LDS Halloween Ideas

Celebrating Halloween in the LDS religion is a personal choice.

Members of every religion have their stand on whether Halloween is an acceptable holiday to celebrate. In the Mormon tradition, also known as Latter-day Saints (LDS), opinions differ about celebrating Halloween. Some Mormons view the holiday as promoting devilish ideas; others just enjoy a good goblin or ghost story. If you're looking for ways to celebrate an LDS Halloween, many good options exist.

Cheer Someone Up

If you want to take a different spin on the Halloween holiday, consider leading the children in an activity more commonly featured around Christmastime. Dress the children in costumes from the past and accompany them to visit a nursing home. Their poodle skirts, for example, will bring a smile to residents' faces. Ask ahead if you can bring candy or home-baked treats for the residents as well.

Candy Exchange

Every trick-or-treating child typically comes home with loads of candy. If you celebrate as a Mormon by collecting goodies from house to house, do something different with the stash when you get home. Have the children sort their candy and choose a dozen pieces they really like, and take the remainder. Explain that you are going to give the rest to a women's shelter so the moms there have some treats to give to their children as well. Exchange incentives for the amount of candy traded in. For example, for every 10 pieces of candy, given children a day off from making the bed or having to eat a vegetable they don't like at dinner one night.

Practical But Fun Treats

If you want to put less emphasis on the sugary part of Halloween with your LDS family, hand out something other than candy when trick-or-treaters come to your door. Select fun and colorful pencils and erasers or another school supply. You may not be the most popular house on the block, but by doing so, you can help give a message that Halloween is about more than just candy. It's about neighborly generosity, whatever form that takes, and you can teach about your religion in the process.

Face Painting Party

Because there are as many ways to celebrate Halloween as there are costumes from which to choose, throw a different kind of party at your house to celebrate, LDS-style. Invite people from your church to a party with face painting and games. Encourage them to wear costumes if they want and keep the party going all evening. Children who want to can go out after the party with their faces already painted and collect treats.

References

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Treats, Not Tricks
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Meals for Young Cooks, Halloween Party