A son who leaves, a far country, a field of swine, a long road home, a father who runs, and an elder brother outside the door. Walk the road, look closer, and come home.
Jesus told of a man with two sons. The younger son asked for his share early, went to a far country, and wasted it all. When famine came, he fed pigs and was so hungry he wanted their food. Then “he came to himself” and decided to go home and ask to be a hired servant.
While he was still a great way off, his father saw him, had compassion, ran, and kissed him. He called for the best robe, a ring, shoes and a feast. The elder son was angry and would not go in, so the father went out to him too: “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.”
Who’s who
The father: who runs to his son
The younger son: who leaves and comes home
The elder son: who stayed
Where and when
A family home, a far country, and the long road between.
Eight stops from home to the far country and back again. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
Part 2 of 7
The story, plainly
Four scenes: the far country, the turn, the road home, and the elder son. Look for what the father teaches us about our Heavenly Father and His Son.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Luke 15:12 “the Meaning: his share of the family property.”
Luke 15:13 “wasted his Meaning: wealth, what he owned. with Meaning: wild, reckless. living”
Luke 15:16 “he Meaning: would gladly. have filled his belly”
Luke 15:16 “the Meaning: pods fed to animals.”
Luke 15:32 “It was Meaning: right, fitting. that we should make merry”
Part 3 of 7
Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from prophets. Each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The portion, the far road, the swine, the husks, compassion, the robe, the ring, the feast and the elder son in the field. Luke 15:11–32
Part 4 of 7
Where are you on the road?
People in this story were far from home, ready to turn, waiting for someone, or the one who stayed. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
Try it
The road home
Walk with the younger son from the far country back toward home, one stop at a time. A light goes ahead of you, and the trail you’ve walked stays on the map. Near the end, you choose.
“I will arise and go to my father.” Luke 15:18
Part 5 of 7
Their world, their words
A little background helps us see why Jesus told this story and who was listening. Outside sources are labeled.
Scripture
Who was listening
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured.”2
Both kinds of listeners were there, like both sons.
Apostle · Talmage
Three lost things
Elder Talmage: the prodigal son came “yet richer in imagery and more impressively elaborate in detail” than the lost sheep and lost coin before it.5
A sheep, a coin, a son: each one sought, each one found.
Apostle · Talmage
A physician
Elder Talmage: Jesus’ “attitude toward these spiritually sick folk was that of a devoted physician.”5
He came to heal, not to shame.
Apostle · Talmage
No condemnation
Elder Talmage: “Without a word of condemnation, the loving parent embraced and kissed the wayward but now penitent boy.”5
Bible Hub: “To have compassion, to be moved with compassion.”6Outside · lexicon
The same kind of deep compassion moved the father to run, while his son was “yet a great way off.”1
What the text does not say
Jesus does not tell us whether the elder son went in to the feast. The story ends with the father’s invitation: “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.”1
Part 6 of 7
Look to Him
Jesus told this story to show how He and His Father receive those who come home.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “Though choices may have taken you far away from the Savior and His Church, the Master Healer stands at the road that leads home, welcoming you.”
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Prodigal and the Road That Leads Home,” October 20233
“In all of our sacred scripture, there is no more beautiful story of forgiveness than that of the prodigal son found in the 15th chapter of Luke. Everyone should read and ponder it occasionally.”
“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” Luke 15:4
Luke
The lost coin
“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
The Prodigal Son is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for April 26–May 2, 2027 (Luke 12–17; John 11).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. Jesus told this parable; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
