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About My Father’s Business

Everyone who found Jesus worshipped Him, and at twelve He already knew who He was

  • 🧭 Youth 11–14
  • Week 2
  • 📅 Sunday, January 10, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Everyone who found the baby Jesus came to worship Him, and at twelve He was already about His Father’s business; I can worship Him and grow the way He did, in wisdom, stature and favour with God and man.

I can come to Jesus Christ like the shepherds and wise men did, and grow like He did at my age: spiritually, socially, physically and intellectually.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 2; Luke 2 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 2; Luke 2)
Know the chapters

Luke 2 and Matthew 2 are full of witnesses. Shepherds hear angels and go “with haste” to Bethlehem, then tell everyone (Luke 2:8–20). Simeon, who had been promised by the Holy Ghost that he would see the Messiah, holds the baby in the temple (Luke 2:25–35). Anna, a widow in her eighties who served in the temple “night and day,” gives thanks and tells everyone looking for redemption (Luke 2:36–38). Wise men follow a star, fall down and worship, give gifts, and are warned in a dream to go home another way; then Joseph is warned to take his family to Egypt (Matthew 2:1–14). The manual invites youth to ask of each witness: what does this teach me about worshipping Jesus Christ and witnessing of Him?

Then comes the only story we have of Jesus as a youth: at twelve, the age of many in your class, He stays behind at the temple for three days. The Joseph Smith Translation of Luke 2:46 says the teachers were hearing Him and asking Him questions. His answer to His worried mother, “wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49), shows He already knew who He was. Then He went home and “was subject unto them” (Luke 2:51). Being about God’s work and honoring your parents go together.

Luke 2:52 is the theme verse of the Children and Youth program: Jesus grew in wisdom (intellectual), stature (physical), favour with God (spiritual) and favour with man (social). New deacons and Young Women are setting goals in exactly those four areas this month, and For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices has sections that line up with each. The manual also points out that the birth details testify of who Jesus is: Bethlehem means “house of bread” and He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35); He was laid in a manger, a feeding trough; shepherds came first to see the Good Shepherd (John 10:11); a new star announced the Light of the World (John 8:12).

Keep Herod’s part gentle: he was jealous and wanted to harm the child, and God protected Jesus by warning Joseph. There’s no need to dwell on the rest of Matthew 2:16–18 with this age.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Luke 2 and Matthew 2:1–14. In class, run the scene drama from Teach Mode with two readers, do Four Corners of Growth by pointing at the walls, teach Luke 2:52 and ask three discussion questions. No cards? The Symbol Hunt becomes a verse race from your scriptures.

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. Write the 4 Symbol Hunt cards: 1 “Bethlehem means ‘house of bread.’ Read John 6:35.” · 2 “He was laid in a manger, a feeding trough. Read John 6:51.” · 3 “The first visitors were shepherds. Read John 10:11.” · 4 “A new star lit the way. Read John 8:12.” Hide them around the room before class.
  2. Make four signs and tape one in each corner: WISDOM 🧠 · STATURE 💪 · FAVOUR WITH GOD 🙏 · FAVOUR WITH MAN 🤝.
  3. Bookmark the reader verses: Luke 2:7, 2:10–11, 2:16–17, 2:29–32, 2:37–38, 2:48–49, Matthew 2:2, 2:11–13.
  4. If you set a Children and Youth goal as a youth or as an adult, be ready to mention it briefly in the testimony.

If your class is wild

  • Open with the “stand up if you’re twelve” moment. It turns Luke 2:42 from a Bible story into their story.
  • Nobody plays Jesus. In the drama, the baby is a folded jacket on a chair, and in the temple scene a Reader reads His words from the scriptures.
  • Give Herod to a kid who can play a grumpy villain without getting carried away. Short scene, big frown.
  • Four Corners gets loud. Say it up front: walk, don’t sprint, and the last one to a corner has to explain their pick.
  • Some youth will say “this is a Christmas story, Christmas is over.” Tell them it’s actually the only story about Jesus at their age.

The 25-minute plan24 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

Missing for Three Days

3 min

A funny “where would they find you?” question makes the youth realize Jesus was their age in Luke 2.

  1. SAY“Stand up if you’re twelve, or turn twelve this year.” Look around. “Okay, sit.”
  2. SAY“Picture this. Your family drives home from a big trip. A whole day later, your parents realize you’re not in the car. They search for three days. Where do they finally find you?”
  3. Take three or four answers. (Expect: the pizza place, a friend’s house, still asleep in the hotel.) Laugh with them.
  4. SAY“There’s a twelve-year-old in today’s chapters whose parents lost Him for three days. When they found Him, He was in the temple teaching the teachers. Today we’ll see who came to worship Him, and what He was like at your age.”

Class screen: 🧒 Lost for three days. Where would your parents find you? · 🍕 the pizza place? · 🎮 a friend’s house? · 🏛️ the temple?

2. Story

Scene Drama: Who Came to Worship?

6 min

Acting out each witness helps youth see different ways people came to Jesus, and meet Him at twelve.

  1. Tap Roles in Teach Mode and hand them out. One youth can play two small parts (Simeon and a Wise Man, for example).
  2. Set a folded jacket on a chair as the manger. Nobody plays Jesus.
  3. Read each scene and pause for the reader and the action.
  4. After scene 5, ask quickly: “The shepherds ran. Simeon and Anna waited for years. What do they have in common?” (They came to Him, recognized Him, and told others.)
  5. After scene 8, point out: “He went home and obeyed His parents. Being about God’s work didn’t mean ignoring Mom and Dad.”
🌪️ Scene 7 is a good place to channel energy: everyone becomes a wise man sneaking out a different exit.

Class screen: 🎭 Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, wise men, and a twelve-year-old in the temple · Readers ready · Nobody plays Jesus: the Reader speaks His words

3. Game

Symbol Hunt

4 min

Teams discover that the details of Jesus’s birth point to who He is: the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, the Light of the World.

  1. Split into two teams. Say: “Four cards are hidden. Each has a detail from the birth of Jesus and a verse from John. Find one, read the verse, and explain the connection. Walking only.”
  2. A team scores when they bring a card to you, read the John verse, and explain the link in one sentence.
  3. Answers: Bethlehem, “house of bread” → John 6:35, the Bread of Life · manger, a feeding trough → John 6:51, living bread · shepherds → John 10:11, the Good Shepherd · the new star → John 8:12, the Light of the World.
  4. Ask: “Why would Heavenly Father hide clues about His Son in the details?” Then say: “The sacrament bread you pass or take every week points to the same thing as that manger.”
🌪️ One runner per team at a time; the runner has to hand off to a new teammate for each card.

Class screen: 🔍 Find the clue. Read the verse. Explain the connection. · 🍞 Bethlehem · 🐄 manger · 🐑 shepherds · ⭐ star

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 4 index cards or paper slips for the Symbol Hunt (see prep)

Symbol Race

  1. Split into two teams. Say: “I’ll give you a detail from the birth of Jesus. Race to find the John verse that shows what it means, then explain the connection.”
  2. Read the clues one at a time: Bethlehem means “house of bread” (John 6:35) · He was laid in a manger, a feeding trough (John 6:51) · shepherds came first (John 10:11) · a new star (John 8:12).
  3. First team to read the verse aloud and explain it in one sentence scores. If nobody has scriptures, read the verse yourself and let teams race to explain.
  4. Ask: “Why would Heavenly Father hide clues about His Son in the details?” Then say: “The sacrament bread you pass or take every week points to the same thing as that manger.”

Class screen: 🔍 Birth detail → John verse → the connection · 🍞 🐄 🐑 ⭐

4. Wiggle break

Four Corners of Growth

2 min

Running to corners gets everyone moving and previews the four ways Jesus grew.

  1. Point out the four corner signs: Wisdom 🧠 · Stature 💪 · Favour with God 🙏 · Favour with Man 🤝.
  2. Call out activities; everyone walks fast to the corner it fits best: reading a book · shooting hoops · temple baptisms · sitting with the new kid at lunch · getting enough sleep · passing the sacrament · learning an instrument · texting a friend who’s having a bad day.
  3. Some fit two corners. When groups split, let one person from each side defend their pick in ten seconds.
  4. SAY“You just sorted your whole life into the four ways Jesus grew. Hang on to that.”

Class screen: 🏃 Which corner? Go! · 🧠 Wisdom · 💪 Stature · 🙏 Favour with God · 🤝 Favour with Man

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 4 sheets of paper and a marker for the Four Corners signs

  1. Name the four walls out loud and show them on your phone or tablet: this wall is Wisdom 🧠, that one Stature 💪, that one Favour with God 🙏, the last Favour with Man 🤝.
  2. Call out activities; everyone walks fast to the wall it fits best: reading a book · shooting hoops · temple baptisms · sitting with the new kid at lunch · getting enough sleep · passing the sacrament · learning an instrument · texting a friend who’s having a bad day.
  3. When groups split, let one person from each side defend their pick in ten seconds.
  4. SAY“You just sorted your whole life into the four ways Jesus grew. Hang on to that.”
5. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: Luke 2:52

3 min

Youth connect the Savior’s growth at their age to their own Children and Youth goals.

  1. Show the verse. A youth reads it and teaches the motions.
  2. Say it together twice with motions, then once as fast as possible.
  3. SAY“This verse is the whole Children and Youth program. Wisdom is intellectual. Stature is physical. Favour with God is spiritual. Favour with man is social.”
  4. Ask each person to name, out loud or to a partner, one small goal for this month in whichever area they need most.
  5. SAY“Jesus didn’t arrive knowing everything as a baby. He grew. That means growing isn’t a sign something’s wrong with you. It’s the plan.”

Class screen: 📈 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” · Luke 2:52 · 🧠 💪 🙏 🤝

6. Talk it over

Real Talk: Witnesses

4 min

A youth-led discussion on how people came to Jesus then and how we come to Him now.

  1. Hand your phone or tablet to a youth discussion leader. They read a question and tap the Name Spinner for the first answer.
  2. The leader asks, “Who’d add something?” after each answer.
  3. Pick 3 or 4 questions. Share your own answer to the last one.
💬 Ask the class
  • The shepherds ran. Simeon and Anna waited for years. The wise men traveled a long way. Which witness is most like you right now?
  • The wise men worshipped and gave gifts. What could someone your age actually give Jesus this week?
  • God warned Joseph and the wise men of danger. What dangers, physical or spiritual, do people our age face, and how does God warn us?
  • At twelve, Jesus was about His Father’s business. What does His Father’s business look like for a deacon or a Young Woman today?
  • After the temple, Jesus went home and obeyed His parents. Why do you think Luke made sure to include that?
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 💬 Your discussion. Read it, spin it, add to it. · Honest answers only

7. Testimony

He Was Twelve Too

2 min

End with the Savior who knows what it’s like to be their age, and a real goal.

  1. Lower your voice. Say: “Jesus was twelve once. He knows what growing up feels like. He grew one step at a time, and He can help you do the same.”
  2. Share briefly how coming to Jesus Christ has helped you grow in one of the four areas.
  3. Show the challenge: one goal in each area, or one goal in the area you need most.
  4. Ask a youth to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🌱 He grew one step at a time. So can you. · Luke 2:52 · This week: one goal

8. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team quiz reviews Luke 2 and Matthew 2.

  1. Keep the teams. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  2. Teams huddle ten seconds; rotate who answers.
  3. Bonus point for naming the verse.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

9. Game

Forehead Guess: Nativity Hard Mode

4 minBONUS

A quick Heads Up–style round reviews the people, places and gifts in these chapters.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. The guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead; the class gives clues without saying the word.
  2. Tilt down for got it, up to pass. Forty-five seconds each.
  3. Hard mode: words like Frankincense, Stature and Doctors need clues from the story, not definitions.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤳 Forehead Guess: can you get Frankincense?

Story drama

Who Came to Worship?

Luke 2:1–51; Matthew 2:1–14 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • MaryLays the baby in the manger, ponders everything, and later searches for her twelve-year-old for three days.
  • JosephProtects the family, obeys a warning dream, and searches Jerusalem with Mary.
  • ShepherdsTwo or three youth who are terrified, then run to Bethlehem, then tell everybody.
  • SimeonA devout old man promised by the Holy Ghost that he’d see the Messiah before he died.
  • AnnaAn eighty-four-year-old prophetess who served in the temple night and day.
  • Wise MenFollow the star from the east, bow down, give gifts, and leave another way.
  • King HerodJealous and worried; pretends he wants to worship too.
  • ReadersTwo or three youth who read the marked verses, including the words of Jesus in the temple.

Scenes

  1. 🌙🐄 No room, so a manger

    Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem for the tax count. There was no room in the inn, so when her firstborn Son came, Mary wrapped Him in cloth and laid Him in a manger, a feeding trough for animals.

    🎬 Mary gently lays a folded jacket on a chair. Joseph stands guard. A reader reads Luke 2:7.

  2. 🐑👼✨ Terrified shepherds, great joy

    Shepherds were watching their flocks at night when an angel appeared and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified. The angel said not to fear: a Saviour was born in the city of David. Suddenly heaven was full of angels praising God.

    🎬 Shepherds dive to the floor, then slowly look up. A reader reads Luke 2:10–11.

  3. 🏃‍♂️📣 They came with haste, then told everyone

    The shepherds didn’t wait until morning. They hurried to Bethlehem and found the baby exactly as the angel said. Then they told everyone they met. Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

    🎬 Shepherds run in place, kneel at the manger, then jump up and tell three classmates. A reader reads Luke 2:16–17.

  4. 👴🕊️ Simeon finally sees the promise

    Forty days later, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple. Simeon had been promised by the Holy Ghost that he would see the Lord’s Christ before he died. He took the baby in his arms and praised God: now I can go in peace, because I have seen Thy salvation.

    🎬 Simeon holds out his arms toward the manger, then lifts his face up. A reader reads Luke 2:29–32.

  5. 👵🙏 Anna tells everyone who is waiting

    Anna was eighty-four and practically lived at the temple, fasting and praying night and day. She came in at that very moment, gave thanks, and told everyone who was looking for redemption about this child.

    🎬 Anna bows, then turns to the class and points at the manger. A reader reads Luke 2:37–38.

  6. ⭐🐪🎁 Wise men, a jealous king, three gifts

    Wise men from the east followed a new star to Jerusalem, asking where the King of the Jews was. King Herod was troubled and told them to report back so he could “worship” too. The star led them to the house. They fell down, worshipped Him and opened their treasures: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

    🎬 Herod scowls and fake-smiles. Wise Men walk slowly, kneel and offer invisible gifts. A reader reads Matthew 2:2 and 2:11.

  7. 😴⚠️ Warned in a dream, twice

    God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they went home another way. Then an angel warned Joseph: get up, take the child and His mother, and flee to Egypt. Joseph left that same night.

    🎬 Wise Men tiptoe out a different door. Joseph wakes Mary and they hurry off. A reader reads Matthew 2:13.

  8. 🏛️🧒 Twelve years old, three days missing

    When Jesus was twelve, the family went to Jerusalem for Passover. On the way home, His parents realized He wasn’t with the group. After three days of searching, they found Him in the temple with the teachers, who were amazed at His understanding. His mother asked why He had done this. He answered that He must be about His Father’s business. Then He went home with them and obeyed them.

    🎬 Mary and Joseph search the room. The Wise Men and Shepherds become the temple teachers and look astonished. A reader reads Luke 2:48–49.

Key verse

Luke 2:52 ↗
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
In plain words: Jesus grew smarter, stronger, closer to God, and better with people.
🙌 “Wisdom” = tap your head · “stature” = stand up tall · “favour with God” = point up · “and man” = fist-bump a neighbor.

More verses

Luke 2:49 ↗
“wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
In plain words: At twelve, Jesus said, “Didn’t you know I need to be doing My Father’s work?”
Matthew 2:2 ↗
“we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
In plain words: The wise men traveled a long way for one reason: to worship Him.
Luke 2:38 ↗
“gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
In plain words: Anna thanked God and then told everyone who was waiting for a Savior.
John 8:12 ↗
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
In plain words: The star pointed to the real Light of the world.

Forehead Guess words18 words

  • 🍞 Bethlehem
  • 🐄 Manger
  • 🐑 Shepherds
  • 👴 Simeon
  • 👵 Anna
  • 🐪 Wise men
  • ⭐ Star
  • 🤴 King Herod
  • 🪙 Gold
  • 💨 Frankincense
  • 🏺 Myrrh
  • 🏜️ Egypt
  • 🏛️ Temple
  • 🐑 Passover
  • 📜 Doctors
  • 🧒 Father’s business
  • 💪 Stature
  • 👶 Swaddling clothes
Clues for each word
  • Bethlehem: City of David; its name means “house of bread”
  • Manger: Feeding trough where baby Jesus was laid
  • Shepherds: First visitors; came with haste
  • Simeon: Promised he’d see the Messiah before he died
  • Anna: Eighty-four and served in the temple night and day
  • Wise men: Came from the east following a star
  • Star: Seen in the east; led the way
  • King Herod: Jealous king who said he wanted to worship too
  • Gold: A gift for a king
  • Frankincense: Sweet-smelling gift burned in worship
  • Myrrh: Third gift of the wise men
  • Egypt: Where Joseph took the family to be safe
  • Temple: Where Jesus was found after three days
  • Passover: The feast the family went to Jerusalem for
  • Doctors: KJV word for the teachers in the temple
  • Father’s business: What twelve-year-old Jesus said He must be about
  • Stature: Growing physically, one of the four ways
  • Swaddling clothes: Cloth the baby was wrapped in
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown9 questions

  1. Why was baby Jesus laid in a manger?
    • A. It was a tradition
    • B. There was no room in the inn
    • C. Mary wanted Him near the animals
    Show answer

    ✅ B. There was no room in the inn Luke 2:7.

  2. How fast did the shepherds go to Bethlehem?
    • A. They waited until morning
    • B. They went the next week
    • C. With haste
    Show answer

    ✅ C. With haste Luke 2:16. Then they told everyone what they’d seen.

  3. What had the Holy Ghost promised Simeon?
    • A. He would see the Lord’s Christ before he died
    • B. He would become high priest
    • C. He would visit Bethlehem
    Show answer

    ✅ A. He would see the Lord’s Christ before he died Luke 2:26. He held the baby in the temple.

  4. How old was Anna, the prophetess in the temple?
    • A. About forty
    • B. About sixty
    • C. About eighty-four
    Show answer

    ✅ C. About eighty-four Luke 2:37. “Fourscore and four” = 84.

  5. What did the wise men do before giving their gifts?
    • A. Asked Mary’s permission
    • B. Fell down and worshipped Him
    • C. Went back to Herod
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Fell down and worshipped Him Matthew 2:11. Worship first, gifts second.

  6. Bethlehem means “house of bread.” Jesus later called Himself the…
    • A. Bread of Life
    • B. Good Baker
    • C. Light of the World
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Bread of Life John 6:35. A clue hidden in the name of His birthplace.

  7. Where did Joseph take the family to escape Herod?
    • A. Nazareth
    • B. Egypt
    • C. Jerusalem
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Egypt Matthew 2:13–14. He left the same night the angel warned him.

  8. How long did Mary and Joseph search for twelve-year-old Jesus?
    • A. Three hours
    • B. Three weeks
    • C. Three days
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Three days Luke 2:46. They found Him in the temple with the teachers.

  9. Luke 2:52 lists four ways Jesus grew. Which is NOT one?
    • A. Wisdom
    • B. Wealth
    • C. Stature
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Wealth Wisdom, stature, favour with God and favour with man.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains Hymns, no. 212

    The shepherds and the angels’ message in Luke 2. Find it ↗

  • O Little Town of Bethlehem Hymns, no. 208

    The “house of bread” where the Bread of Life was born. Find it ↗

  • Come, Follow Me Hymns, no. 116

    Every witness in these chapters came to Him; we can too. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Grow Like He Did

Set one Children and Youth goal for January in the area you need most: wisdom, stature, favour with God or favour with man. Make it small enough to start today. Tell one person (a parent, a leader or a friend) so they can cheer you on, and check yourself on Saturday.

Text the parents

Today in class we studied Luke 2 and Matthew 2: the shepherds, Simeon, Anna and the wise men all came to worship Jesus, and at twelve years old Jesus told His parents He must be about His Father’s business. We learned that Luke 2:52 is the theme verse of the Children and Youth program. Ask your youth: which of the four areas (wisdom, stature, favour with God, favour with man) are they setting a goal in, and how can you help?

📝 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?

⚠️ Warned in a Dream: Case Studies · 5 min

  1. Read Matthew 2:12–13. Say: “God warned the wise men and Joseph. He still warns us.”
  2. Give pairs a situation: a group chat turns mean · a link a friend sends feels wrong · a party where you get an uneasy feeling · a friend asks you to keep a secret that worries you.
  3. Each pair shares: what might a warning from the Holy Ghost feel like here, and what’s a smart “another way” home?

🎁 Gifts for the King · 4 min

  1. Read Matthew 2:11. Ask: “What made the wise men’s gifts special?” (They were their best, given in worship.)
  2. Each person writes, privately, one gift they could give the Savior this week that costs no money (patience with a sibling, a prayer with real intent, a kind message).
  3. Invite them to fold it and keep it in their scriptures as a reminder.

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.

All Youth 11–14 lessons