Come, Follow Me Lesson This Week: What's Heaven Like?

How parents can help children navigate the big questions about heaven.

Our daughter, Milena, has always loved animals—she adores our pets and has a big, tender heart for every creature she meets. Over the years, we’ve had to say goodbye to some of them—Leo, our beloved dog; Blue, our little fish; and Ponyo, our lamb. She knows they are in heaven, safe and happy, but from time to time, she shares with me how much she misses them:

“Mom, I wish I could go to heaven so I can see Leo, Ponyo and Blue again. When will I see them? What's heaven like”

She isn’t sad when she asks. She isn’t afraid. She’s simply curious—imagining what heaven is like, thinking about the ones she loves, and trying to understand when she might be reunited with them.

As a parent, moments like this can feel a little overwhelming. Heaven is such a big, eternal topic, and it’s natural to feel apprehensive about answering. But at the same time, these moments are incredible opportunities—perfect chances to teach children about God’s plan of salvation, the joy of eternal families, and the tender love that Heavenly Father has for all His creations. These conversations are exactly what help the build faith, hope, and understanding in her heart.

As we help her navigate these feelings, my husband and I have learned that the best approach is to keep things simple—and add a little bit of fun. In our family, we’ve already established that heaven is a place we’ll eat lobster whenever we want, and where there’s no such thing as overflowing laundry baskets because, well, there won’t be any clothes to wash. Honestly, a life without folding laundry? That alone feels like heaven to me.

Still, even though she says it with such innocence, hearing my little one talk about wanting to go to heaven makes my stomach tighten for a moment. It’s tender and a bit unsettling—no parent is ever fully prepared for conversations like these. But I remind myself that her curiosity comes from a hopeful, happy place. Through our conversations at home and the Primary songs she loves, she’s learning that heaven is joyful and full of love, a place where we’ll live with Heavenly Father again. And I’m grateful that, in her mind, heaven feels warm, safe, and filled with everything she cherishes—just as it should be. When these conversations come up, we gently remind her that she has a whole, important life to live here first. Heavenly Father sent her to Earth with a purpose—to learn, to grow, to love, and to serve—before she returns to Him someday.

We also try to let her imagination lead the way. Children approach eternal topics with such curiosity and wonder. Where adults see complexity, they see joy, connection, and simple hope. So we let her paint her own picture of heaven, and honestly, some of her ideas are beautiful. Just the other day she said something I’d never thought about: “Heaven is going to be like a dream… and if it’s a good dream, it will happen slowly.”

To her, that meant time won’t really exist—it’ll just feel peaceful and full. I can’t confirm that as doctrine, of course, but I also can’t say it sounds completely off. Sometimes children grasp spiritual concepts in ways adults overlook. There are so many questions about heaven that we simply don’t have answers to yet. And that’s okay. What matters most is helping our children feel that heaven is real, it’s beautiful, and it’s part of God’s loving plan for all of us.

How to Talk With Kids About Heaven

Here are some ways I’ve learned to respond to Milena’s questions with warmth and faith:

1. Keep It Simple and Positive

When talking about heaven with children, clarity matters more than complexity. Kids don’t need long theological explanations—they need truths they can hold onto and understand. Remind them that heaven is full of love, a safe place where joy abounds, and a home made possible through Jesus Christ. Simple, comforting truths like these give children a foundation of faith and hope that they can carry with them as they grow and continue to ask questions about eternity.

Heaven is full of love.
Heaven is safe.
Heaven is joyful.
Jesus Christ makes heaven possible.

2. Encourage Their Imagination

Rather than feeling like you have to provide every answer, try asking your child questions instead: “What do you imagine heaven looks like?” or “Who do you think you’ll see there?” Children’s imaginations often capture the joy, wonder, and beauty of heaven far more vividly than any explanation we could give. By letting them dream and describe it in their own words, you help them explore eternal concepts in a way that feels real, comforting, and full of hope.

3. Be Honest About What We Don’t Know

It’s perfectly okay to admit that we don’t have all the answers. You might say something like, “I don’t know all the details, but I do know heaven is wonderful and Heavenly Father wants us to be happy.” Being honest in this way models both humility and faith, showing children that it’s okay to trust God even when we don’t understand everything. This approach helps them feel safe asking questions while learning to rely on the truths we do know.

4. Connect Heaven to Everyday Life
Simple acts of kindness, moments of prayer, and expressions of love give children small glimpses of heaven here on Earth. These everyday experiences help them understand that heaven isn’t just a distant place we hope to reach someday—it’s part of God’s plan right now. By pointing out these moments, we can help children see that the joy, peace, and love of heaven can be felt in the life they’re living today.

5. Revisit the Conversation Often

Children’s understanding of heaven grows over time. Let them return to the topic naturally, answering with warmth and patience. Sometimes listening and hugging is the most important answer.

6. Sing Primary Songs

Primary songs are more than just fun melodies—they’re gentle, powerful ways children learn eternal truths. Through the simple words and repeating verses, children begin to understand God’s love, the plan of salvation, and the joy of being with Heavenly Father. Songs like “Families Can Be Together Forever” or “I Am a Child of God” help children picture heaven, imagine eternal families, and feel comforted by the knowledge that God’s plan is real and loving. For my daughter, these songs turn big, abstract ideas into something tangible she can hold in her heart.

7.Read the scriptures

Heaven as a Real Place

John 14:2–3 – “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

God’s Love for His Children

1 John 3:1 – “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…”
Psalm 36:7 – “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.”

Eternal Families / Reunion

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 – “…sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
John 11:25–26 – “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

Joy and Peace in Heaven

Revelation 21:4 – “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain…”

God’s Plan of Salvation / Eternal Life

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Go to the temple regularly

Visiting the temple can help children understand the eternal nature of families and the joy of being with Heavenly Father. Even seeing the temple grounds can plant seeds of faith and wonder. Regular exposure helps children connect what they learn about heaven at home and in Primary with the sacred realities of God’s plan, making eternal truths feel personal and tangible.

Read books on the subject

Here are some highlights + why they might work well for your daughter:

God Gave Us Heaven: A sweet Arch‑style book with rhyming text that talks about resurrection, heaven, and God’s promises. Good for young children.
Heaven (Board Book): A simple, beautifully illustrated board book that introduces big ideas like resurrection and a new earth in a very age-appropriate way.
Kids’ Big Questions About Heaven: This is more of a question-and-answer style book that addresses what children often wonder — like “How do we get to heaven?” or “What happens after we die?”
Tell Me About Heaven: A story about a boy and his grandpa talking about heaven, using gentle dialogue and Scripture to give comfort and understanding.
There’s a Party in Heaven!: A very cheerful, rhyming book that imagines heaven as a place of celebration, filled with God’s promises and joy.
How High Is Heaven: More conceptual — helps children think about how “high” or “far away” heaven is, in a loving, God-centered way.
Heaven According to Kids: A collection of things real children have said about heaven, illustrated in a charming way. Could be really validating for Milena since she’s already thinking big.
My Forever Home: The Hope of Heaven: Focuses on heaven as a “home” — safe, real, and welcoming, drawn from Christian promise.

Most importantly, these conversations remind us as parents to approach heaven with the same curiosity and joy we hope to inspire in our children. Heaven is real, it’s full of love, and it’s part of God’s loving plan—not just for the future, but for how we live today. And watching them imagine, wonder, and hope for that day fills my heart with gratitude, faith, and the quiet reassurance that her tender heart is in good hands.