By Ali Velazquez
A calendar of former LDS missionaries caused controversy among LDS and non-LDS people.
Mormons Exposed, a Las Vegas-based company, launched a controversial calendar showing pictures of 12 bare-chested former LDS missionaries.
Chad Hardy, co-founder of Mormons Exposed and a former BYU student, said he came up with this idea because he was tired of the stereotypes that people out of the church have about the LDS people.
'Behind the eye-candy, this calendar has a deeper story--one that can reshape perceptions, heighten a awareness and perhaps inspire a broadened acceptance of human and religious diversity,' Hardy said.
Hardy, who served a mission in California, said he chose to show pictures of missionaries because missionaries are recognizable around the world.
The calendar, 'Men on a Mission,' not only has pictures of the models posing bare-chested, but also has pictures of the models dressed as missionaries.
'It isn''t about the church or promoting the church', Hardy said. ' Its about 12 young members of the church.'
Hardy compares this calendar to the common fire fighters'' calendars. He said the fire fighters'' calendar would not be the same if the models weren''t fire fighters, and the controversial calendar wouldn''t be more than 12 young men if they weren''t returned missionaries.
Even though the company has been receiving orders from all around the country, most of its revenue is coming from the East coast.
The company is giving part of its profits to charitable organizations in the places where the models served theirs missions.
'It needed to have a noble cause behind it,' Hardy said.
But not everybody is so happy with the calendar.
Since the calendar was launched, they have received about 10 messages a day from people who do not approve of the calendar.
'''No amount of charity work can justify what you guys have done,''' Hardy said, when referring to some of the complaints he receives.
Jonathan Martin, one of the models, said he participated in the project because he is interested in the entertainment business, and jumped at the opportunity to break down the stereotypes that people have about members of the church.
Martin, who served a mission in Manchester, England, said he has gotten mixed reviews his appearance in the calendar. While some thought it was cool or even brave, others felt what the men did was not 'Mormon-like.'
'This project is not capitalizing on the church,' Martin said. 'If you think it is, then don''t watch ''The singles ward,'' ''The RM,'' ''The God''s Army.'' Nor you ever wear the shirt that reads ''I can''t, I''m Mormon.'''
Martin said he and the other models take themselves and their religion very seriously. 'I do have a testimony of this church, but that is a personal matter that does not concern this calendar,' he said. 'I attend church, and I am not afraid to talk about it'
Ali_velazquez@hotmail.com