I hate to bust your Summer bubble, but Halloween is just a month away. And Mormons everywhere are already thinking costumes. Jessie Jensen, a Rexburg native who just moved to Arizona with her hubby, tweeted from @jessieJensen: “I want to make a good impression on my new ward. What if I dressed up as a polygamist for the Trunk-or-treat?“ This followed with another tweet from Jessie wondering if she could even get her hair high enough.

I, myself, as a newly minted mid-single adult will likely hit the party scene that night (the scene that offers free apple juice, and a Deseret Book Gift Certificate for winning the costume contest). And as in years past, I will see the Elder and Sister Missionary costumes, The Brigham Young costumes, The Relief Society costumes (a women in a jumper and hair rollers; carrying a dish of green jello), the modest bunny rabbit costume, and the ever-shocking immodest Adam and Eve costume.

Are there any more original ideas out there? And when does someone cross the line of being sacrilegious, or just too much?

As far as some new ideas: On an LDS forum chat site, asking about modest costume ideas, one commenter said: “One year I went as a streaker on strike–I wore clothes and had signs that said ‘say no to skin!’ This year, maybe I’ll be a Christmas tree–brown pants, green top and battery powered lights wrapped around me.”

Not such a bad idea.

I have a friend who added a special touch to a devil costume for a ward party. He carried a mug that said: “hot drink.” Pretty clever, I thought. And an original idea stemming from my mind right…now…what about a funny take on a Mormon ad campaign? Dress as…well, anything (let’s say a witch) and make a sign that hangs around your neck saying: “I’m a mom. I cast spells. I ride a broom. And I’m Mormon.” Oh, or how about what I did back in the glory days of 2007: for the LDS Singles Party, I dressed like death, and wore a sign that said: “I look better on a date.”

As far as my question about which costumes go too far, I’d love you guys to help me answer that. What do you think? Did the guy pictured below go to far? Or is this funny? With the Book of Mormon Broadway show, and Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman running for President, there will likely be a lot of non-Mormons in Mormon-themed costumes, too. Does this make you, as a Mormon, want to steer away from anything too Mormon themed? Or does it even matter? What are some of the funniest Mormon-themed costumes you’ve seen? And what are you being for Halloween this year?? I’m still deciding.

-Lauren