Invite girls and their mothers (and fathers) with a wedding invitation
Decorate the room like it is a reception
Put temple pictures–both inside and outside shots–on the walls
Display a map of temples around the world
Invite the girls to dress up in their mother’s, sister’s, friend’s, or grandmother’s wedding dress for photos. You can give the Young Women the photos as a memento, or if you do them beforehand, hang them on the walls for decorations.
Discuss dating standards:
- 10 Commandments of Dating
1. Thou shalt not date until age sixteen.
2. Thou shalt only date faithful Latter-day Saints.
3. Thou shalt attend activities that are wholesome.
4. Thou shalt look for opportunities to go on double or group dates.
5. Thou shalt dress modestly and be an example in thought, speech, action, and appearance.
6. Thou shalt avoid dark places, parked cars or empty homes, and all other environments that might cause temptation.
7. Thou shalt not participate in kissing and hugging sessions.
8. Thou shalt arrive home on time and not keep late hours.
9. Thou shalt discuss thy dating activities with your parents.
10. Thou shalt keep thyself clean and worthy to enter the temple.
“No unclean thing can enter into his kingdom . . .” 3 Nephi 27:19 (Source: http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/ywc/dates/dating10.htm)
Have each girl make a list of traits she wants in her husband
Show modest wedding dresses and garment appropriate outfits. Show where garment lines are and give the requirements for temple dresses (long sleeve, up to the neck, down to the floor, no iridescent sequins, no full slips, not really flashy, only white–contact your temple matron for more details). The photo could be matted with a photo of your local temple or each girl’s favorite temple.
Have a newlywed speak to the girls about her temple wedding and bear her testimony about the importance of temple marriage
Have each of the mothers share a little bit about their temple wedding or why she wants to have an eternal family
Invite the Temple Matron to speak and bear her testimony about the temple’s importance
Talk about the history of your local temple at lds.org
Soncs: “I Love to see the Temple” or “The Temple Reminds Me”
Topics for speakers:
- Dating – from For the Strength of Youth
Dress and Appearance – from for the Strength of Youth
Sexual Purity – from for the Strength of Youth
Music and Dancing – from for the Strength of Youth
The Temple is a house or home of the Lord
The Temple is a place of instruction
The Temple is a place of peace.
The Temple is a place of covenants and blessings.
The Temple is a place where ceremonies pertaining to godliness are presented.
The Temple is a place of revelation.
(Source: All About Mormons)
Ideas for handouts:
- A picture of the temple
A padded, decorated hanger for her wedding dress
A white handkerchief and a poem about the temple
The envelope for her endowment packet
A copy of the New Era titled “Courtship and Marriage”
A copy of the Ensign magazine named Temples
A temple calendar made from the beautiful photos at Darrel Chamberlain’s Calendar Wallpaper site
Try the What kind of man do you want to marry Candy Bar Activity
Have cake, mints, nuts, and punch for dessert
Great punch: 1 can Strawberry (or other) juice concentrate, several scoops of vanilla ice cream, 4 liters of lemon-lime pop
Sources: All About Mormons, Primary, Etc, Deseret Book YW Forums
