Mormon Beefcake

I have three sons who are returned missionaries. One of my favorite pictures is of them at the beach, standing next to each other, looking extremely handsome, wearing bathing suits and tee-shirts. They are smart, fun and are not holy-rollers, but they respect their bodies, their parents and their God. Sure, they swim without shirts just like everyone else, but they would never pose or take part in a money making provacative scheme that would make themselves or the church look bad. They know the difference between right and wrong or gray and black. They may show-off at home but they would never exploit themselves or young women. Everyone has to make their own choices and I'm afraid, some of these other young men have made some not-so-great choices and will end up being an embarassment to themselves and their families. My sons learned proper values from their parents and the church helped reinforce these values. I'm not being old-fashioned, just stating facts.

My husbands favorite message to our girls is that if they are doing something that is "the appearance of evil" they should not do it. Like going to a bar and not drinking, sleeping with someone but not having sex, are all the same like appearing in the calendar. The missionaries have made a covenant to wear the
undergarment at all times as other members of the church have. Of course any church has black and white commandments, and going into the gray area might be okay for some--He may have a reverent.feeling for not exploting woman, but men who are truly living the LDS gospel also should be respectful of their
bodies.

Church is a business the business is the selling of Jesus Christ, if people aren't buying then interject Fear as to intimidate one into your belief by the threat of eternal damnation if they don;t accept what you're saying is the truth. what a joke! Give us your money that is what god would want we need to build exquisite temples to glorify the Lord whatever. If people aren't buying what you're selling then as with any business your going to have to shut your doors. Religion has killed or murdered more people in the past centuries that any other conflicts all in the name of God , again what a joke when you religious idiots quit acticg that you're more pius than the next guy and that you're religion is THE ONLY TRUE PATH to God then and only then will world peace ever be possible. You religious zealots are all the same.

First of all as a note to the editor; There is absolutely no "required" underwear for members of the Mormon faith. Second the guy was excommunicated because he deliberately went against his church leaders counsels. If he doesn't want to believe his church leaders then it would be a bit hard to believe in the church itself. And on top of that, it just makes a bad image of the church. If you believe in God, (I personally do) I really doubt that He would have approved a calendar depicting Jesus Christ and the Twelve Apostles taking off the old robes to show off their sexy abs.

Comment: I have a question for both of you. A man in this article was excommunicated for selling a calendar which misrepresents the way the Church of LDS wants its missionaries to be seen - in terms of respect for bodies, family and religion.

In my community in Southern California, a large LDS family owns an employment agency. I worked for them for a short time, when I first decided to sell out personal ethics for short term gain (big mistake) to improve family finances - I found my professional ethics at risk and had to quit.

These people were incredibly racist, unethical business people, operated their business in violation of most employment laws and actually voiced their opinions that their temporary employees (which they provided to business) were not human beings but simply product. (Not mere business meeting talk - but sincere belief that they didn't count - mostly because of their race).

Why when other LDS members in the community asked me about them and I told them what I could about their racism, ethics and violations - were they not excommunicated? Because they tithe regularly? Attend regularly.

I was raised with good Christian values. I know longer follow that faith, but I know enough after reading the book of Mormon and my extensive study of the bible as a young woman to know this family violated every tenet, commandment and principle that Christ stood for, again, why no consequence for their behavior which actually harmed a great many individual human beings?

Which is the greater sin?

As an excomunicated member of the Church also what is happening to the free agency we were given when we were born nobody has the right to take that away from us not even the General Authorities of the Church. That is our's to choose what to do with our lives and what not to do nobody has the right to take that free agency away from you except our Heavenly Father and he has not taken mine or anybody else's away that I know of. After all let's think to how some of the Church Members that are supposed to be upholding the family and are committing incest and running to the Church Authorities for forgiveness they are breaking the laws of God these missionaries are not breaking any laws of God.

Atruthseeker, do you know your true lds church history? Do you? If you did you would know that Joseph Smith himself was a liar. I am a history buff who is also a member of the church. I have seen documentation that JS took many wives and some that his own wife Emma did not know about. I decided to go outside the realm of just church teachings and discover the whole picture. If you did it would scare the life out of you.
The young men look great in the Calender. I applaud them. No worse than going swimming on a beach and don't we all look there.
Organized religions deal in fear based. You LDS know it. If you don't tow the line you will be excommunicated or denied entrance to the Temple. If is fear based and it is sad.
He probably did not do anything else. They just needed to make an example of him and by doing so he has now sold many, many more calenders. This to me is funny and great at the same time.
Brought negative attention to the LDS and WOW what were they thinking?
You LDS go back and truly study history and you will be amazed at what you find. The church makes you feel like they were all fabricated lies and you are not to believe them, it is not the case. Much of history is true and not just Mormon history. Truly study history and you will find many things that you were not counting on. Momons have repeatedly communicated their own for writing books and telling truth. They know it would hurt the Church.
The truth is always the best to know.
JJ

Hey hapyvlygrl, if it was a calendar of Catholic priests, they would be "raping" young boys!!! You need to pull your head out of the sand and realize these men are beautiful works of art created by god. You bring in the "sexual" aspect not us.

I too am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Being a Christian means more than "believing" in Christ; a Christian sincerely tries to follow the example of Jesus Christ and live by his teachings. Immodest images of men or women do not promote thoughts of Jesus Christ, his example, or his teachings.