Men on a Mission Calendars

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by Tex

Do you think this calendar would've seen the light of a printing press had it NOT been about LDS missionaries? That very thing was what distinguished it from other similar calendars.

This I don't disagree with. But I'm not sure it is on the level with apostasy, adultery, embezzling consecrated funds, etc.

Originally Posted by Tex

And let's not pretend like Hardy was some bishop-in-waiting whose innocent side business got caught up in the nets of a bunch of bigoted, overbearing high priests. The attitude of the accused has a lot to do with how these councils deliberate, and I'm guessing his strident, unrepentant, go-ahead-I-dare-you tone had something to do with it too.

I'm not pretending this. I said right off the bat that he made this easy for them. He all but invited it. Still, that is a different question from whether they should have accepted his invitation. Doesn't the fact that they gave him just what he wanted send up a red flag that maybe they shouldn't have? Just hypothetically, why not disfellowship him if you have to do something? It reminds me of suicide by cop.

Originally Posted by Tex

By the way, I agree I don't think it was the most wonderful move from a PR perspective, but if it allows the church to fully divest itself when Hardy produces his next calendar (or who knows ... maybe a missionary porn video is next), it may have been worth it.
Perhaps my sarcasm detector is malfunctioning today, but I'm having a hard time believing you're serious.

I am being mostly serious. Had he done a missionary porn movie, now he is actually committed a sin in addition to simply embarrassing the church. I'm still at a loss to know what sin was committed here. You are correct about the overtones, but again, what sin? Maybe there is something I am overlooking. I just find the whole thing silly. Why give this guy any further platform. Why not just ignore him.

[SteelBlue]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

Sounds like he made it easy for them. I'm inferring from six years of inactivity and his nonchalant attitude that he didn't care. Still, doesn't anyone else see this as an overreaction of the first order? He made a calendar with some guys with their shirts off for crying out loud. I do understand the need to proscribe the influence of apostates, but this? What am I missing here? This will encourage his repentance?

I'm with you Dan. Tacky? Sure. But excommunicable? There must be something more to this one. A co-worker approached me today and asked if I'd heard about the story. He said he thought it was really strange and un-Christlike to excommunicate somebody over some shirtless photos. He said he also figures that the guy will probably sell twice as many calendars now.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

This I don't disagree with. But I'm not sure it is on the level with apostasy, adultery, embezzling consecrated funds, etc.

I'm not pretending this. I said right off the bat that he made this easy for them. He all but invited it. Still, that is a different question from whether they should have accepted his invitation. Doesn't the fact that they gave him just what he wanted send up a red flag that maybe they shouldn't have? Just hypothetically, why not disfellowship him if you have to do something? It reminds me of suicide by cop.

Perhaps. We really don't know what went on behind closed doors, so we're all just hypothesizing here.

Originally Posted by UtahDan

I am being mostly serious. Had he done a missionary porn movie, now he is actually committed a sin in addition to simply embarrassing the church. I'm still at a loss to know what sin was committed here. You are correct about the overtones, but again, what sin? Maybe there is something I am overlooking. I just find the whole thing silly. Why give this guy any further platform. Why not just ignore him.

He's going to be forgotten by tomorrow, so while (as I said) it probably wasn't the greatest PR move ever, I don't see it as big a deal as you suggest.

And whatever his sin, whether real or merely perceived, to seriously compare it to Janice Kapp Perry's music is truly obtuse.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by Tex

And whatever his sin, whether real or merely perceived, to seriously compare it to Janice Kapp Perry's music is truly obtuse.

Tackiness is in the eye of the beholder, Tex. I was trying to make that point, was well as the point that we are far, far too image conscious. I don't see this as a big deal in the end because everyone involved got what they wanted.

I think I may have to buy one of these for whoever I draw in the Christmas pool for my wife's family this year. THAT would be funny. The gag gift potential of this thing is huge.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

Tackiness is in the eye of the beholder, Tex. I was trying to make that point, was well as the point that we are far, far too image conscious. I don't see this as a big deal in the end because everyone involved got what they wanted.

I think I may have to buy one of these for whoever I draw in the Christmas pool for my wife's family this year. THAT would be funny. The gag gift potential of this thing is huge.

He wasn't excommunicated because it was tacky, Dan. That's the point.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by Tex

He was excommunicated because it was tacky, Dan. That's the point.

So I guess we agree.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

So I guess we agree.

LOL, that was supposed to read "wasn't." I'll fix it.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by Tex

LOL, that was supposed to read "wasn't." I'll fix it.

Dang I was so sure we had made some progress, you and I. So why then? You said earlier you thought it was to protect the name of the church. Maybe you can elaborate on that. I still don't know what sin this guy committed, other than tackiness and bad taste.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

Dang I was so sure we had made some progress, you and I. So why then? You said earlier you thought it was to protect the name of the church. Maybe you can elaborate on that. I still don't know what sin this guy committed, other than tackiness and bad taste.

While I have no idea what reason it would be, I'm guessing that the calendar is only a small part of it and this guy isn't about to fess up to the real reason, as that would not garner sympathy for him.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

While I have no idea what reason it would be, I'm guessing that the calendar is only a small part of it and this guy isn't about to fess up to the real reason, as that would not garner sympathy for him.

That could certainly be true.