Come, Follow Me for Littles

Week of November 16–22, 2026

Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel

One little story for each day of the week — short enough to read together, gentle enough for the very youngest, and true to the scriptures.

A kind parent in an everyday striped tunic and cloth head wrap holding a small child's hand warmly pressed between both of their own hands, the two smiling at each other in a sunny green meadow.

Monday

A Promise Held Tight

Hosea 2

Today's idea Heavenly Father makes promises He never takes back.

Have you ever pinky-promised somebody? You hook fingers, and it means: I really mean this one.

Heavenly Father makes promises too. And in the book of Hosea, He described one of them in the loveliest way.

He said He would keep His people as His own “for ever.” And then He listed what He would wrap that promise in: “in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.”

Lovingkindness. That is such a good word that somebody had to squash two words together to make it.

And He finished with: “I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness.” Faithfulness means He shows up. Every time. Not most times.

So the promise is not, “I will keep you if you are good enough.” It is, “You are mine, and I am holding on.”

Let's think: What is a promise somebody has kept for you?

Gentle warm rain falling in bright sunshine onto a fresh green field where new grass is sprouting, with a child in modest ancient-Israel robes holding out both hands to catch the raindrops and laughing.

Tuesday

As Sure as the Morning

Hosea 6

Today's idea Heavenly Father comes to us as surely as the morning comes.

What are you completely sure about? Not hoping — sure.

You are sure the morning is coming. You have never once gone to bed and thought, “I wonder if tomorrow will happen.” It just does.

Hosea said that is how sure we can be about Heavenly Father. He said, “his going forth is prepared as the morning.” As certain as sunrise.

Then Hosea added something even softer: “he shall come unto us as the rain.” Not a storm — the gentle kind that soaks into the ground and makes everything green.

In the same chapter, Heavenly Father said what He wants most from us. He said, “I desired mercy, and not sacrifice.”

Mercy means being kind and gentle with people, especially when they have got something wrong. Out of everything He could have asked for, that is the thing at the top of His list.

Let's think: What is something you are completely sure about?

A child in modest ancient-Israel robes kneeling in freshly turned brown soil carefully planting small seeds with both hands, a little clay watering pot beside them in a sunny garden.

Wednesday

Time to Plant

Hosea 10

Today's idea The good things you plant today are what you get to pick later.

Everybody who has ever grown a garden knows the rule: whatever you plant is what comes up.

Plant carrot seeds, get carrots. Nobody ever planted carrots and got a surprise watermelon.

Hosea said the same thing is true about the way we live. He said, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy.”

That means: plant good things, and good things come back to you. Plant kindness, and one day, kindness shows up.

Hosea also said something interesting: “break up your fallow ground.” Fallow ground is dirt that has gone hard and crusty because nobody has dug it in a long time. Before you can plant, you have to break it up a bit.

And then Hosea said the words that make it feel exciting instead of tiring: “for it is time to seek the Lord.” Not someday. Now. Today is planting day.

Let's think: What good thing could you plant today?

A kind parent in an everyday striped tunic and cloth head wrap crouching down holding both hands of a wobbly happy toddler taking their very first steps on soft green grass, both delighted and laughing.

Thursday

He Taught You to Walk

Hosea 11

Today's idea Heavenly Father taught you to walk, holding both your hands.

Do you know how a baby learns to walk? Somebody bigger crouches down, holds both their hands, and walks backwards very slowly while the baby wobbles forward.

It takes ages. The baby falls down constantly. Nobody minds.

Hosea wrote down something Heavenly Father said about His people, and it is exactly that picture.

He said, “I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms.” Teaching them to walk. Holding their arms. Step by wobbly step.

Then He said He drew them “with cords of a man, with bands of love.” Not ropes to tie anybody up — the gentle pull of somebody who loves you, coaxing you forward.

And here is the most tender bit of all. He said, “I laid meat unto them,” which just means: and I fed them. Taught them to walk, held their arms, and made sure they had dinner. That is Heavenly Father.

Let's think: Who helped you learn to do something hard?

A big joyful group of people of every age in modest ancient-Israel robes together in a sunny green meadow — grandparents, parents, young people and small children, all smiling in warm golden light.

Friday

The Spirit for Everybody

Joel 2

Today's idea The Holy Ghost is for everybody — including children.

There was another prophet named Joel, and Heavenly Father gave him a promise about something wonderful He would do one day.

He said, “I will pour out my spirit upon ALL flesh.”

All. Not a few important people. Not only grown-ups with special jobs.

And then Joel listed who: your sons and your daughters. Your old people. Your young people. He went out of his way to name everybody, so that nobody reading it could think, “Well, probably not me.”

That includes you. The Holy Ghost is a warm, quiet helper Heavenly Father sends, and He is not too little for children.

That is what a good feeling inside is — the kind that says “be brave,” or “go say sorry,” or just makes you feel warm when somebody talks about Jesus. That is the promise Joel wrote down, happening to you.

Let's think: When have you felt a warm, good feeling inside?

A small child in modest ancient-Israel robes sitting quietly on a low stone step with eyes gently closed and a peaceful contented smile, hands softly folded in warm bright sunlight.

Saturday

Anybody Can Call

Joel 2

Today's idea Anybody at all can call on Heavenly Father — no exceptions.

Some things have rules about who is allowed. You have to be this tall for the ride. You have to be this old for the big kids' table.

Joel wrote down one promise from Heavenly Father with no rule like that at all.

He said, “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.”

Whosoever. That is an old, wide-open word, and it means: anybody. Absolutely anybody who calls.

It does not say whoever is oldest, or knows the most scriptures, or has never made a mistake. It says whosoever.

So there is no line to wait in and nobody checking at the door. If you can think it, you can say it, and He hears it. That is the whole rule.

Let's think: What would you say if you could tell Heavenly Father one thing right now?

A beautiful white lily in full bloom in a sunny garden surrounded by strong green growing plants and vines, with a child in modest ancient-Israel robes leaning close to look at it with a delighted smile.

Sunday

I Will Love Them Freely

Hosea 14

Today's idea Heavenly Father loves you freely — you do not have to earn it.

Some things you have to earn. You save up for the toy. You practise for the recital. You work, and then you get.

At the very end of the book of Hosea, Heavenly Father said something about His love that is not like that at all.

He said, “I will love them freely.”

Freely means it does not cost anything and there is no bill coming later. He is not keeping a chart on the fridge with your name on it.

Then He said what happens to somebody who is loved like that. He said they will “grow as the lily” — which is a tall white flower that opens right up — and put down deep strong roots, and smell sweet like a garden.

That is what being loved freely does to a person. It makes them open up and grow. So today you can just stand still and be loved. It is already free.

Let's think: What is your favourite thing that grows in a garden?