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Heavenly Father Knew Me

Someone special in a box, baby Jeremiah grows up to be brave, and squishy clay that can start again

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • Week 43
  • 📅 Sunday, October 25, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father knew me and loved me before I was born.

I can remember that Heavenly Father knows me and loves me.

Study it yourself firstRead Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20)
Know the chapters

Jeremiah was a prophet in Jerusalem about 600 years before Jesus was born, at the same time as Lehi. When the Lord called him, He said, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee” (Jeremiah 1:5). Jeremiah answered, “I am a child” (1:6), but the Lord told him not to be afraid, “for I am with thee” (1:8), touched his mouth, and put His words there (1:9). Later the Lord sent Jeremiah to watch a potter who reshaped a lumpy pot into a new one (18:1–6).

Jeremiah 1:5 teaches a truth that is precious to children: before we came to earth, we lived with Heavenly Father as His spirit children, and He knows each of us personally (Abraham 3:22–23). (In Jeremiah, “the LORD” who speaks is Jehovah, Jesus Christ, who does the Father’s will; with Sunbeams, simply say Heavenly Father knew them, as the manual does.) For three-year-olds, teach one tiny truth: Heavenly Father knew me before I was born. They love hearing about when they were tiny babies. Keep baby talk general and warm; some children are adopted, in foster care, or in families with hard stories, so don’t ask about “your mom’s tummy” or ask children to bring baby pictures.

Other pictures from these chapters fit well in the extras: the Lord promised to send “many fishers” to gather His children (16:16), which is what missionaries do, and a person who trusts the Lord is like a tree planted by the waters (17:7–8). Soft clay in the potter’s hands (18:6) shows three-year-olds that Heavenly Father can help them grow, and that it’s okay to squish and try again.

Only have 5 minutes?

Put a small mirror in a box or gift bag and grab some play dough. Let each child peek at the “someone special” in the box, swipe through the picture story of Jeremiah, teach “Heavenly Father knew me before I was born!” with the point-smile-rock motions, squish clay like a potter, and spin the Name Spinner for cheers. End by saying each child’s name and one thing you love about them. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: name each child as “someone special,” and let every child be their own squishy clay.

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. Tape or set the mirror in the bottom of the box so a child who peeks in sees their own face. Close the lid.
  2. Roll the play dough into small balls, one per child, and keep them in a zip bag until the clay activity.
  3. Add your children’s names in the My Class tab so the Name Spinner can pick them.
  4. Think of one kind thing you have noticed about each child (a big smile, great sharing, a gentle voice) for the testimony.

If your class is wild

  • Waiting for a turn to peek in the box is hard at three. Everyone who is waiting drums on their knees, and the quietest drummer peeks next.
  • Play dough goes in mouths at this age. Sit where you can see every child, and collect it in the zip bag as soon as the activity ends.
  • Tears when a parent leaves? Let the parent stay a few minutes, then invite the child to be the first one to peek in the box. Curiosity beats crying.
  • 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.
  • If you bring a snack, check allergies with every parent and your ward’s policy first.

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

Someone Special in the Box

3 min

Seeing their own face in the “someone special” box is a classic Primary surprise that tells each child they are known and loved.

  1. Hold up the box. Say: “Inside this box is someone Heavenly Father knows and loves very much. Shh! Don’t tell who you see!”
  2. Let each child peek in, one at a time. Whisper: “Who is it?” They will see their own face!
  3. When everyone has peeked, say: “It was YOU! Heavenly Father knows you and loves you.”
  4. SAY“He knew you even before you were born, before you were a tiny baby. Today we’ll learn about a prophet named Jeremiah. Heavenly Father knew him before he was born too.”
🌪️ Waiting children drum on their knees. The quietest drummer peeks next.

Class screen: 🎁 Who is inside the special box?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A box or gift bag with a small unbreakable mirror inside (a plastic toy mirror or compact works)

Someone Special Is Here

  1. SAY“I’m thinking of someone Heavenly Father knows and loves very much. Who could it be?”
  2. Look slowly around the circle… then point: “It’s Emma!” Emma stands up, and everyone waves: “Hi, Emma!”
  3. Do it for every child. Save the wiggliest for last so they stay watching.
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father knows every one of you. He knew you even before you were born. Today we’ll learn about a prophet named Jeremiah. Heavenly Father knew him before he was born too.”

Class screen: 🌟 Someone special is here!

2. Story

Picture Story: Heavenly Father Knew Jeremiah

5 min

Seven short scenes follow Jeremiah from heaven to baby to brave prophet, with an action for every scene.

  1. Pick one child to be Jeremiah (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Everyone else is a Baby Rocker, a Growing Kid, and the Cheer Squad.
  2. Sit close together on the floor. Swipe through the scenes on your phone or tablet. Read the short sentences, then do the action together.
  3. If you brought a baby doll or your own baby photo, show it at scene 2: “Everybody was a tiny baby once!”
  4. After scenes 1 and 7, say together: “Heavenly Father knew me before I was born!”
🌪️ If two children both want to be Jeremiah, let one be Jeremiah for scenes 1–4 and the other for scenes 5–7.

Class screen: 👶 Baby Jeremiah grows up!

3. Wiggle break

Tiny Baby, Big Kid

2 min

Growing from baby to big kid gets wiggles out and acts out how Jeremiah grew.

  1. SAY“Everybody be a tiny baby!” Lie down and wiggle your arms and legs: “Waaah!”
  2. Now crawl… now toddle with wobbly steps… now walk… now run in place… now JUMP!
  3. Sing “Once There Was a Snowman” (Children’s Songbook, 249): grow tall as you sing, then melt down small at the end.
  4. Sit down and say: “Heavenly Father knew you when you were tiny, and He knows you now!”

Class screen: 🌱 Baby, crawl, walk, run, JUMP! · 👶 Waaah! · 🚼 Crawl · 🚶 Walk · 🏃 Run · 🦘 Jump!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Jeremiah 1:5

3 min

Three simple motions help Sunbeams remember that Heavenly Father knew them before they were born.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “Heavenly Father said something special to Jeremiah. It’s true for you too! Listen!”
  2. Read Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.” Say: “That means Heavenly Father knew you before you were born!”
  3. Teach the motions (see Key Verse) one at a time, then say it together: “Heavenly Father knew me before I was born!”
  4. Say it three ways: a tiny baby voice, a regular voice, and a big brave Jeremiah voice.
  5. Go around the circle. Say each child’s name, and that child points to themselves and smiles big.

Class screen: 📖 Heavenly Father knew me! · ☝️ Heavenly Father · 😊 knew me · 👶 before I was born

5. Object lesson

Squishy Clay

3 min

Squishing and reshaping play dough shows that Heavenly Father can help us grow, and we can always try again.

  1. Give each child a ball of play dough. Say: “Jeremiah watched a potter make pots out of clay. Let’s be potters!”
  2. Squish it flat! Roll it into a snake! Now push your thumb in the middle to make a little bowl.
  3. SAY“Oops, is it lumpy? That’s okay! The potter squished his lumpy pot and made it again.” Squish and try again together.
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father knows you and helps you grow, like a potter shapes clay. When we make a mistake, we can try again.”
  5. Collect the play dough in the bag right away.
🌪️ Pass out the play dough only to children sitting on their bottoms. Anyone who throws it gets to watch for one turn.

Class screen: 🏺 Squish, roll, and try again!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Play dough, a small ball for each child (store-bought play dough contains wheat, so check for gluten allergies)

Be the Clay

  1. SAY“Jeremiah watched a potter make pots out of clay. Let’s pretend WE are the clay!”
  2. Curl up into a round ball of clay. Now roll like a snake on the floor! Now stand up tall and round your arms like a big pot.
  3. SAY“Oops! A lumpy pot!” Everyone makes a silly lumpy shape. “That’s okay! Squish back into a ball and try again!”
  4. SAY“Heavenly Father knows you and helps you grow, like a potter shapes clay. When we make a mistake, we can try again.”

Class screen: 🏺 You are the squishy clay!

6. Game

Name Spinner Cheer

2 min

Hearing their own name cheered helps each child feel known, just like Heavenly Father knows them.

  1. Tap Name Spinner. Say: “Let’s see who Heavenly Father knows!”
  2. When it lands on a child, everyone cheers: “Heavenly Father knows Emma!” Emma stands up and does a happy dance.
  3. Keep spinning until every child has had a cheer.
  4. No phone or tablet? Point to each child in turn and cheer for them.
🌪️ If a shy child doesn’t want to dance, they can just wave. Everyone waves back.
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🎡 Heavenly Father knows YOU!

7. Talk it over

Show Me!

2 min

Show-me questions let pre-readers answer with their whole bodies.

  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 faces and actions. Share your own quick answer too.
💬 Ask the class
  • Show me how a tiny baby sleeps.
  • Before you were born, where did you live? Point to it!
  • Who knows your name and loves you?
  • Show me how Jeremiah stood up brave!

Class screen: 💬 Show me!

8. Testimony

Heavenly Father Knows You

3 min

A quiet, personal moment with each child makes the tiny truth real: they are known and loved.

  1. Sing or hum “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, 4) softly, or “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2) if they know it better.
  2. Lower your voice. Go around the circle, look each child in the eyes, and say their name and one kind thing: “Emma, you have a happy smile. Heavenly Father knows you.”
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father knew you before you were born. He knows your name, and He loves you so much.”
  4. Share one simple sentence: “I know Heavenly Father knows me and loves me.”
  5. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays, a few at a time.

Class screen: 💛 Heavenly Father knows and loves you. · Before you were born

9. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

A picture reveal reviews the lesson 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 a tiny baby!” “Show me brave Jeremiah!” 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

Heavenly Father Knew Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:4–9 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • JeremiahOne child crouches tiny, grows up tall, says “But I’m just little!” and then stands up brave.
  • Baby RockersEveryone rocks baby Jeremiah in their arms and says, “Shh, shh.”
  • Growing KidsEveryone starts tiny and grows bigger and bigger with Jeremiah.
  • Cheer SquadEveryone cheers, “Be brave, Jeremiah!” when he stands up tall.

Scenes

  1. ☁️💛 Jeremiah lived in heaven first

    Before Jeremiah was born, he lived in heaven with Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father knew him and loved him.

    🎬 Point up high, then give yourself a big hug.

  2. 👶🍼 Baby Jeremiah was born

    Then Jeremiah was born as a tiny baby. Waaah!

    🎬 Everyone says “Waaah!” then rocks a pretend baby: “Shh, shh.”

  3. 🧒⬆️ Jeremiah grew bigger and bigger

    Jeremiah grew bigger… and bigger… and bigger!

    🎬 Crouch down tiny, then grow tall, taller, tallest!

  4. 🗣️✨ The Lord had a big job for him

    The Lord told Jeremiah, “I knew you before you were born. I want you to be a prophet and tell people about Me.”

    🎬 Jeremiah points to himself: “Me?” Everyone points to themselves: “Me?”

  5. 😟🤏 “But I’m just little!”

    Jeremiah said, “But I am only a child!” He felt too small for such a big job.

    🎬 Make yourself tiny and shy. Say, “But I’m just little!”

  6. 🤝💛 “Don’t be afraid. I am with you.”

    The Lord said, “Don’t be afraid. I am with you.” He touched Jeremiah’s mouth and gave him the words to say.

    🎬 Touch your lips gently. Jeremiah stands up tall. Cheer Squad: “Be brave, Jeremiah!”

  7. 📢😊 Jeremiah told everyone about Heavenly Father

    Jeremiah was brave. He told everyone about Heavenly Father, just like prophets do today.

    🎬 Hands around your mouth: “Heavenly Father loves you!”

Key verse

Jeremiah 1:5 ↗
“Before I formed thee … I knew thee”
In kid words: Heavenly Father knew me before I was born!
🙌 “Heavenly Father” = point up high · “knew me” = point to yourself and smile big · “before I was born” = rock a tiny baby in your arms

More verses

Jeremiah 1:8 ↗
“Be not afraid … for I am with thee”
In kid words: Don’t be scared. Heavenly Father is with you.
Jeremiah 1:9 ↗
“Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth”
In kid words: Heavenly Father helped Jeremiah know what to say.
Jeremiah 18:6 ↗
“as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand”
In kid words: Heavenly Father can help us grow, like a potter shapes clay.
Jeremiah 17:8 ↗
“he shall be as a tree planted by the waters”
In kid words: People who trust Heavenly Father grow strong, like a tree by a river.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 👶 Baby
  • ☁️ Heaven
  • 🧒 Jeremiah
  • 👄 Mouth
  • 🏺 Pot
  • 🤲 Hands
  • 🪞 Mirror
  • ❤️ Heart
  • 🌳 Tree
  • 🏞️ River
  • 🐟 Fish
  • 🧔 Prophet
Clues for each word
  • Baby: Everyone was one once. Waaah!
  • Heaven: Where we lived with Heavenly Father
  • Jeremiah: He said, “But I’m just little!”
  • Mouth: The Lord gave Jeremiah words to say
  • Pot: A potter makes it out of clay
  • Hands: A potter shapes clay with them
  • Mirror: Look! You see yourself!
  • Heart: It means love
  • Tree: Grows strong by the river
  • River: Water that helps the tree grow
  • Fish: Swims in the water. Blub, blub!
  • Prophet: Tells us what Heavenly Father wants
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Who knew you before you were born?
    • A. 🦖 A dinosaur
    • B. 💛 Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💛 Heavenly Father Jeremiah 1:5. Heavenly Father knew you and loved you before you were born.

  2. Which one is a tiny baby?
    • A. 👶 Baby
    • B. 🐘 Elephant
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👶 Baby Jeremiah was a tiny baby once, and so were you!

  3. Jeremiah said, “But I’m just…”
    • A. 🤏 Little!
    • B. 🦒 Tall!
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🤏 Little! Jeremiah 1:6. He felt too small, but the Lord helped him.

  4. What did the Lord tell Jeremiah?
    • A. 😨 Be scared!
    • B. 💪 Don’t be afraid!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💪 Don’t be afraid! Jeremiah 1:8. The Lord said, “I am with you.”

  5. What does a potter make out of clay?
    • A. 🚲 A bike
    • B. 🏺 A pot
    • C. 🍌 A banana
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🏺 A pot Jeremiah 18. When the pot got lumpy, the potter made it again!

  6. Where did we live before we were born?
    • A. ☁️ With Heavenly Father
    • B. 🌊 In the ocean
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ☁️ With Heavenly Father We lived in heaven with Heavenly Father. He knows us all!

  7. Who knows your name?
    • A. 🌵 A cactus
    • B. 🧦 A sock
    • C. 💛 Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 💛 Heavenly Father Heavenly Father knows your name, and He loves you.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    Teaches that we lived with Heavenly Father before we were born. Hum it softly for the testimony. Find it ↗

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

    The song most Sunbeams already know. Use it if “I Lived in Heaven” is new to them. Find it ↗

  • Once There Was a Snowman Children’s Songbook, p. 249

    Grow tall, then melt small: the perfect wiggle after baby Jeremiah grows up. Find it ↗

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

    Pairs with the Fishing for Friends extra (Jeremiah 16:16). Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Mirror, Mirror

Each morning this week, look in a mirror with Mom or Dad and say, “Heavenly Father knew me before I was born, and He loves me!” Then give your mirror self a big smile.

Text the parents

Today your Sunbeam learned from Jeremiah 1:5 that Heavenly Father knew them before they were born. We peeked at “someone special” in a box (it was them!), watched baby Jeremiah grow up to be a brave prophet, and squished clay like the potter in Jeremiah 18. Ask your child: “Who knew you before you were born?” and tell them one thing you loved about them when they were little.

📝 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?

🎣 Fishing for Friends · 3 min

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father said He would send fishers to find His children” (Jeremiah 16:16). “Missionaries help people come to Jesus!”
  2. Cast a pretend fishing line: “I’m fishing for… Jack!” Jack takes your hand and becomes a fisher too.
  3. Jack casts for the next friend. Keep going until everyone is holding hands in a long line.
  4. Sing “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission” (Children’s Songbook, 169).

🌳 Tree by the River · 2 min

  1. SAY“Jeremiah said people who trust Heavenly Father are like a tree growing by a river” (Jeremiah 17:8).
  2. Everyone plants their feet like roots and stretches their arms like branches.
  3. SAY“Here comes the wind!” Sway, but keep your roots planted. “Here comes the sun!” Stretch taller. “Strong trees!”

🚼 Baby Steps Parade · 2 min

  1. Line up for a parade around the room. Start as crawling babies, then toddlers, then big marching kids.
  2. At each stop, shout: “Heavenly Father knows me!”
  3. End sitting in your spots, rocking a pretend baby.

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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