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Heavenly Father Loves Me Forever

Bubbles that pop, a prophet stuck in the mud, and a brave helper with ropes and soft old clothes

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • Week 44
  • 📅 Sunday, November 1, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father loves me forever and ever.

I can remember that Heavenly Father loves me forever, and I can be a helper like Ebed-melech.

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

These chapters cover the last years of Jerusalem before Babylon conquered it. In the middle of hard times, the Lord promised His people, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3), and promised to write His law in their hearts (31:33). In Jeremiah 38, angry princes lowered Jeremiah on ropes into a dungeon, a deep pit meant for water, where he sank in the mud. Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian who served in the king’s house, went to King Zedekiah and spoke up for him. He took thirty men, lowered old rags and ropes so the ropes wouldn’t hurt Jeremiah’s arms, and pulled him out (38:6–13). The Lord later promised to keep Ebed-melech safe “because thou hast put thy trust in me” (39:18).

For three-year-olds, teach one tiny truth: Heavenly Father loves me forever. “Everlasting” is a big word, so show it: bubbles pop, but His love never pops and never goes away. The Ebed-melech story shows that love in action. When Jeremiah was stuck, Heavenly Father’s love came through a brave, kind helper, and Sunbeams can be helpers too. Keep the pit gentle: muddy and stuck, not scary.

Other parts of this block work as extras. King Jehoiakim cut up and burned the scroll of the Lord’s words, and the Lord simply had Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch write it again (Jeremiah 36). Lamentations is a book of sad poems about Jerusalem, but it holds a bright promise: the Lord’s compassions “are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23).

Only have 5 minutes?

Bring bubbles, a jump rope or scarf, a stuffed animal, and a laundry basket. Blow bubbles and talk about how they pop, swipe through the picture story of Ebed-melech pulling Jeremiah out of the mud, teach “Heavenly Father loves me forever and ever!” with a big rolling circle, and pull the stuffed-animal Jeremiah out of the basket together. End holding hands in a circle that never ends. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: blow pretend bubbles, and let the children pull YOU up off the floor.

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. Put the stuffed animal in the laundry basket with the towel or sock tucked under its arms.
  2. Loop the rope under the stuffed animal’s arms (over the soft rag) so the children can lift it by pulling.
  3. Add your children’s names in the My Class tab so you can greet each one by name.
  4. Practice the forever circle motion once: roll your arms around and around without stopping.

If your class is wild

  • Day-after-Halloween energy is real. Do the Mud Stomp wiggle right after the hook if the room is bouncing, and don’t hand out treats this week.
  • Bubbles are exciting and slippery. Pop only with pointer fingers, keep bottoms on the floor, and blow them over carpet, not a hard floor.
  • Separation tears? Let the parent stay a few minutes, then give the child the most important job: holding the very front of the rope in the rescue game.
  • 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 a child is still scared from spooky Halloween costumes, keep the pit part short and cheerful: “Squish, squish, silly mud!”

The 25-minute plan22 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

Pop! Pop! Bubbles!

3 min

Popping bubbles shows three-year-olds what “forever” is not, so they can understand a love that never pops.

  1. Blow bubbles and let the children pop them with pointer fingers. Say: “Pop! Where did it go? It’s gone!”
  2. Blow a few more. Ask: “Do bubbles last forever?” (No! They pop!)
  3. SAY“Some things don’t last. Bubbles pop. Ice cream melts. But Heavenly Father’s love never pops and never goes away. It lasts forever and ever!”
  4. Put the bubbles out of sight before you move on.
🌪️ Bottoms stay on the floor, and pop only with one pointer finger. Anyone who stands up waits for the next bubble.

Class screen: 🫧 Pop! Do bubbles last forever?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Bubbles (a small bottle with a wand)

Pretend Bubbles

  1. Hold up a pretend bubble wand, dip it in a pretend bottle, and blow slowly: “Whooo…” Point to pretend bubbles floating everywhere.
  2. The children pop them with a clap: “Pop! Pop!” Say: “Where did it go? It’s gone!”
  3. Ask: “Do bubbles last forever?” (No! They pop!)
  4. SAY“Some things don’t last. Bubbles pop. Ice cream melts. But Heavenly Father’s love never pops and never goes away. It lasts forever and ever!”

Class screen: 🫧 Pop! Do bubbles last forever?

2. Story

Picture Story: Out of the Muddy Pit

5 min

Seven action-packed scenes show Heavenly Father’s love sending a brave helper to pull Jeremiah out of the mud.

  1. Pick a Jeremiah and an Ebed-melech (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Everyone else is a Mud Stomper and a Rope Puller.
  2. Jeremiah sits on a spot on the floor: that’s the muddy pit.
  3. Swipe through the scenes on your phone or tablet. Read the short sentences, then do the action together.
  4. At scene 6, the Rope Pullers gently take Jeremiah’s hands and help him stand up.
  5. After scene 7, say together: “Heavenly Father loves me forever and ever!”
🌪️ Only gentle hands pull Jeremiah. If pulling gets rough, switch to pulling the invisible rope instead.

Class screen: 🪢 Stuck in the mud! Who will help?

3. Wiggle break

Mud Stomp

2 min

Stomping through pretend sticky mud burns off day-after-Halloween energy and replays the story.

  1. SAY“Everybody stand up! We’re in sticky mud!” Lift your knees high and stomp slowly: “Squish… squish…”
  2. SAY“Uh-oh, my foot is stuck!” Pull and pull… pop it out!
  3. Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” (Children’s Songbook, 275) in slow, sticky mud motion, then super fast once you’re out of the mud.
  4. Sit down and wipe off your pretend muddy hands: “All clean!”

Class screen: 🥾 Squish, squish! Sticky mud! · Stomp slow… · Pop your foot out! · Now fast!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Jeremiah 31:3

3 min

A rolling circle motion helps Sunbeams feel what “everlasting” means: a love that never stops.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “The Lord said something wonderful to His people. It’s for you too! Listen!”
  2. Read Jeremiah 31:3: “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Say: “Everlasting means it never, ever stops, like a circle that goes around and around!”
  3. Teach the motions (see Key Verse) one at a time, then say it together: “Heavenly Father loves me forever and ever!”
  4. Say it three ways: a whisper, a regular voice, and a big happy voice.
  5. On the last time, keep rolling your arms and say “forever and ever and ever…” until everyone giggles.

Class screen: 📖 Heavenly Father loves me forever! · ☝️ Heavenly Father · 🤗 loves me · 🔄 forever and ever!

5. Game

Pull Jeremiah Out!

3 min

Pulling together lets every child be a helper like Ebed-melech.

  1. Show the stuffed animal sitting in the laundry basket. Say: “Oh no! Jeremiah is stuck in the muddy pit! Who will help?”
  2. Everyone holds the rope in a line, with the rope looped under Jeremiah’s arms over the soft rag.
  3. SAY“Ready? Pull! Pull! Pull!” Pull slowly together until Jeremiah comes up out of the basket. Cheer!
  4. Put Jeremiah back and play again, with a new child at the front of the rope each time.
  5. SAY“Ebed-melech was a helper. You can be a helper too! Heavenly Father loves it when we help.”
🌪️ Pull slowly on the count of three. If children tumble backward, have everyone sit and pull hand over hand instead.

Class screen: 💪 Pull! Pull! Out of the mud!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A jump rope, scarf, or long towel to be the rope, A soft stuffed animal to be Jeremiah, and a laundry basket or box to be the muddy pit

Pull Teacher Out of the Mud!

  1. Sit on the floor. Say: “Oh no! I’m stuck in the muddy pit! Squish, squish! Who will help me?”
  2. Hold out both hands. Two or three children take your hands, and everyone else holds on to them in a chain.
  3. SAY“Ready? Pull! Pull! Pull!” Rise up very slowly while they pull, then pop up and cheer. (You do the work; they just pull gently.)
  4. Play again so every child gets a turn in the front.
  5. SAY“Ebed-melech was a helper. You can be a helper too! Heavenly Father loves it when we help.”

Class screen: 💪 Pull teacher out of the mud!

6. 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 you pull a rope!
  • Who was the brave helper who pulled Jeremiah out?
  • How can you be a helper at home? Show me!
  • Show me how big Heavenly Father’s love is!

Class screen: 💬 Show me!

7. Song

Sing About His Love

2 min

A gentle song about Heavenly Father’s love settles the room for the testimony.

  1. SAY“Let’s sing a song about how much Heavenly Father loves us.”
  2. Sing “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228). Sway side to side and point to your eyes and ears when the song talks about seeing and hearing.
  3. If they don’t know it yet, sing it slowly and let them sway and hum.

Class screen: 🎵 Heavenly Father loves me!

8. Testimony

The Circle That Never Ends

2 min

Holding hands in a circle gives three-year-olds a picture of love that goes around and around and never stops.

  1. Sit in a circle and hold hands. Say quietly: “Look! Our circle goes around and around. Where does it end?” (It doesn’t!)
  2. SAY“Heavenly Father’s love is like our circle. It never ends. He loves you forever and ever.”
  3. Pass a gentle hand squeeze around the circle. As it reaches each child, say their name: “Heavenly Father loves you, Emma.”
  4. Share one simple sentence: “I know Heavenly Father loves me, and He loves each of you.”
  5. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays, a few at a time.

Class screen: ⭕ His love never ends. · Forever and ever

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 mud stomp!” “Show me how you pull a rope!” 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

Out of the Muddy Pit

Jeremiah 38:1–13; 39:15–18 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • JeremiahOne child sits in the “pit” (a spot on the floor), gets stuck in the mud, and pops up when everyone pulls.
  • Ebed-melechOne child marches bravely and says, “We have to help Jeremiah!”
  • Mud StompersEveryone stomps slowly: “Squish! Squish!”
  • Rope PullersEveryone pulls an invisible rope: “Pull! Pull! Pull!”

Scenes

  1. 🧔📢 Jeremiah was a prophet

    Jeremiah was a prophet. He told people that Heavenly Father loved them and wanted them to choose the right.

    🎬 Hands around your mouth: “Choose the right!”

  2. 😠🕳️ Grumpy men put him in a hole

    Some grumpy men didn’t like what Jeremiah said. They put him down in a deep, muddy hole.

    🎬 Make a grumpy face for one second. Jeremiah slowly sinks down low.

  3. 🥾😮 Squish, squish! Stuck in the mud!

    There was no water in the hole, just sticky mud. Jeremiah was stuck!

    🎬 Mud Stompers stomp slowly: “Squish! Squish!” Jeremiah tries to lift his feet: “I’m stuck!”

  4. 🧑🏾👑 Ebed-melech was brave

    A kind helper named Ebed-melech heard about it. He went right to the king and said, “We have to help Jeremiah!”

    🎬 Ebed-melech marches and says, “We have to help Jeremiah!” Everyone stands up tall and brave.

  5. 🪢👕 Ropes and soft old clothes

    Ebed-melech let down strong ropes and soft old clothes, so the ropes wouldn’t hurt Jeremiah’s arms.

    🎬 Lower a pretend rope, hand over hand. Jeremiah tucks pretend soft clothes under his arms.

  6. 💪⬆️ Pull, pull, pull!

    Everybody pulled together, and up came Jeremiah, out of the mud!

    🎬 Rope Pullers pull: “Pull! Pull! Pull!” Jeremiah pops up. Everyone cheers!

  7. ❤️⭕ Heavenly Father loves us forever

    Heavenly Father loved Jeremiah and sent him a helper. He loves you forever and ever too!

    🎬 Roll your arms in a big circle that never stops, then give yourself a hug.

Key verse

Jeremiah 31:3 ↗
“I have loved thee with an everlasting love”
In kid words: Heavenly Father loves me forever and ever!
🙌 “Heavenly Father” = point up high · “loves me” = hug yourself tight · “forever and ever” = roll your arms around and around in a big circle that never stops

More verses

Jeremiah 38:13 ↗
“So they drew up Jeremiah with cords”
In kid words: They pulled Jeremiah up with ropes!
Lamentations 3:22–23 ↗
“his compassions fail not. They are new every morning”
In kid words: Heavenly Father’s love is there for us every single morning.
Jeremiah 39:18 ↗
“because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD”
In kid words: The Lord kept Ebed-melech safe because he trusted Him.

Forehead Guess words14 words

  • 🪢 Rope
  • 🥾 Boots
  • 🕳️ Hole
  • 🫧 Bubbles
  • 👑 King
  • ❤️ Heart
  • ⭕ Circle
  • 🌅 Sunrise
  • 👕 Soft Clothes
  • 🤝 Helper
  • 🤗 Hug
  • 📜 Scroll
  • 🧔 Jeremiah
  • 🧑🏾 Ebed-melech
Clues for each word
  • Rope: Pull, pull, pull!
  • Boots: Stomp through the sticky mud
  • Hole: Jeremiah got stuck down in one
  • Bubbles: Pop! They don’t last forever
  • King: Ebed-melech asked him for help
  • Heart: It means love
  • Circle: Goes around and around and never ends
  • Sunrise: Every morning, His love is new
  • Soft Clothes: Kept the ropes from hurting Jeremiah
  • Helper: Someone who helps, like Ebed-melech
  • Hug: Wrap your arms around someone you love
  • Scroll: Jeremiah wrote Heavenly Father’s words on it
  • Jeremiah: The prophet stuck in the mud
  • Ebed-melech: The brave helper who pulled him out
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Do bubbles last forever?
    • A. 🫧 Yes
    • B. 💥 No, they pop!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💥 No, they pop! Pop! Bubbles don’t last, but Heavenly Father’s love lasts forever.

  2. Where did Jeremiah get stuck?
    • A. 🕳️ In a muddy hole
    • B. 🍰 In a cake
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🕳️ In a muddy hole Jeremiah 38:6. Squish, squish! He was stuck in the mud.

  3. Who was the brave helper?
    • A. 🐊 A crocodile
    • B. 🧑🏾 Ebed-melech
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🧑🏾 Ebed-melech Jeremiah 38:7–13. Ebed-melech went to the king and helped Jeremiah.

  4. What pulled Jeremiah out of the mud?
    • A. 🍝 Spaghetti
    • B. 🎈 Balloons
    • C. 🪢 Ropes
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🪢 Ropes Jeremiah 38:13. They pulled him up with ropes. Pull, pull, pull!

  5. How long does Heavenly Father love you?
    • A. ⏰ One minute
    • B. 🔄 Forever and ever!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🔄 Forever and ever! Jeremiah 31:3. His love never ends, like a circle.

  6. Which one is being a helper?
    • A. 🧹 Helping clean up
    • B. 😠 Grabbing toys
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🧹 Helping clean up Helpers are like Ebed-melech. You can be a helper too!

  7. What kept the ropes from hurting Jeremiah’s arms?
    • A. 👕 Soft old clothes
    • B. 🌵 A cactus
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👕 Soft old clothes Jeremiah 38:11–12. Ebed-melech was brave AND gentle.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    Sing it softly right before the forever-circle testimony. Find it ↗

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

    Sing it in slow, sticky mud motion, then super fast once you’re out. Find it ↗

  • Kindness Begins with Me Children’s Songbook, p. 145

    Pairs with the Helper Hands extra: we can be kind helpers like Ebed-melech. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Be a Helper

This week, be a helper like Ebed-melech: pick up toys, help set the table, or give a hug to someone who is sad. Each time, say, “Heavenly Father loves you, and so do I!”

Text the parents

Today your Sunbeam learned from Jeremiah 31:3 that Heavenly Father loves them “with an everlasting love”: forever and ever. We popped bubbles (they don’t last, but His love does), heard how a brave helper named Ebed-melech pulled the prophet Jeremiah out of a muddy pit (Jeremiah 38), and pulled a stuffed-animal Jeremiah out of a basket together. Ask your child: “How long does Heavenly Father love you?” and roll your arms in a big circle 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?

📜 Write It Again · 2 min

  1. Write “Heavenly Father loves you” on a paper and read it to the class.
  2. SAY“A king didn’t like Heavenly Father’s words, so he wrecked the scroll.” Crumple your paper into a ball.
  3. SAY“But the Lord told Jeremiah to write it all again!” (Jeremiah 36:28). Smooth out a new paper and write the words again.
  4. SAY“Nobody can stop Heavenly Father’s words.”

🌅 New Every Morning · 2 min

  1. Everyone lies down and snores: “Zzzz…”
  2. SAY“Good morning!” Everyone stretches up high and yawns.
  3. SAY“Every single morning, Heavenly Father’s love is there, brand new!” (Lamentations 3:22–23). Do it three times.

🖐️ Helper Hands · 5 min

  1. Trace each child’s hand on a paper and write their name in the middle.
  2. Ask each child: “How can your hands help?” Write their answer on a finger: pick up toys, hug baby, carry a bag.
  3. Sing “Kindness Begins with Me” (Children’s Songbook, 145) while they color.

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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