes!” Everyone nods and says, “Yes!”

  6. 🦘 Baby John jumps for joy!

    Mary went to visit Elisabeth. When Elisabeth heard Mary say hello, the baby inside her jumped for joy!

    🎬 Baby John Jumpers crouch down small… and jump for joy!

  7. ✏️ “His name is John!” Now he can talk!

    Baby John was born! Zacharias wrote, “His name is John.” Then he could talk again, and he thanked Heavenly Father.

    🎬 Elisabeth rocks the baby. Zacharias writes a big J. Everyone shouts, “Thank you, Heavenly Father!”

Key verse

Luke 1:13 ↗
“thy prayer is heard”
In kid words: Heavenly Father heard your prayer!
🙌 “thy prayer” = fold your arms · “is heard” = cup a hand behind your ear and smile big

More verses

Luke 1:37 ↗
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
In kid words: Heavenly Father can do anything!
Luke 1:41 ↗
“the babe leaped”
In kid words: Baby John jumped for joy!
Luke 1:31 ↗
“call his name JESUS”
In kid words: The angel said Mary’s baby would be named Jesus.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 👶 Baby
  • 👼 Angel
  • 🙏 Prayer
  • 🏛️ Temple
  • 👂 Ear
  • 👴 Grandpa
  • 👵 Grandma
  • ✏️ Pencil
  • 🦘 Kangaroo
  • 💛 Heart
  • 🌙 Moon
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family
Clues for each word
  • Baby: Elisabeth prayed for one
  • Angel: Gabriel brought happy news
  • Prayer: Fold your arms and talk to Heavenly Father
  • Temple: Where Zacharias saw the angel
  • Ear: Heavenly Father hears us
  • Grandpa: Zacharias was old like this
  • Grandma: Elisabeth was old like this
  • Pencil: Zacharias wrote “His name is John”
  • Kangaroo: Jumps like happy baby John
  • Heart: Heavenly Father loves us
  • Moon: We pray before bed
  • Family: Something to thank Heavenly Father for
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. What did Zacharias and Elisabeth pray for?
    • A. 👶 A baby
    • B. 🚲 A bike
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👶 A baby They prayed for a baby for a long, long time.

  2. Who came to the temple with happy news?
    • A. 🐶 A puppy
    • B. 👼 An angel
    • C. 🤡 A clown
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👼 An angel The angel Gabriel said, “Your prayer is heard!”

  3. Who hears our prayers?
    • A. 🐟 A fish
    • B. 🙏 Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🙏 Heavenly Father Heavenly Father hears every prayer, even whisper ones!

  4. What couldn’t Zacharias do for a while?
    • A. 🤐 Talk
    • B. 🍌 Eat
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🤐 Talk He couldn’t talk until baby John was born.

  5. What did baby John do when Mary came?
    • A. 😴 Slept
    • B. 😭 Cried
    • C. 🦘 Jumped for joy
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🦘 Jumped for joy Baby John leaped for joy!

  6. What name did Zacharias write?
    • A. 🐻 Teddy
    • B. 👶 John
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👶 John He wrote “His name is John,” and then he could talk again!

  7. Which one is prayer arms?
    • A. 🙆 Arms up high
    • B. 🙏 Arms folded
    • C. 🤸 Cartwheel
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🙏 Arms folded We fold our arms, bow our heads and close our eyes to pray.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed, and Heavenly Father heard them. Sing it while practicing prayer arms. Find it ↗

  • We Bow Our Heads Children’s Songbook, p. 25

    A short, gentle song to settle the room before the closing prayer. Find it ↗

  • Do As I’m Doing Children’s Songbook, p. 276

    The wiggle song after Baby John’s jump for joy. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Prayer Arms at Home

Show your family your prayer arms! Say a little prayer each night this week and thank Heavenly Father for one thing. He hears you!

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned that Heavenly Father hears our prayers. Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed a long time for a baby, and an angel said, “Thy prayer is heard” (Luke 1:13). Baby John was born and even jumped for joy before he was born! Ask your child: “Who hears your prayers?” and let them show you their prayer arms before bed.

📝 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?

🖍️ Thank-You Prayer Drawing · 5 min

  1. Give each child a paper and crayons.
  2. SAY“Draw something you can thank Heavenly Father for.” Family, pets, food and sunshine are all great.
  3. Write “Heavenly Father hears me” at the top so parents can read it at home.
  4. Let each child hold up their drawing and say, “Thank you, Heavenly Father!”

🤐 Quiet Like Zacharias · 2 min

  1. SAY“Zacharias couldn’t talk for a long time! Can we be quiet like Zacharias?”
  2. Everyone puts a finger on their lips. Talk only with hands: wave hello, point up, give a thumbs up, make a heart.
  3. Open Noise Meter if you like. Can you be quieter than a mouse?
  4. SAY“We can pray in our hearts with no words out loud, and Heavenly Father still hears!”

✏️ Draw & Guess · 3 min

  1. Open Draw & Guess. You (the teacher) draw a word from this lesson on your phone or tablet.
  2. Children shout what they think it is: a baby, an angel, praying hands.
  3. Let a brave child add a scribble or color at the end.

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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