"I’ll defend the church and anybody who doesn’t like it doesn’t have to come."

[TripletDaddy]

I don't know if it was a church policy in the past. The church just came out and officially said it's not a current church policy. That should have some authority. It sounds like it's somewhat common for local bishops or stake prez's to put out a local policy like this, but I don't ever recall hearing it before, and I've seen crossdressing costumes at ward parties multiple years.

My experience mirrors yours.

Also, I don't recall the old CHOI having this policy but some say that it was there.

[RC Vikings]

Policy or not I'm not dressing up like a female and I wonder about those that do and really seem to enjoy it.

[SeattleUte]

That is what I was saying. This is simply a No Homosexuality thing at its core, perpetuated by members (like the feisty Bishop in the article) brought up in a No Homosexuality era.

This thread is confusing. People chime in to say that this is a non story (perhaps in an effort to defend the Church?), they say that for their whole lives their wards had a No Gay dress code for Halloween (perhaps to illustrate why this non story is such a non story) then they report that this weekend, there were cross dressers in their ward and nobody cared (which see,s to undermine their previous statements). Anyway, just an observation.

I'm playing it safe this week and steering clear of any appearance of homosexuality. I'm going as a wolf.

I forgot to mention anti-gay, which is the same as all those other antis I listed.

[Pheidippides]

My experience mirrors yours.

Also, I don't recall the old CHOI having this policy but some say that it was there.

It absolutely was there in black and white in the 2006 edition. It gave me pause when I read it. Glad to see it's no longer policy.

[DU Ute]

I don't know if it was a church policy in the past. The church just came out and officially said it's not a current church policy. That should have some authority. It sounds like it's somewhat common for local bishops or stake prez's to put out a local policy like this, but I don't ever recall hearing it before, and I've seen crossdressing costumes at ward parties multiple years.

Even if this was a current Church policy, why put it on flyers that apparently were distributed to everyone in the neighborhood? Is there a problem with ward trunk or treats in Sandy attracting a lot of adult cross dressers? If the little non-member boy down the road comes dressed as Cinderella is he going to be turned away? Why no restrictions on other inappropriate costumes? Can my 9 year old daughter come as a slutty nurse, but not Albert Einstein? I can see making an announcement in church about appropriate dress for the activity or turning away someone at the event who blatantly crosses the boundaries of good taste. Sending out this type of invitation, however, is a bit too much.

[RobinFinderson]

Why was Trunk or Treat ever invented? Was it a response to those Halloweens that fall on a Sunday, so that a trick-or-treating experience could be had on Saturday? And then people thought it was so much fun so they organized trunk-or-treats every year, and not just the years Halloween falls on Sunday?

Personally, I don't see how Halloween breaks the sabbath, unless you are someone who thinks the sabbath needs to be spent reading scriptures and listening to church music.

[Moliere]

Why was Trunk or Treat ever invented? Was it a response to those Halloweens that fall on a Sunday, so that a trick-or-treating experience could be had on Saturday? And then people thought it was so much fun so they organized trunk-or-treats every year, and not just the years Halloween falls on Sunday?

Personally, I don't see how Halloween breaks the sabbath, unless you are someone who thinks the sabbath needs to be spent reading scriptures and listening to church music.

It was invented by capitalists that wanted to make trick or treating more efficient. It's no wonder you don't like it.

[jay santos]

Why was Trunk or Treat ever invented? Was it a response to those Halloweens that fall on a Sunday, so that a trick-or-treating experience could be had on Saturday? And then people thought it was so much fun so they organized trunk-or-treats every year, and not just the years Halloween falls on Sunday?

I think this is probably accurate.

[SeattleUte]

Why was Trunk or Treat ever invented? Was it a response to those Halloweens that fall on a Sunday, so that a trick-or-treating experience could be had on Saturday? And then people thought it was so much fun so they organized trunk-or-treats every year, and not just the years Halloween falls on Sunday?

Personally, I don't see how Halloween breaks the sabbath, unless you are someone who thinks the sabbath needs to be spent reading scriptures and listening to church music.

lol an atheist's view of what is breaking the sabbath.

[Joe Public]

It absolutely was there in black and white in the 2006 edition. It gave me pause when I read it. Glad to see it's no longer policy.

Yep.

[TripletDaddy]

Why was Trunk or Treat ever invented? Was it a response to those Halloweens that fall on a Sunday, so that a trick-or-treating experience could be had on Saturday? And then people thought it was so much fun so they organized trunk-or-treats every year, and not just the years Halloween falls on Sunday?

Personally, I don't see how Halloween breaks the sabbath, unless you are someone who thinks the sabbath needs to be spent reading scriptures and listening to church music.

I don't know if the Sunday thing was the only reason, but it likely was a reason. Another reason ToT was big in our old OC ward was because sometimes people lived in neighborhoods or apartment complexes that were not really big into trick or treat/candy. We lived alongside lots of ex pats that didn't really celebrate Halloween, so we would generally go to my brothers house and hang in his hood with the cousins. A ward ToT was a high yield candy experience for everyone, regardless of your neighborhood.

Also, our ward ToT was a great "invite your NoMo friends" gig. It was always a huge stake activity. Very fun.

[Pheidippides]

I don't know if the Sunday thing was the only reason, but it likely was a reason. Another reason ToT was big in our old OC ward was because sometimes people lived in neighborhoods or apartment complexes that were not really big into trick or treat/candy. We lived alongside lots of ex pats that didn't really celebrate Halloween, so we would generally go to my brothers house and hang in his hood with the cousins. A ward ToT was a high yield candy experience for everyone, regardless of your neighborhood.

Also, our ward ToT was a great "invite your NoMo friends" gig. It was always a huge stake activity. Very fun.

Last year, of course, was a Halloween-on-a-Sunday year. I think at the time I remarked that there was a split in our ward between people going out and people who were not. We went out - like I said before, this is one of the last community holidays left.

I used to think the Trunk or Treat deal was stupid, and I still do inasmuch as people use it as a replacement for Halloween. But I have no problem doing both, and it's actually pretty cool in my ward because the adults all get into it too, with all sorts of costumes.

[myboynoah]

Last year, of course, was a Halloween-on-a-Sunday year. I think at the time I remarked that there was a split in our ward between people going out and people who were not. We went out - like I said before, this is one of the last community holidays left.

I used to think the Trunk or Treat deal was stupid, and I still do inasmuch as people use it as a replacement for Halloween. But I have no problem doing both, and it's actually pretty cool in my ward because the adults all get into it too, with all sorts of costumes.

I did too, but saw how wards really get into it as well. It becomes a de facto ward Halloween party for everyone.

I'd allways thought it was organized because people were nervous about letting their kids TorT to strangers. That was just my guess.

Remember "be careful of razor blades in apples!"? Is that still out there?

[LiveCoug]

11 year old boy in my primary class stated today that he is dressing up as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz for Halloween tomorrow. I kicked him out of my class and sent him straight to the Bishop.

[TripletDaddy]

11 year old boy in my primary class stated today that he is dressing up as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz for Halloween tomorrow. I kicked him out of my class and sent him straight to the Bishop.

No gays!