What do you do if the Halloween decorations around you bother you? A roommate of mine at college some years ago said that she could never participate in the festivities of Halloween again. When I asked why, she explained. She'd had to do a report in one of her classes on a historical topic. She had chosen the evolution of Halloween practices. She told me that after all she had learned, she became completely turned off to Halloween celebrations and had determined she would never let her future children participate.

Wow, I thought to myself. Must be pretty bad. Well, I never did do a research project to see for myself what she'd learned, but it left me thinking. Is it wrong to participate in Halloween activities when actually we worship Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the world?

Each person must come to that decision on their own. It definitely is not something that has ever been discussed doctrinally by the church leaders (if you can point me to that, I'd be appreciative).

Therefore, each of us decide if and how we participate. Personally, I have chosen not to decorate my home in Halloween-ed materials. But I do allow my children to find a light-hearted costume to dress in each year (gratefully, they have never been attracted to blood-n-gore themes). We do walk the neighborhood and they mildly rot their teeth later with at least a portion of the candy they receive. :-)

Some members of the church, including friends of mine, live on both sides of this choice--either by not participating in any way (like my friend from college) or by going all out with cobwebs, spiders and witches' hats.

I'm not so sure that what I think about their choices is even important. The important issue is: how well am I applying the teachings of Jesus Christ in my life and the lives of others, each day?

Thus, here is one service idea--a sample of a great activity to do during the trick-or-treating week (taken from “FYI: For Your Information,” New Era, Oct. 1978, 41.).

Last Halloween, members of the Redlands Second Ward Mutual in the San Bernardino California Stake were busy making cookies and marking scriptures instead of sewing costumes and painting faces. Their efforts culminated in a “trick or treat in reverse” the evening of October 27, their regular Mutual night, when they treated 27 nonmember families to homemade cookies and a Book of Mormon.

The ward seventies group leader and the young people themselves decided who to visit. The youth were then divided into groups of six, with one representative from each Mutual class in each group. After presenting the families with the Book of Mormon and the cookies, they asked them: “Do you have any questions for us? Representatives of our church would like to stop by in a few days and see what you think of the message of the book. Would that be all right with you?” A week after the event, a list of 18 families who had been visited was turned over to the seventies quorum. These families have been contacted by stake and full-time missionaries for teaching possibilities, and families in the ward are fellowshipping the contacts. At least one girl who was visited that evening has been baptized.

The spirit of the evening was summed up by Mia Maid Rachel Hansen, who said: “We who were giving and those friends who were receiving felt a special closeness. It was a beautiful experience to see one of our nonmember friends feel the joy of accepting the gospel.”

Again, I'm not so sure whether or not we participate in trick-or-treating and costume activities has any impact on our eternal spiritual direction. But I am sure that how much we focus on service during our time here on this earth does impact the direction we are headed.

So regardless of what activities you choose to follow in the next few weeks, maybe look for a small opportunity to lift the life of another. Revel in the joy of family and that the Lord has blessed you with beautiful blessings. And a little candy.