Folks with questions about Mormons might be curious to know what Mormons think of Halloween. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (otherwise known as Mormons) always love opportunities to share fun times with their families. How members celebrate Halloween varies with the individual, just as it would among members of any religion. Many families in the United States dress up, take their kids trick-or-treating, participate in costume parades, and other fun activities.
Personally, I am saddened by the emphasis that the American society places on the wicked and the violent things on Halloween. President James E. Faust, a member of the First Presidency of the Church until his death in August of this year has said: “No good can come from getting close to evil. Like playing with fire, it is too easy to get burned: ‘The knowledge of sin tempteth to its commission.’ … The only safe course is to keep well distanced from him and any of his wicked activities or nefarious practices. The mischief of devil worship, sorcery, casting spells, witchcraft, voodooism, black magic, and all other forms of demonism should be avoided like the plague” (Ensign, Nov. 1987, 33).
Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was perhaps even more adamant when he said: Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles warned of such activities when he told young men and women, “A warning: there is a dark side to spiritual things. In a moment of curiosity or reckless bravado some teenagers have been tempted to toy with Satan worship. Don’t you ever do that! Don’t associate with those who do! You have no idea of the danger! Leave it alone! And there are other foolish games and activities that are on that dark side. Leave them alone!” (Ensign, May 1989, 54).
So what can people do on Halloween if they wish . Besides the traditional trick-or-treating, here are a few other ideas from my own experience:
- When I was in junior high, my family gave an annual Halloween party. My sisters and I each invited friends, and everyone wore costumes, and we played some party games and had a ball together. It was something my parents wanted to do to ensure that we and our friends stayed safe and had a good time. One of my most vivid memories of one of our parties was when I handed a blindfolded friend a bowl of cold spaghetti. She put her hands in it; when I told her they were intestines she threw the whole bowl in the air and we had cooked spaghetti all over our living room carpet.
- Instead of trick-or-treating, for a few years we baked cookies and delivered them to friends on Halloween-dressed in our Halloween costumes, of course. Our reverse trick-or-treating was always a welcome surprise to these people. (A nice bonus was that they always gave us some Halloween candy in return.)
- Our ward (local Church congregation) has been putting on an annual “trunk-or-treat” that has been successful. We gather for games and chili in the Church parking lot. Children wear their Halloween costumes. Meanwhile, parents and older children decorate the trunks of their cars and bring out their candy. Then, the children go trick-or-treating to people’s cars. This provides a safe place for the children to trick-or-treat, and is an enjoyable time for the adults to socialize as well.
Have a happy and safe Halloween, everyone!
