Men on a Mission

So I don't know how many of you out there have heard of this new calendar that came out last year called Men on a Mission, but I just had to share some info on this issue.

Last year a calendar was published called Men on a Mission for the year 2008. Unfortunately I wasn't informed of such a thing to purchase one in time to use it. I don't know how, but I discovered that the same guy would be making another calendar for 2009.

The calendar features return missionaries posing in two pictures: one in a standard white shirt missionary attire with their name badges, and the other one being shirtless. As soon as I learned all the details about this calendar, I knew I would be purchasing one for the 2009 year. They were released last Thursday so as soon as I get a little more cash I will be buying one at the low low price of $14.99.

But wait... there's more.

To best explain the whole story of it, here are some updates I get via e-mail."

A dozen Mormon [returned] missionaries are again taking off their trademark white shirts for a calendar that seeks to strip away stereotypes about their church.

The 2009 version of the Men on Mission calendar was released Thursday - two months after its creator was excommunicated by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for producing this year's [2008] calendar."I know they did what they thought was right," Chad Hardy [creator of calendar] said.

The calendar was intended to shake up the straight-laced, cookie-cutter Mormon stereotype that doesn't fit many in the church. "People like me are bound to stereotypes that don't fit," Hardy said. "I think we can all have the same faith and still have different outlooks." Hardy was excommunicated July 13 by a panel of church leaders for conduct unbecoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In the pictures the 12 men pose shirtless in black suit slacks. At least one model from the 2008 edition was asked to explain his involvement, but no church disciplinary action was taken. Calendar model Cody Bloomfield, who graces the 2009 cover, said he's not worried about disciplinary action.

He said shining a light on the church's younger members is good. "A lot of people think that because all our leaders are 90-year-old and stand behind podiums, we're all like that. But it's not all rules and organization," the 22-year-old Irvine, Calif., college student said. "Young people in the church obviously keep the standards and the rules of the church, but we look at them differently." Hardy sold nearly 11,000 copies of the 2008 edition at $14.99 each.

News reports of his excommunication have helped secure a larger U.S. distribution and international contracts for 2009. It's also helped draw a flood of would-be missionary models for 2010, when the plans feature a second calendar featuring female church members under the title "Hot Mormons Muffins: A taste of motherhood."

Lifetime Mormon and mother of four Lisa J. Wood of St. George hopes to be Miss October.Wood agrees with the break-the-mold thinking that drives the calendar, but said she has other reasons for wanting to be among the first of Hardy's pinup girls. As a single mom, the 35-year-old said she often feels judged by others in the family-centered church. "Mormons in general are taught not to judge," said Wood. "I've never been one that does anything by the norm and I'd much rather show that I'm an individual and still a good person."

The 2009 calendar launch is tied to an e-Bay auction of the red-sashed robe worn by Bloomfield on the cover. Proceeds of the auction will benefit Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes the loss of muscle function. About 20,000 babies are born with the disease each year, most of them boys. After seeing a story about the calendar, a North Carolina man who's 5-year-old son has the disease called Hardy seeking information about producing a calendar of his own.

After learning about the disease, Hardy hatched the auction idea. "When I was a kid I was diagnosed with a spastic muscle disorder and I had to relearn how to crawl and walk, so that's why it hit home with me," he said.

The 2008 calendar generated $5,000 for the models' favorite charities. The 2009 calendar includes a disclaimer that it is not associated with or endorsed by the Salt Lake City-based church. "

By Jennifer Dobner
The Associated Press

"BrighamYoung University has yanked the diploma of a man who created a calendar featuring shirtless Mormon missionaries and was later excommunicated from the church.

Chad Hardy of Las Vegas attended graduation ceremonies Aug. 15 after finishing up his last four units of study online in June. But on July 13, in between completing his studies and the graduation ceremony, he was excommunicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A Sept. 30 letter from Norman B. Finlinson, the school's executive director of student academic and advisement services, said a nonacademic hold was placed on Hardy's record after the church-owned university learned of the excommunication."

If in the future you are reinstated as a member of the church in good standing, you are invited to contact my office regarding your possible eligibility for the awarding of a degree," Finlinson wrote.

Hardy, 31, plans to challenge the school's decision."I intend to fight this tooth-and-nail," he said.

Hardy's excommunication for conduct unbecomiong a church member was rooted in his failure to pay tithing, a lapse in other religious obligations and, according to Las Vegas regional church elder Frank E. Davie, his involvement with the 2008 "Men on a Mission" calendar."

Also by Jennifer Dobner
The Associated Press

BASICALLY, for some reason, Chad Hardy decided to make this calendar and when he did got excommunicated.

The calendars feature church members in good standing, posing in modest poses. Just with their shirt off. I'm not sure what the woman will be wearing in the future.

More on the situation with Hardy is that, when he produced this calendar he was completely inactive. He was still technically a member as he never had his name removed, but when the calendar surfaced and church leaders learned about it, the went sniffing around Hardy's activities, noticed he was inactive and hadn't been living up to church standards (obviously), such as not paying tithing and attending church meetings, and excommunicated him because they didn't want a "member" to be the one producing this calendar.

THEN he got his chance at a diploma taken away. I don't know all the details there though. I really don't see why an ex-member or even an inactive member would want a diploma from BYU anyway. I don't agree with the fact that he thinks he can not live up to Church standards and the BYU code of conduct and still attend and graduate.

Basically, the act of producing the calendar or being IN the calendar is not grounds for excommunication. But if the Church doesn't like what you're doing (blog/calendar), they'll find a way to kick you out.

Anywho- I plan on buying a 2009 calendar ASAP and hanging it by my bed.