Some of you may be familiar with the Men on Missions calendar, which is a rather cheesy calendar featuring Mormon men. Personally, I thought it was ridiculous and didn’t pay any attention to it, but apparently the church has paid some attention to it.
The man who created the calendar, an admittedly “less-active” Mormon in Las Vegas named Chad Hardy, has now been summoned to a disciplinary council of the church for “conduct unbecoming a member of the Church.”
Obviously, I don’t know Mr. Hardy, but if he is right that the calendar is the source of the allegations against him, I’m frankly stunned. The calendar is cheesy and obviously features Mormon men revealing parts of their bodies, but no more than if they were at the beach or in a pool. Meanwhile, TMZ has picked up the story, and in the end, such things make the church seem kind of petty and vindictive.
Well, apparently the saying (“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”)
must not be true for Chad Hardy.
I think it was poor judgment on behalf of Hardy.
I am not outraged but am disapointed that some think it necessary to display our best half clad bldies in a 12 month cycle chart. Why not the “Mormon” Swimsuit issue, or some other rag that cheepens the image of the Church in a poor adolesant way.
-d
I can’t help but wonder if they would care as much if the calendar featured women… Heaven forbid we objectify men.
ditchu,
Do you think what he did warrants a disciplinary council?
Sure,
The Coulncil will decide if it warrents any further action. It is no different than if I took the logo/business name of the non-profit cultural foundation I used to work for (Volenteer) and ran a Calendar that mis-represented that culture.
They would be in their rights as an orginization to sue over the use of their name. I understand that the term “Mormon” is not the official name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints so they may not have a leagel standing in the Courts of Law in this case but they are within their rights to seek out what they deem fit for this situation, thus a disciplinary council.
Honestly, If he used Women of the Later-day Saints, It would in the Courts as Defamation or Liaible suit, not just a disciplinary council.
-D
Oi vey.
ditchu:
“The Coulncil will decide if it warrents any further action.”
Capt Jack:
Baloney. The Council decides nothing–the stake president, in conjunction with his two councilors, decides whether he’s guilty or not. The others merely assent to his decision.
Quoting from the relevant section of the CHI:
“After hearing any additional comments from the high council, the stake presidency withdraws from the council room to confer in private. After consultation and prayer, the stake president makes the decision and invites his counselors to sustain it.”
And since he’s also the man who decided to convene the court in the first place, the outcome isn’t seriously in doubt.
Should it be in doubt?
I think if someone causes embarisment to an orginization The orginization has a ritght to withdraw the person from their association. As in this case I do warrent embarisment as the image of half clad people is not the common image putforth by the church and the implacation of the Calendar is that it may be inturprated as from the church.
-D
i am not a mormon, so i can’t have an opinion about what goes on in the church. certainly my opinion will offend you, ditchu, which is not my intention. i think the calander is probably good for mormon publicity in that it shows handsome guys with some sort of sexuality – set aside the embarassing, dated aesthetic. considering most of the world thinks that the mormon church consists solely of cryptic, polygamist sects, it is probably not the worst thing to group mr. hardy with the owners of jet blue and the makers of napolean dynamite in that he has a sense of humor and isn’t closed off.
furthermore, no one will ever associate the production of that calender with the mormon church. that is like saying frank zappa’s “catholic girls” or “jewish princess” comes directly from the pulpits. please.
But the implacation still stands, the term “Mormon” almost always inplies the Church that is taking this matter in hand. It was not a wise choice for Mr. Hardy.
-D
I am LDS and I think this calendar is in poor taste, especially when it is supposed to represent men on church missions. I can’t imagine how they even got people to pose for it!
Cindy,
Is poor taste grounds for excommunication? If so, half the men in my high priests group should be on probation.
I think it is all about representation of the Church to the public in a way that it is not representitive of the Church.
Ditchu said: “But the implacation still stands, the term “Mormon” almost always inplies the Church that is taking this matter in hand. It was not a wise choice for Mr. Hardy.”
First of all, the title of the calendar is ‘Men on a Mission’, so as far as that goes, he is not using the nickname of the church.
Secondly, he is using returned missionaries as models. And obviously men who look good with their shirt off, but how is that a negative reflection on the church.
Thirdly, we will ALL get a chance to see what would happen if he used women models next year when he produces the ‘Mormon Muffins’ calendar.
Fourth, I know Chad and I can assure you that he has a better sense of humor than anyone on this blog, including Runtu. He’s a hoot.
Fifth, I agree with Jack that his fate on the council is a foregone conclusion. I haven’t talked to Chad recently, but a good friend of his says that he is not terribly upset by this.
Did I cover everything?
Runtu, do you think that the guys who posed for the calendar are also going to be reprimanded? Mr. Hardy should hope for more “exposure” in the news. Notoriety & Controversy = $$$$$
According to CNN, at least one of the guys who posed got called in by the bishop, but no discipline was meted out.
I can’t say I’m surprised, but it was hardly a foregone conclusion. Discipline depends heavily on local leaders; apparently his stake president likes his beefcake in garments instead of shirtless.
I just hope he goes and takes a hidden camera into his “court of love” and then youtubes it or sells it to a news agency. I’d really love to see one in all it’s glory.