July 27-August 2, 2026
Interactive Activities For Children and Youth
LESSON LIFESAVERS For CHURCH & HOME:
Primary, Sunday School, and Family
Old Testament LESSON 31
Teaching Come, Follow Me lessons just got easier with our activities for AUGUST (week #1)
Theme: “I Am Doing a Great Work”
Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8
YOU WILL FIND:
• SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS to get them reading with reward stamps and pop-ups to match the lesson theme.
• Lesson-Match Interactive Activities to match the CFM curriculum for all ages.
BUNDLES to save & INDEX for Come, Follow Me August 2026 ⇒
PART 1
Come, Follow Me
Scripture Scholars
bookmarks, stamps, & pop-ups
Lesson 31 Scripture Scholars
This week’s Scripture Scholars bundle includes:|
• 2 BOOKMARKs and
• 1 scripture POP-UP (to place in scripture binding).
STAMPS and STAMP KEEPER can be purchased below.
Lessons 31-35 Scripture Scholars
AUGUST’s BUNDLE includes the following for each lesson:
• 2 BOOKMARKS,
• 1 POP-UP, and
• 1 STAMP.
Glue STAMPS onto the STAMP KEEPER (to download separately, below). SEE TESTIMONIALS HERE
STAMPS & STAMP KEEPER
AUGUST STAMPS $1.50
SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS Stamps for weeks 1-5. For Lessons 31-35 – Miscellaneous Scriptures. If you have purchased the BUNDLE above, the stamps are included.
January – December $3.00
SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS Stamp Keeper holds 52 stamps for the 2026 weeks 1-52. This is included in the January BUNDLE.
PART 2
Come, Follow Me
Lesson-match Activities
poster presentations & games, handouts, puzzles, and song visuals
Click on the weekly lesson posters (below) to find interactive activities:
. . . LESSONS & ACTIVITIES . . .
Step 1 CHOOSE LESSON
Step 2 CHOOSE ACTIVITY
Step 3 CLICK ON POSTER
Step 4 DOWNLOAD ACTIVITY
July 27–August 2: “I Am Doing a Great Work”
Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8
The Jewish people had been captives in Babylonia for about 70 years. They had lost Jerusalem and the temple, and many had forgotten their commitment to God’s law. But God had not forgotten them. In fact, He had declared through His prophet, “I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return” (Jeremiah 29:10). True to this prophecy, the Lord made a way for His people to return—both to Jerusalem and, more importantly, to their covenants. And He raised up servants who accomplished “a great work” (Nehemiah 6:3): A governor named Zerubbabel oversaw the rebuilding of the house of the Lord. Ezra, a priest and scribe, helped the people turn their hearts back to the Lord’s law. And Nehemiah led the rebuilding of the protective walls around Jerusalem. They met opposition, but they also got help from unexpected sources. Their experiences can inform and inspire ours because we too are doing a great work. And like theirs, our work has much to do with the house of the Lord, the law of the Lord, and the spiritual protection we find in Him.
For an overview of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, see “Ezra” and “Nehemiah” in the Bible Dictionary.
COME FOLLOW ME
Ideas for Learning at Home and Church
with MATCHING ACTIVITIES
REBUILDING GOD’S TEMPLE
The Lord inspires people to accomplish His purposes.
After Persia conquered Babylonia, the Lord inspired the Persian king, Cyrus, to send a group of Jews to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. As you read Ezra 1, note what Cyrus did to support the Jews in this important work. How do you see the Lord working through men and women around you, including people who are not members of His Church? What does this suggest to you about the Lord and His work?
See also Isaiah 44:24–28.
GOD’S TEMPLE BRINGS JOY
The house of the Lord is a place of joy.
When the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem, they plundered the temple and burned it to the ground (see 2 Kings 25:1–10; 2 Chronicles 36:17–19). How do you think you might have felt if you had been one of the Jews who witnessed this? (see Psalm 137). Notice how the Jews felt, decades later, when they were allowed to return and rebuild the temple (see Ezra 3:8–13; 6:16–22). That might prompt you to ponder your own feelings about the Lord and His house. Why is the building of a temple a reason to celebrate?
IDEAS FOR TEACHING CHILDREN
The house of the Lord is a place of joy.
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To teach your children about the joy the Jews felt when their temple was rebuilt, you could show them a picture like the one below. Talk about why these people might be happy to be at the house of the Lord. You could also tell your children why the temple is a place of joy for you. How has the temple helped you feel closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior?
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As you read Ezra 3:10–13 with your children, help them find words that show how the Jews felt when the temple was being rebuilt. When you get to the end of verse 13, maybe you could shout for joy together. Help your children think of reasons to be joyful that the Lord has given us temples. How can we show that joy?
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Consider singing a song about the temple with your children, such as the second verse of “Welcome Home” (Gospel Library). After each line, you could pause to ask a child to share something he or she loves about the temple. You might also look at pictures of temples while you sing. DOWNLOAD “I Love the See the Temple” song visuals (HERE or below)
SEE ALL AGES ACTIVITY …
SEE AGES 1-5 ACTIVITY …
SEE AGES 4-7 ACTIVITY …
SEE 8-11 ACTIVITY …
SEE TEEN ACTIVITY …
SEE SCRIPTURE ACTIVITY …
STRENGTH TO DO GOD’S WORK
Ezra 4–7; Nehemiah 2; 4; 6
God has an important work for me to do.
The Lord’s work rarely goes unopposed. This was true of the efforts led by Zerubbabel and Nehemiah.
Here’s a simple approach that can help you learn from these stories and consider how you can do the Lord’s work despite opposition:
CREATE A NOTE for each of these.
God’s work for Zerubbabel (Ezra 4:3):
God’s work for Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:17–18):
God’s work for me:
Opposition Zerubbabel faced (Ezra 4:4–24):
Opposition Nehemiah faced (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:1–3, 7–8; 6:1–13):
Opposition I face:
How Zerubbabel responded (Ezra 5:1–2):
How Nehemiah responded (Nehemiah 2:20; 4:6, 9; 6:3–15):
How I can respond:
For help comparing Nehemiah’s experience to your life, you might study President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s message “We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 59–62), especially the last two sections. As you think about the work God has given you, you might study the “Young Women Theme” or the “Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme” (Gospel Library). Or you could look in a hymn like “As Sisters in Zion” (Hymns, no. 309) or “Ye Elders of Israel” (Hymns, no. 319).
What do you think it means to have “a mind to work” in the service of the Savior? (Nehemiah 4:6). What might it mean to have “the good hand of … God upon [you]” as you do His work? (Nehemiah 2:8; see also Nehemiah 2:18; Ezra 7:6, 9, 27–28). How have you seen His hand in your efforts to serve Him?
IDEAS FOR TEACHING CHILDREN
The Lord will help me do His “great work.”
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Share with your children the story of Nehemiah (see Nehemiah 2:17–20; 6:1–9; or “Nehemiah” in Old Testament Stories, 173–74). As you read Nehemiah 2:20, you and your children could “arise” and pretend to help build the walls of Jerusalem. Or your children might enjoy building a wall with blocks or other objects. As they do, you could help them think of important things Heavenly Father wants us to do.
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As you read Nehemiah 6:9, invite your children to raise their hands when they hear you say “strengthen my hands.” Tell the children about a time when you felt God strengthen your hands to do His work.
Scripture Helps: Old Testament
Nehemiah 2
Why was it so important to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls?
Rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls was essential for safeguarding the city against potential attackers and military threats. It also helped reestablish Jerusalem’s religious, economic, and political influence in the region. Many neighbors in the surrounding area opposed Nehemiah’s project because they feared the impact it would have on their power and control.
Despite many attempts by Nehemiah’s enemies to hinder the work, Nehemiah and his group finished rebuilding the walls in only 52 days. The speed and quality of the work were so remarkable that even their adversaries admitted that “this work was wrought of … God.”
SEE ALL AGES ACTIVITY …
SEE AGES 1-5 ACTIVITY …
SEE AGES 4-7 ACTIVITY …
SEE 8-11 ACTIVITY …
SEE TEEN ACTIVITY …
SEE SCRIPTURE ACTIVITY …
SEE SONG ACTIVITY …
GOD’S SCRIPTURE WORDS
I am blessed when I study the scriptures.
For generations in captivity, the Jews had limited access to “the book of the law of Moses” (Nehemiah 8:1). In Nehemiah 8, Ezra read the law to the people. What do you find in this chapter that shows how Ezra and his people felt about God and His word? (see especially verses 1–12). What in your life shows how you feel about God and His word?
See also Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson (2014), 115–24.
IDEAS FOR TEACHING CHILDREN
The scriptures are a blessing.
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Read aloud some phrases from Nehemiah 8:2–3, 5–6, 8–9, 12 that describe what the people did when they heard Ezra read the scriptures. As you read, your children could act out these phrases. Then you could share with each other how you feel when you read or hear the scriptures.
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As you read together Nehemiah 8:8, you could ask your children what helps them understand the scriptures. Show them how to use scripture study aids like the Guide to the Scriptures and Topics and Questions (Gospel Library). Invite your children to share something they have learned about the Savior from the scriptures.
SUMMARY OF SUBJECTS FOR:
OLD TESTAMENT
Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8
AUGUST (week 1)
Lesson 27: July 27-August 2, 2026
“I Am Doing a Great Work”
SUMMARY of the above lesson plans and activities to make learning fun!
YOUTH CAN TEACH
So, please let them teach as it helps them learn the gospel and grow their testimony as they share it.
Use this BRIGHT IDEAS LESSON Planner to plan lesson objectives, activities, and discussions (included with each activity).
#ComeFollowMe #OldTestament #Primary #FamilyHomeEvening #SundaySchool #Seminary #YouthClasses #YoungMen #YoungWomen #FamilyScriptureStudy #ChurchOfJesusChrist #GospelGrabBag #LessonActivities #SongVisuals #IAmDoingAGreatWork
