Opening song and prayer
2 minSing I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Hymns 136), then invite a child to offer the opening prayer.
The Heavy Backpack
4 minPlace a picture of Jesus Christ at one end of the room. Put several heavy books inside a backpack at the other end.
Ask a volunteer to walk to the picture as fast as they can while wearing the backpack. Let them feel how much harder it is with the extra weight.
Then ask the class: can you still get there? Yes, but it takes more effort and more trust that the path is worth it. Job's life got very heavy, but he kept walking toward God anyway.
- Was it impossible to reach the picture with the heavy backpack?No. It was harder and slower, but the child could still get there.
- Did the heavy books mean the picture was not real or not worth reaching?No. The weight made the walk harder, but the destination was still good.
- Have you ever had a day that felt heavy, like something was weighing you down?Let children answer. A hard test, a fight with a sibling, feeling left out, someone being unkind, or missing someone.
Job loved God, and very hard things happened
6 minJob was one of the most faithful men in all the scriptures. He prayed, he obeyed, and he loved his family.
Then terrible trials came. Job lost his wealth, his health, and people he loved deeply. Even his friends said mean things and told him he must have done something wrong. Job did not understand why any of it was happening.
- Did Job stop loving God when hard things happened?No. Job was sad and confused, but he did not turn away from Heavenly Father.
- Did Job's friends help him feel better?Not really. They blamed Job instead of comforting him. Sometimes people say the wrong thing when someone is hurting.
- Does being faithful to God mean nothing bad will ever happen to you?No. Job shows us that good people sometimes go through very hard things. Faith means we trust God even then.
- What is one hard thing someone in this class might be dealing with right now?Let children answer gently. Do not press anyone who does not want to share. Acknowledge that hard things are real.
Job trusted God even when he had no answers
6 minJob asked hard questions. He cried. He wished he understood. But he did not give up on God.
In the middle of all his pain, Job said something amazing: he knew his Redeemer lives. He trusted that Jesus Christ would make things right, even if Job could not see how yet.
- What does a redeemer do?A redeemer saves someone. Job trusted that Jesus Christ would save and heal in the end, even when Job could not see how.
- Job said, 'I know that my redeemer liveth.' How could he say that when his life was so hard?Because his testimony was deeper than his trial. He knew God was real even when life did not make sense.
- In the end, did God bless Job again?Yes. God restored Job and blessed him. That does not erase the pain Job went through, but it shows God did not forget him.
- What is something you can say to Heavenly Father when life feels unfair?Let children answer. 'I don't understand, but I still trust You.' 'Please help me.' 'I'm sad and I need You.'
Trust is a bridge you keep crossing (optional)
optionalJob's story is not about pretending hard things are fine. It is about staying connected to God while they hurt.
You will have days when you do not understand. On those days, trust is choosing to keep praying, keep trying, and keep believing that Jesus Christ is alive and cares about you.
- What helped the characters in the video keep trusting?They kept moving forward even when they were scared or unsure. Trust is a choice you make again and again.
- Who can you talk to this week when something feels too heavy to carry alone?Let children answer. A parent, a teacher, a sibling, a friend, or Heavenly Father in prayer.
- What is one small way you can show trust in God this week?Let children answer. Pray when upset, serve someone, read scriptures, or keep a good choice even when it is hard.
In the scriptures
5 minRead these together and talk about them.
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
- Who is Job's Redeemer?Jesus Christ. Job lived long before Jesus was born, but he had faith in the Savior who would come.
- Job said 'I know,' not 'I hope.' What is the difference?Knowing comes from the Spirit and from testimony built over time. Job's faith was strong enough to say it out loud, even while suffering.
- Can you say 'I know my Redeemer lives' even when life is hard?Yes. That is exactly what Job did. Hard days do not cancel testimony.
And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
- What did Job do for his friends before God blessed him again?He prayed for them, even though they had not been kind to him. Job chose forgiveness and compassion.
- Does this verse mean every hard trial ends with twice as much stuff?No. God blessed Job in a special way. The point is that God had not abandoned Job, and He will not abandon us.
Lighten the load
optionalBring the backpack back out. Ask each child to write on a small paper strip one hard thing they want Heavenly Father's help with.
Place the papers in the backpack, then take them out one at a time and read them together. After each one, say together: 'Heavenly Father, we trust You.'
Leave the backpack empty at the end. Tell the class that sharing our burdens with God is one way we keep walking toward Him.
Latter-day Kids lesson bundle and coloring pages for this week