Can You Count the Stars in Heaven?

In this vast universe, it is easy for a young child to feel small and insignificant—just one tiny soul among stars, seas, and millions of people. But the scriptures remind us that God sees every detail of His many creations. “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names” (Psalm 147:4).

In the 19th century, German pastor and songwriter Wilhelm Hey sought to teach this remarkable truth to children in the form of a “Rätsellied”—a riddle song—in which each verse posed a question and revealed a gentle answer: Can you count the stars in the sky? God has counted all of them. Can you count the fish in the waters? God has called them all by name. Can you count all the children in the world? God knows and loves them all. And then came the most tender truth of all: The God who knows the stars, the fish, and every child knows you. And He loves you.

Set to a German folk tune, Wilhelm Hey’s simple poetic message continues to teach what even adults sometimes forget: to God, no one is ever insignificant.

Find lyrics, sheet music, and recordings for Can You Count the Stars in Heaven?

On This Page

Scriptures

Principles

We are daughters and sons of Heavenly Father.
Heavenly Father knows and loves each of us.
Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.

Questions to Ponder

How does it make you feel to know that you are a child of God?
Why is it important to remember that Heavenly Father knows you and wants to help you?
When have you felt Heavenly Father’s love for you?

Related Gospel Study Guides

From Topics and Questions, Gospel Library:

Activities for Families

Count the stars. In the evening, go outside together as a family. While listening and singing the song, count as many stars in the sky as you can. You could do the same thing with clouds, birds, or anything else you see in nature. Talk about the beautiful world Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created for us. Invite each family member to share something he or she thinks makes the world beautiful.
Sing a lullaby at bedtime. Gather your family at bedtime and sing this song to your children. Explain that just as Heavenly Father knows every star and every bird, He knows and cares about every child. In preparation for their personal evening prayers, invite your children to think of one thing they are grateful for and one thing they need help with. Encourage them to include both in their prayers. Afterward, testify that Heavenly Father loves them dearly.

Music Helps

Learning new songs can be easier when you notice patterns. For instance, in this song, the tune is the same in lines 1, 2, and 4, and line 3 has a different tune repeated twice. This is a common pattern in many hymns.

“Can You Count the Stars in Heaven?” musical phrase illustration
In this song, the first two lines of each verse are questions, and the third and fourth lines answer the questions with words of testimony about “our dear Lord.” Try singing the last two lines with a stronger voice as you think about your own testimony of the Savior.