Need a hand? Email team@strategyloom.com. Tell us which device you’re using and what happened, and a screenshot helps a lot.
Join the beta on TestFlight
Gospel Sparks is in a free public beta. It isn’t on the App Store yet, so you install it through TestFlight, Apple’s app for testing new apps.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the invitation: testflight.apple.com/join/GZWh2fY6.
- If you don’t have TestFlight yet, the page links to it in the App Store. Install it (it’s free), then open the invitation link again.
- Tap Accept, then Install. Gospel Sparks appears on your Home Screen like any other app.
- Open it and choose I teach a class or Our family.
Gospel Sparks needs iOS or iPadOS 26 or later. TestFlight installs new beta builds as they come out, or you can update from the TestFlight app. Each beta build expires after 90 days, so keep TestFlight updates on to stay on the newest one.
Sending feedback: take a screenshot while using the app and TestFlight offers to send it to us with a note, or open TestFlight, choose Gospel Sparks and tap Send Beta Feedback. Email works too.
Getting started as a teacher
- On This Week, tap the class badge at the top right to pick your class: Sunbeams, CTR 4–7, CTR 8, Valiant 9–11, or Youth 11–14, 14–16 or 16–18.
- Read the big idea and the lesson plan. Steps come with short “Say:” lines you can read aloud, and the plan fits 25 minutes, with bonus steps if you have extra time.
- Under What did you bring?, tick the supplies you have. Tap I brought nothing and the lesson switches to steps that need no supplies.
- In class, tap Teach it. Teach Mode shows the lesson on the screen for the class, one step at a time. Swipe or use the arrows to move on.
- Add first names in My Class for helper jobs, fair teams, the name spinner and story parts.
Where are the games?
Open the Games tab. The lesson games (Forehead Guess, Scripture Showdown, Mystery Picture, Draw & Guess and Hot Potato) use this week’s lesson; tap Change to use a different week. Tug of War, Freeze Dance, the classroom helpers and the wiggle, calm-down and attention cards are there too.
What’s a fast-Sunday lesson?
In 2027, Primary classes have a monthly fast-Sunday lesson. On those weeks, This Week shows it at the top. Most wards teach it instead of the regular weekly lesson.
It says more lessons are on the way
New weeks arrive in app updates. Every lesson that’s ready is in the Lessons tab, and the games work with any of them.
Getting started as a family
- Open Settings on the Family side and add your kids’ ages. Names are optional.
- Each day on This Week, open that day’s spark and follow along. Sparks take five to ten minutes.
- Tap We did it! at the end to earn a sticker for the family’s sticker book.
Tips inside each spark adjust to the ages you added, from little ones to teens, and grown-ups always get something too. Stories, verses and games come from each child’s own Primary or youth class lesson, so home matches Sunday.
How iCloud sync works
If you use Gospel Sparks on more than one device, like an iPhone at home and an iPad for class, it can keep them the same.
- What syncs: your side, class and class name, class list, helper jobs, supply ticks, after-class notes, family name, kids’ ages and names, and which sparks you’ve finished. The sound-effects setting stays on each device.
- Where it goes: your own iCloud account, using Apple’s iCloud key-value storage. It never goes to us, and we can’t see it.
- Turning it on or off: the Sync with iCloud switch is in Teacher Kit › Settings & links on the Teacher side, and in Settings on the Family side. It’s on unless you turn it off. When it’s off, everything stays on that device only.
- Requirements: each device must be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account. If a device isn’t signed in, the app says so under the switch.
- Timing: changes usually show up on your other devices within a minute or so, but iCloud decides exactly when. If two devices change the same thing, the newest change wins.
Troubleshooting
The Noise Meter doesn’t move
It needs the microphone. Go to the Settings app › Gospel Sparks and turn on Microphone. Sound is only measured on your device to show how loud the room is. It’s never recorded, saved or sent anywhere.
Forehead Guess doesn’t notice my tilt
Hold the device flat against your forehead with the screen facing the class, and start each tilt from there. Tip it down when you get the word and up to pass. You can also tap the on-screen buttons.
I don’t hear any sounds
Check the Sound effects switch (Teacher Kit on the Teacher side, Settings on the Family side), then your device’s volume and the Ring/Silent switch.
My other device isn’t syncing
Make sure Sync with iCloud is on in the app on both devices, and that both are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account. Opening the app on each device gives iCloud a nudge.
A scripture link opens a web page
References open in Gospel Library. If the Gospel Library app isn’t installed, they open on churchofjesuschrist.org in your browser instead.
I found a mistake in a lesson
Thank you! Please email us the lesson name and what looks wrong. We check scripture and quotes carefully and want to fix anything we missed.
Contact
Email team@strategyloom.com. Gospel Sparks is made by Strategy Loom LLC. Read our privacy policy.
For questions about Church policy, callings or the official Come, Follow Me materials, please ask your ward leaders or visit churchofjesuschrist.org. Gospel Sparks is an independent app.