Happy Opening
Bring a small flashlight. Before children arrive, make the room feel slightly dim by covering the window or turning off one light if possible.
Walk in holding the flashlight off. Say:
"I have a problem. I was trying to walk somewhere very important, but it was SO dark. I could not see the path. What should I do?"
Let children answer. Then click the flashlight on and shine it on the floor in a little walking path ahead of you.
"The light showed me exactly where to put my feet! That is what we are going to talk about today. A very, very old song says that God's words are like this light. They show us where to walk."
Hold the flashlight out and let each child briefly hold it and shine it on the floor.
Option B Opening: Ask children to close their eyes tight and try to walk forward three steps. Then open eyes and try again. Ask: "Which way was easier? Why?"
Simple Scripture Story
Gather children close. Use the flashlight as a prop throughout.
"A long, long time ago, people wrote songs to Heavenly Father. We call those songs Psalms. Today we are going to hear about a person who was walking and needed help."
Click the flashlight off. Set it beside you.
"Imagine you are walking home. It is getting dark. You cannot see the rocks on the path. You cannot see which way to turn. How does that feel?" Pause for answers. Nod warmly.
"The person in our song felt a little like that inside. Sometimes life feels dark and hard and confusing. Do you ever feel that way?" Nod. "That is okay. Heavenly Father knows."
Pick up the flashlight and click it on. Shine it on the floor in a path.
"Then the person remembered something wonderful. They said: God's words are like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path."
Say it slowly once more and have children pat their knees on "lamp for my feet" and raise their hands on "light for my path."
"God gave us His words, the scriptures, and prophets, and prayer, so we always have a light showing us the right path. We do not have to walk in the dark."
Now turn the flashlight slowly toward the children one by one as you say:
"And here is the most wonderful part of the song. The person said: Heavenly Father, YOU know when I sit down. YOU know when I stand up. YOU know every thought in my heart. YOU knew me even before I was born."
Put your hand gently over your heart.
"Heavenly Father knows YOUR name. He knows YOUR feelings right now. He knew you before you even came here to earth. Does that make you feel something good inside?"
Give children a moment to respond. Then say:
"At the end of all those songs, everyone started praising. They said: Praise the Lord! That means, say thank you with your whole self. With your voice. With your hands. With your jumping. Praise Him for the light. Praise Him for knowing you."
Big Idea
"The one thing I want you to remember today is this:"
Say it slowly, then have children repeat after you in two parts:
"Heavenly Father knows me" / "and He gave me a light."
Say it together one full time. Then ask: "Can you say that to the person next to you?"
Wiggle and Learn Activities
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Follow the Light Path
Materials: flashlight, four to six pieces of paper on the floor in a winding path.
Set paper squares on the floor in a curving line from one side of the room to the other. Each square has a simple drawing: a heart, a praying child figure, a sun, a family.
Turn off the overhead light or dim the room. One child holds the flashlight and shines it on each paper square. The class walks together from square to square, stepping only on the lit papers.
At each square, say one simple phrase: "Heavenly Father loves me." "I can pray." "Jesus is my light." "I can help my family."
When they reach the end, cheer and say together: "We followed the light."
Repeat two or three times so every child has a turn holding the flashlight. Each time, say: "God's words are a lamp. They show us where to walk."
Default
Follow the Light Path
Materials: flashlight, four to six pieces of paper on the floor in a winding path.
Set paper squares on the floor in a curving line from one side of the room to the other. Each square has a simple drawing: a heart, a praying child figure, a sun, a family.
Turn off the overhead light or dim the room. One child holds the flashlight and shines it on each paper square. The class walks together from square to square, stepping only on the lit papers.
At each square, say one simple phrase: "Heavenly Father loves me." "I can pray." "Jesus is my light." "I can help my family."
When they reach the end, cheer and say together: "We followed the light."
Repeat two or three times so every child has a turn holding the flashlight. Each time, say: "God's words are a lamp. They show us where to walk."
Freeze Praise
Call out: "Praise the Lord! Praise Him with..." and name a body part or action. Children do that action until you call "Freeze."
"Praise Him with your jumping!" Jump, jump, jump. Freeze.
"Praise Him with your clapping!" Clap, clap, clap. Freeze.
"Praise Him with your singing voice, hum with me!" Hum. Freeze.
"Praise Him with your arms wide open!" Freeze.
After each freeze, say softly: "And Heavenly Father sees every single jump, every clap, every hum. He knows you."
Beanbag Thank-You Toss
Materials: one beanbag or soft ball.
Children sit in a circle. Teacher tosses the beanbag to a child and asks: "What is one thing Heavenly Father gave you to be thankful for?"
Child answers anything: "my dog," "my mom," "the sun," "my eyes." All say together: "Praise the Lord for that!"
Child tosses beanbag back or to the next child. Keep it moving fast and joyful.
After the round, say: "Did you hear all those good things? The Psalms say: Praise the Lord for every single one."
Send home
(written card, unused in class / send-home): My Light Path Drawing
Materials: paper, crayons.
Children draw a winding path on their paper. At the end of the path, they draw a sun or a glowing circle. Along the path they draw themselves walking.
Teacher writes at the bottom: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet." (Psalm 119:105)
Children take this home and color it with their family.
Do not ask children to draw a cross. Use a sun, a path, or a glowing light to represent Jesus as the Light.
Picture Time
Gospel Art Book image 112, "Jesus with Children" (Jesus kneeling among several young children, arms open wide), or the churchofjesuschrist.org image titled "Jesus with Children."
Hold up the picture where every child can see it clearly.
Ask:
- "What do you see in this picture?"
- "How do you think those children feel right next to Jesus?"
- "Does Jesus know these children's names? Does He know YOUR name?"
Say: "Just like our song said, Jesus knows everything about you. He knows you even better than you know yourself. And He loves you just like He loves those children in the picture."
Song and Actions
Song: "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" (Children's Songbook, 177)
Sing verse one slowly. Add simple actions:
"Teach me to walk in the light of His love" - sway arms gently side to side
"Teach me to pray to my Father above" - fold arms
"Teach me to know of the things that are right" - tap temple gently
"Teach me, teach me to walk in the light" - take four slow, deliberate steps in place, as if following a lit path
Repeat once. Let children lead the actions the second time.
Jesus Loves Me Moment
Have children sit close together. Speak softly.
"We talked about a light today. And we talked about Heavenly Father knowing us. I want to tell you something true: I know that Heavenly Father knows your name. He knew you before you were born. He sees every single thing you do. And He loves you."
Pause.
"Can you finish this sentence? Say it quietly: Heavenly Father loves me because..."
Give three or four children a chance to finish the sentence. Accept every answer warmly.
Then say: "I am so glad you are here today. You are known. You are loved. That is true forever."
Take-Home Hug
"This week, when it feels hard or scary or dark, remember: Heavenly Father gave you a light. You can pray and read your scriptures and listen to your mom and dad, and that is the light showing you the path."
"When you get home today, give someone in your family a big hug and say: Heavenly Father knows me and loves me."
Give each child a small piece of paper with a simple drawn lamp or sun and the words: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet." (Psalm 119:105) They can take this home as a reminder.
Teacher Survival Tips
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If the room cannot be dimmed for Follow the Light Path, a flashlight still works fine in a bright room. Point it directly at each paper square and the children will lock onto it naturally. The lamp image is the thing, not the darkness.
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If children are very young (three to four) and the path activity moves too fast, reduce the paper squares to three and do only two rounds. Simple and repeated is better than thorough.
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If you are running behind, go straight from Simple Scripture Story to Jesus Loves Me Moment and Take-Home Hug. The Big Idea can be said in thirty seconds on the way out the door. Never cut the moment of personal connection at the end. That is the lesson they will carry home.
