We did this activity a couple of years ago, modified-we only used 1 week to do it instead of two, didn't have the pictures of dresses, cakes, etc.  We had one of our leaders talk about her preparation to be married in the temple, had our bishop write them a letter that they could read on the day they opened the time capsule, bought temple recommend holders for them to put in the time capsule, I made each girl a lace trimmed white hankie for it, we had them do some of the writing like, Qualities to develop and Qualities Husband must have, also used the white rosebud, with the speaker incorporating that idea into her talk.  We did ask the girls to speak softly during the activity, as if they were indeed in the temple, the speaker displayed her temple wedding dress.  It was a great activity!
 

Activity One

1.  Decorate room with framed temple painting, wedding photo, wedding dress, tablecloth on table, vase of white silk roses, and candles in silver candlesticks.

2.  Invite young women to remove shoes before they enter this room. Mention that as we speak of the temple, this will remind us it is a holy and special place.

3.  Tell story of gathering beautiful white wildflowers early in the morning from the top of the hill away from the road–where they are pure and perfect and untouched. Compare this to a young woman and young man being pure and prepared for temple marriage. 

GIVE EACH GIRL A WHITE SILK ROSEBUD.

4. Discuss that preparation for marriage is physical and spiritual, and that together you’ll make plans for both during these two activities, as each young woman fills her Temple Time Capsule.

GIVE EACH YW A LARGE SILVER CAN. (Write name on tape to label can! 

5.  Each young woman places a white rosebud into her can. The pure white flower represents her purity and opportunity to grow and bloom.

EACH YW PLACES SMALL PHOTO OF HERSELF IN THE CAN.

6.  Every young woman chooses her favorite temple in which to be married.

(Buy an inexpensive pack of small temple cards from LDS bookstore or website.)

MOUNT TEMPLE PHOTO ON SPECIAL PAGE AND PLACE IN CAN. 

7.  Each young woman selects a modest wedding dress from a bridal magazine, mounts it on cardstock (in her wedding color) with “My Wedding Dress” as a title.

CHOOSE WEDDING DRESS, TITLE, MOUNT, AND PLACE IN CAN.

8. Young women select a color scheme for bridesmaid dresses, tablecloths, and other decorations for their wedding; cut swatches and mount on color scheme page. (For samples use color squares from home decorator catalog.)

CHOOSE COLOR SCHEME, MOUNT, AND PLACE IN CAN.

9.  Have young women think of who they want to be and what they want to achieve before starting this major new phase of their lives. (Emphasize that marriage is 5–15 years away!)

THOUGHTFULLY FILL OUT THE “QUALITIES TO DEVELOP IN MYSELF” PAGE, AND PLACE IN TIME CAPSULE.

10. Refreshment Idea: Serve wedding mints in a crystal dish.

Hint:  Keep the capsules in preparation for the next activity.
 

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TEMPLE TIME CAPSULE

Activity Two

1.  Decorate the room again, including a small “Wedding Cake.” (White layer cake frosted in white and delicately decorated with scallops and flowers–may be ordered from local grocery store.) This time replace wedding photo with a current photo of a married couple. This photo will be used to illustrate a very important point.

2.  Review wedding plans to this point: We have selected beautiful wedding dresses and our color schemes. We are committed to keeping ourselves pure and worthy to enter the temple of our choice. We have set goals for personal development. 

3.  Now ask, “What’s missing from our wedding?  Oh yeah, a future husband.  What should he be like?  Answers will likely include mostly physical traits.  After a little discussion, tell the young women a personal story that demonstrates loving characteristics in a man. 

“My husband Brian brought me breakfast in bed on February 2. There was a pretty flower in a tiny vase on the tray. Brian told me he loved me, and asked me to marry him! He does this every year on the anniversary of when we got engaged. It is so romantic. But look at this—(I show a recent photograph of the two of us)—darn it, now he’s bald! (They will all laugh.) He is not the gorgeous athletic guy I married. Did I choose badly? Of course not. As we have spent wonderful years with each other, he only becomes more and more attractive, because of the man he is.”

Point out to the young women that physical changes are possible in a handsome groom after a few years of marriage. Lead a discussion of truly important things to look for in a partner, including characteristics of a loving future father.

YW CAREFULLY FILL OUT “QUALITIES MY HUSBAND MUST HAVE” PAGE,

AND PLACE IN CAN.

4.  Discuss one of the important purposes of marriage, that of bringing children to this earth, and caring for them in a loving family environment.

YW DECIDE ON NUMBER AND SEX OF CHILDREN THEY DESIRE AND SELECT NAMES FOR EACH LITTLE ONE.  CUT OUT, MOUNT, TITLE “MY FUTURE FAMILY” AND PLACE IN TIME CAPSULE.

5.  Distribute lovely note cards and envelopes to each girl.

EACH YOUNG WOMAN WRITES A LETTER TO FUTURE HUSBAND, EXPRESSING HER HOPES AND DREAMS, SEALS ENVELOPE AND PLACES IT IN CAN.

6.  Give each young woman a letter written to her from the bishop commending her righteous desires, recognizing the importance of temple worthiness, and emphasizing the joy of a loving partnership in marriage. Have a quiet moment or two to allow each young woman to read her letter.

PUT BISHOP LETTER IN CAPSULE.

7.  Give young women copies of excellent articles dealing with marriage. Topics may include: appreciating your partner, discussing responsibilities—his and yours, daily helps for a happy marriage, and information regarding abuse. Tell girls that these articles can be read when they open the time capsule and are seriously preparing for marriage. These are good “Instructions” for a happy marriage:

A. My Husband Always Brings Me Roses, by Carol M. Sieverts, from the Ensign, April 1988.

B.  But I Thought Husbands Took Out the Garbage! by Kenneth W. Matheson, from the Ensign, October 1989.

C.  The Daily Dozen of Marriage, by Dee W. Hadley, from the Ensign, March 1990.

D.  Our Solemn Responsibilities, by President Gordon B. Hinckley, from the Ensign, November 1991.
 

PLACE “INSTRUCTIONS” IN CAN. 

8.  Romance is like a flame that keeps light and warmth burning in a marriage.

GIVE EACH GIRL A SMALL CANDLE TO PLACE IN CAN.

9.  Young women will want lots of bubbly happiness and fun in their marriage.

YW PUT SMALL “WEDDING” BOTTLE OF BUBBLES IN CAPSULE.

 10.  Have each girl sign her can Label. Using cannery machine, seal the cans.  (Warning, do not get cans mixed up after sealing and before labeling!) Trim labels to fit. Apply back “Ingredients” list with hot-glue gun, then glue front “Temple” label on can.

SIGN, SEAL, AND LABEL CANS! 

Hint:  You may want your Ward Cannery Specialist to help you and the young women seal their cans. I had 12 Beehives seal their cans at a sleepover at my home. It was easy to do, and took about 30 seconds per can. Gluing on the labels took a little longer. 

11.  Refreshment Idea: CUT THE CAKE!  

OPEN ON THE DAY YOU GET ENGAGED.

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SUPPLIES:
 

01.  Large #10 cans and lids

02.  White silk rosebuds

03.  Small photo of each girl*

04.  Small photos of different temples (available in inexpensive packs)

05.  “The Temple” page, copied for each young woman

06.  “My Wedding Dress” titles to cut out

07.  Colored cardstock to mount wedding dress

08.  Bridal magazines

09.  “My Wedding Colors” page, copied on white cardstock

10.  Small color swatches from catalogs

11.  “Qualities to Develop in Myself” page, copied for each girl

12.  “Qualities My Husband MUST Have” page, copied onto blue cardstock

13.  Stickers to decorate husband page (optional)

14.  “My Future Family” titles to cut out

15.  Baby girls page, copied onto pink paper

16.  Baby boys page, copied onto blue paper

17.  Cardstock to mount future family and write names

18.  Note card and envelope to write to future husband

19.  Letter to each young woman from the bishop*

20.  Copies of Ensign articles about marriage (4)

21.  Small candle

22.  Small “wedding” bottle of bubbles

23.  “My Temple Time Capsule” front label, copied on white paper

24.  “Ingredients” back label, copied on white paper

25.  Tools: scissors, decorative scissors, rubber cement, glue sticks, hot-glue (lots) and glue gun, paper cutter if available, stapler for articles, pens

26.  Sealer for cans*

27.  Decorations as described

28.  “Wedding” cake (optional)*

 

This page was  last  updated:  February 5, 2007

 

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