Comments about ‘Shirtless missionary calendar released’

Lighten up LDS people... Do they also excommunicate people who take off their shirts at the beach or pool?

And I for one can't wait to own one!

Where can this calendar be purchased?

What is going to happen to the Missionaries,if anything??

Anonymous - no they don't. And to excommunicate the man for taking pictures of voluntary missionary "models" is so extreme as to be ludicrous. I'm ashamed as a member.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Back up, and freeze! Let's clear the air here and now. The article clearly states that the calendar creator was excommunicated for "conduct unbecoming of a Church member." It also states that the member in no way disagrees with the Church's decision. The actual reasons for excommunication are seldom made public. While the "shirtless missionary" calendar may have been a contributing factor, it was not the SOLE factor under consideration, and anyone who implies that such is the case lacks understanding. It is those people that ought to be ashamed of themselves. Church leaders are just as prone to mistakes as regular members. It is POSSIBLE that SOME mistakes were made in judgment in this case. However, the fact that the calendar creator hasn't appealed the decision (which he by rights could do if he disagreed with it) indicates that there is some basis for whatever the "conduct unbecoming a member of the Church" constituted. He has chosen not to judge. I choose not to do the same, and I encourage all to do likewise.

You say that reasons for excommunication are seldom made public. Then you go on to state that the calender was not the SOLE factor. What do you know that has not been reported? If you have real knowledge of what happened in the hearing, clue us all in. Otherwise our guesses are as good as yours.

Everyone should get this story straight: The person producing this calendar was excommunicated for "Conduct unbecoming of a church member." I believe that he was not an active member of the LDS chruch for many years prior to his calendar idea. I would assume some aspects of his life as an innactive member, along with marketing a calendar as a "church produced product" all contributed towards his excommunication. The church doesn't take too well to someone using the church's name, likeness, and images to promote something that is not endorsed by the church. I see the new calendar has a legal disclaimer to make sure he doesn't get in trouble again. The church let him off the first time, but probably made it clear that they won't be so friendly the next time. He is also using a charity donation theme to hide behind his true motive of producing the calender, which is to make himself money. This too shall pass.

We live in Babylon. Faithful Church members do not trifle with the Saviors church or the Savior of Mankind. the price he paid for us was too great. Think of it people...do not mess around with your faith or you will lose it, and your church membership. Everyone who promotes this calendar in any way is tainted with the "spirit of Babylon" and is on their way out of Christ's church.
You who are not in it....your comments do not count. LtGort your lust shows!

Posing for skin pictures are unbecoming behavior for any active Latter-day Saint. This disgusting exhibition should NEVER happen again. It's such a sad tragic mistake!

Good reporting, Deseret News! We all need to know this!

Seems that you might be a wolf in sheeps clothing on this one!

Can't wait for the mormon mom calendar to come out in 2010!

I hope the missionaries were sent home and had discipinary councils held. That would have certainly been the response in my mission. For people outside the church it is sometimes hard to understand the seriousness of things like this. The problem isn't men going around without their shirts. The problem is the breaking of covenants made with God. These covenants can't be taken lightly by someone who wants to remain an active member of the church.

Doug -

You need to take a second and think about this before posting.

The photos were taken well after their mission "service" was completed. Moreover, none of your so-called "covenants" were broken. "law of chastity"? think about the wording of it. very specific - nothing broken here.

Grow up and realize that your belief system is not the same as others.

The Moderator of this forum is dumb. It will never even let me voice my opinion. I didn't swear or use vulgar language and was simply writing my thoughts. I don't get it?

The issue here is that the calendar seeks to profit by painting a picture of the church and its members in a way that contradicts what the church wants to represent. If the calendar was simply a calendar with the same people in the same poses but no "Mormon" or missionary reference, there really wouldn't be a problem. It would just be another out-of-business calendar that goes no where. The problem is that the calendar is using the church and its members to represent the church in a way that is counter productive to the mission of the church. I think the word is, "priestcraft", where a man sets himself up as a light to get "gain ... but they seek not the welfare of Zion".

Wow! some kind of guys...yummy!

All one has to do is to visit the other churches in your community and you will begin to understand why the LDS church takes such a strict stance with its members.

The excommunication was not made public but Chad Hardy has admitted he hasn't been to church in 6 years, no longer participates in any religious activity, and was not living the standards of the church but as he put it, "is still a good Mormon boy in many ways". Obviously not the ways to keep yourself in good standing with the church. When one blatantly lives against gospel standards such as immorality and they have no intention to change, they are excommunicated. It is obvious to me this is about much more than a calendar. I doubt the calendar is the reason for excommunication although it probably is the thing the attention to him. Would it be right for the church to come out and tell us all why he was excommunicated? That would be wrong!