August 3-9, 2026
CLICK the CFM title above ⇑ for the Church’s outlined lesson for this week. Then, use our SUPER-SIMPLE lessons ⇓ to teach:
“Thou Art Come … for Such a Time as This”
Our LESSON LIFESAVER lesson-match activities teach the gospel of Jesus Christ through: Scriptures, crafts and coloring pages, puzzles, games, goal planners, and song visuals to make learning fun!
DON’T MISS our Scripture Scholars bookmarks, pop-ups, and reward stamps ⇓.
You’ll Love Our 4 QUICK-TO-TEACH lessons and 21 Interactive Activities for Children and Teens
LESSON LIFESAVERS For CHURCH & HOME:
Primary, Sunday School, and Family
Old Testament LESSON 32
Teaching Come, Follow Me lessons just got easier with our activities for AUGUST (week #2)
Theme: “Thou Art Come … for Such a Time as This”
Esther
See Come, Follow Me: Reading Poetry in the Old Testament (HERE)
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 32 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
. . . 4 SUPER-SIMPLE Lessons
& 21 Matching Activities . . .
Step 1 Choose LESSON
Step 2: Choose ACTIVITY
Step 3 CLICK BUY NOW buttons
(to download activities – sent to your e-mail)
“Thou Art Come … for Such a Time as This”
Esther
INTRODUCTION
Sometimes the story of Esther may seem like a bunch of lucky accidents. But was it really luck?
Esther was a young Jewish girl who had no parents. She became the queen of Persia at just the right time to help save her people. Her cousin, Mordecai, also found out about a plan to hurt the king. These events were not just accidents. Heavenly Father was guiding them.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband taught that what looks like chance is often part of Heavenly Father’s loving plan. He knows the small details of our lives and helps us in ways we may not always see.
Just like Esther, Heavenly Father can guide us and help us be in the right place at the right time. He can use us to help others and do His work. We can trust that He has a special purpose for each of us.
I CAN HELP & BLESS
Esther
The Lord puts me in situations where I can bless others.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught that each person is special. Heavenly Father has an important job for each of us. There are people that only you can help. You can show them love and kindness in your own special way.
As you learn about Esther, notice how Heavenly Father helped her. He put her in the right place at the right time to help save His people. Esther was brave, trusted God, and chose to do what was right even when it was hard.
Heavenly Father can help you bless others too. Think about your family, friends, neighbors, or classmates.
Talk together:
- Who could you help today?
- What kind thing could you do for them?
- How can you be brave and show love like Esther?
If you have a patriarchal blessing, read it with your family. It can help you understand the special gifts Heavenly Father has given you and the good things He wants you to do throughout your life.
DOWNLOAD the Patriarchal Blessing memo and checklist (HERE or below)
IDEAS FOR TEACHING CHILDREN
I can serve my family.
Read Esther 2:7 together, or share the story in a simple way. Tell your children that after Esther’s mother and father died, her cousin Mordecai welcomed her into his home and cared for her like his own daughter. He watched over her, guided her, and showed his love by protecting and helping her.
Invite your children to think about someone in your family who might need a little extra kindness this week. Let each person suggest a way your family can help. Together, choose one act of service, such as cleaning up for someone, making a cheerful note, giving a warm hug, or speaking encouraging words. At the end of the week, talk about how showing love through service brought your family closer together and helped everyone feel the Savior’s love.
PRIDE & ANGER CONSEQUENCE
Pride and anger can lead to downfall.
I can choose to be humble and kind.
In the book of Esther, Esther and Mordecai (relative and guardian to Esther) trusted God and did what was right. Haman, however, was full of pride and anger (an enemy of the Jewish people). He wanted people to honor him as a Persian prime minister, and became angry when they did not.
As you read Esther 3; 5:9–14, look for Haman’s thoughts, words, and actions. What do they teach you about his heart? Then read Esther 7 to see what happened because of his pride and anger.
Think about your own choices. Do you treat others with kindness? Do you stay calm when things don’t go your way? If you want to improve, you can pray and ask Heavenly Father to help you be humble, loving, and patient.
See also Proverbs 16:32; Alma 5:28.
FAITH & FASTING
Fasting shows that I trust and rely on the Lord.
Read Esther 3:13; 4:1–3, 10–17. Talk about why Esther and the Jewish people chose to fast. They fasted because they needed Heavenly Father’s help.
Then read Esther 5:2–3 and 8:11–12. Talk about how Heavenly Father blessed Esther and her people after they fasted.
Ask:
- Why does Heavenly Father want us to fast?
- How can fasting help us grow closer to Him?
- What can we do to make fasting more meaningful?
Read Isaiah 58:6–12 (MORE ABOUT FASTING below*)
IDEAS FOR TEACHING CHILDREN
Fasting brings the Lord’s blessings.
Fasting Helps Us Come Closer to Heavenly Father
Read Esther 4:1–3, 10–17 together. Talk about why Esther and the Jewish people chose to fast. They fasted because they needed Heavenly Father’s help.
Tell your children why you fast. Ask them:
- What is fasting?
- How would you explain fasting to a friend?
- How does fasting help us feel closer to Heavenly Father?
- What blessings can come from fasting?
Help your children think of something they need Heavenly Father’s help with. Encourage them to pray about it and remember it during their next fast.
Esther 4:14: Heavenly Father can help us do important things and bless other people.
I can be an instrument in God’s hands.
Esther Helped God
Esther was scared, but Mordecai reminded her that God had helped her become queen for a special reason. God had a plan, and Esther could help save His people.
Talk with your children about how Esther was brave and chose to do what was right. Ask:
- How did Esther help God?
- How can we help Heavenly Father and Jesus help other people?
Show your children a musical instrument, like a piano or guitar, or a tool, like a hammer or paintbrush. Explain that these things help people do a job.
Then explain that we can be like those tools. When we are kind, brave, and helpful, Heavenly Father can use us to bless other people.
MORE ABOUT FASTING.
Isaiah 58:6–12 teaches that God wants fasting to be much more than simply going without food. A true fast changes our hearts and inspires us to love, serve, and care for others.
Here are the main lessons:
- Help those in need. God says a true fast means:
- Loosening the bands of wickedness.
- Freeing those who are oppressed.
- Sharing food with the hungry.
- Welcoming the poor and helping those who need clothing.
- Caring for others instead of thinking only about ourselves.
- Live righteously. Fasting should help us turn away from sin, treat others with kindness, stop arguing and judging, and follow God’s ways.
- Serve with love. God promises blessings to those who fast with sincere hearts and generously help others.
Promised blessings
Isaiah says that when we fast in the way God asks, He will bless us:
- Our light will break forth like the morning (hope and joy).
- We will receive healing and strength.
- The Lord’s righteousness and glory will protect us.
- When we pray, the Lord will answer, saying, “Here I am.”
- God will guide us continually.
- He will satisfy our souls and strengthen us, even during difficult times.
- We will become like a well-watered garden or a spring whose waters never fail.
- We can help restore and rebuild what has been broken in our families and communities.
Simple summary for children
Fasting isn’t just about not eating. It’s about becoming more like Jesus. When we fast, pray, and help people in need, Heavenly Father blesses us with peace, strength, guidance, and joy.
COURAGE TO DO RIGHT
Esther 3:1–11; 4:10–17; 5:1–4; 9:17–19
Doing the right thing often requires great courage.
Mordecai and Esther were very brave. They chose to do what was right, even when it was hard and dangerous.
As you read Esther 3:1–4 and Esther 4:10–17, think about these questions:
- How did Mordecai and Esther show courage?
- Why do you think they trusted God?
- How did God help them?
After they were brave, different things happened to them (see Esther 3:5–11 and Esther 5:1–4). Even when they didn’t know what would happen, they trusted that God would help them.
Think about your own life:
- When is it hard to choose the right?
- How can you be brave like Esther and Mordecai?
- How can trusting Heavenly Father and Jesus help you make good choices?
Esther’s bravery brought happiness and safety to many people. When we choose the right and follow Jesus, He can help us feel peace, joy, and happiness too.
See also “Courage,” “Dare to Stand Alone” (videos), Gospel Library; “True to the Faith,” Hymns, no. 254.
IDEAS FOR TEACHING CHILDREN
The Lord can help me be brave.
Be Brave Like Esther and Mordecai
Esther and Mordecai teach us to be brave. Being brave means doing the right thing, even when we feel scared.
Write these sentences:
- Mordecai was brave when he…
- Esther was brave when she…
Read the story of Esther together. Let your children finish the sentences with what they learned.
Then write:
- I will be brave by…
Help your children think of ways they can be brave, like telling the truth, being kind, standing up for someone, or choosing the right.
Sing a song about courage, like “Dare to Do Right.” (see song visuals HERE or right/below)
You can also talk about how Jesus was brave. He was brave when He suffered for us in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross because He loves us.
Ask your children:
- When have you been brave?
- What is one way you can be brave this week?
SUMMARY OF SUBJECTS FOR:
OLD TESTAMENT
Esther
AUGUST (week 2)
Lesson 32: August 3-9, 2026
“Thou Art Come … for Such a Time as This”
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 #QueenEsther #Ester #ThouArtCome
