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Calendar-maker ousted by LDS

It states there were 3 reasons for the action. 2 were released by the guy. It sure looks like this guy is using the church for publicity to sell calenders. Pretty sad.

The key:
Hardy has been inactive in the LDS Church for the past six years. He no longer pays tithing or wears the religious undergarments considered sacred. In an interview last week, Hardy said he had always struggled to fit in and live up to the expectations of membership.

Is this really newsworthy? Good marketing for his calendar but seriously why the story?

No big surprise, right Chad?

Well, if the 2009 calendar has already been to press, then you might make a little cash this year, providing you don't get slapped with a lawsuit. I wouldn�t expect a 2010 calendar, though. Somehow I think most of those 100 missionaries who expressed an interest might be re-thinking their position.

Before all the disparaging comments start, please realize that this individual left the Church many years ago, we don't know and likely will never know the full extent of how far he fell from the Church. I don't need to know. This man decided to try and make a profit by selling Church missionaries as sexual objects.

The Church has every right to defend its good name. Using missionaries, in missionary attire, with missionary name tags, in this manner is against the will of the Church. I am sure that this individual was given every opportunity to right this wrong, but he chose not to.

I wish him all the best and hope that one day he realizes that much of what is good in his life is due to the sacrifices of those six generations who went before him.

It is never a joyous occasion when someone falls away.

King Solomon once said, "There is no new thing under the sun." (Eccl 1:9).

There have always been members of the church, who have chosen to walk a separate path, and there will always be those that make the same choice in the future.

The vision of the Tree of Life, chronicles that there are a number of paths available for the taking. If you don't like the path your on, change direction, however, choose wisely, for each path, eventually leads to a destination.

"Men on a Mission," which has sold nearly 10,000 copies at $14.99 each."

""The project is about stepping outside the stereotypes and stepping outside of the image," Hardy said."

So, it wasn't about the money???

I am sorry that Hardy has chosen not to associate with the Church for the past six years, and I am sorry that he is no longer affiliated with the church (for his sake). That he considered resigning his membership rather than attend the hearing indicates to me the true depth of his devotion to the church and his beliefs.

From a practical standpoint, what really changes for Hardy? He still won't attend church services on Sunday, he won't be doing his home teaching, he won't be paying his tithing or attending the temple with any regularity. Will any of his acquaintances notice any differences?

So, his intention was to help us step out of the stereotypes and images that people have of members/missionaries of the LDS Church? I guess there are worse images he could be promoting than shirtless returned missionaries; I don't think that we really need to concentrate on redefining the image of returned missionaries.

I used to have the image that all sister missionaries were homely; my mission experience taught me otherwise. Maybe Hardy could put out a calender of attractive Sister Missionaries; just, please, keep the shirts on, thanks just the same.

In August of 1969, I was traveling thru a dusty backwater town called Saint George. I stopped to spend the night in an old Travel Lodge. I pulled open a drawer and saw a Book of Mormon in it and then decided to look at it to see what this "Mormon stuff" was all about. I asked for nothing. However, as I began to read, I knew that the book and all that was associated with it was true. I was baptised in 1970. The work associated with this individual in Las Vegas seems to do nothing more than dump trash on those powerful and true feelings given to me so many years ago. I've sent out 8 of my 9 boys on missions, and will soon send out the last. In my wildest imaginations, I cannot conceive of any of them having anything to do with this sort of thing. Speaking as parent, a son who would be involved in this would have more to fear that just a Church court. That would be me slapping him upside the head till the light finally went on, "Oh yeah, don't trifle with sacred things".

I am not a lawyer, but...if as an employee I use my company's name to sell products in my own new business venture and those products are viewed as running counter to company values, brand image, or cause 'damage' in some way, etc. then my company has the right to sever my employment and require that I stop using their name for my private personal gain.

So far the LDS church has only taken the first step of pulling membership. Hardy could have stopped his little venture months ago.

I also have a problem with the fact he used these RM's in a somewhat exploitational way. What if it were Sister Missionaries or Primary kids? The RM calendar is something I've heard many people joke about for years as being a funny idea. Hardy took it to another level when he made this a business.

I think, for a few thousand dollars, he has lost alot. Don't think many organizations would not take exception to what he did.

Anything for a buck, right Mr. Hardy? Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

This guy made the calendar for the same reason he made his excommunication very public: to make money!

Even if he has been inactive,for six yrs,he knew how the church was going to react.

He brought his excommunication on himself. He can't handle the higher standard himself, but wants to profit from his knowledge of the standard and the culture. He sold out.

I bet they are sad. I'd be sad too if my son openly embarrassed the church on such a wide scale, and then laundered his disciplinary action to the press - another open faced embarrassment. He's obviously got some issues against the church. His decision to not be a member came long before he was "ex'd". That was just a formality.

One point the public is not much aware of is that now that he's no longer a "member", it's the LDS belief that while he continues to not live according to the gospel standards, he won't be heaping further sin on his head...at least not the ones mentioned in the press.

Hopefully he'll come around and make the necessary changes, humble himself and have a true change of heart. After all, this isn't just about the here and now, it's about eternity. That's why his family will be sad. I wonder if he thought of that in all his flamboyance.

I hope his family is able to find peace and a way to reach their son.

"Hardy has been inactive in the LDS Church for the past six years. He no longer pays tithing or wears the religious undergarments considered sacred. In an interview last week, Hardy said he had always struggled to fit in and live up to the expectations of membership."

Nobody is excommunicated for the above offenses, so I don't think they have anything to do with the disciplinary council.

Hope Chad releases a "Women on a Mission" calendar. I will be first in line to send in my photos to be Miss January. I wish the church would grow up and move into this century.

And just what did this accomplish? now that the church has exed him he will continue to publish the calendar. if the church sues him to try and stop the calendar, then that will only sell more calendars. sometimes it is best just to ignore some things.

The sad part is that so many are willing to pose for the Calendar. That there is a calendar doesn't surprise me, just that so called "good members of the church" are willing to be in it. NO the photos that I saw in the article were not any where near Porno status, it is just the theme of the thing that bothers me.

I agree with the outcome. However, if it is true that the men being photographed were all missionaries (I assume active)then they ought to be punished in some manner for taking their shirts off and allowing this nut to photograph them.