Men on a mission

More than 50,000 missionaries are currently serving full-time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, otherwise known as the Mormon Church. Their two-year missions have taken them around the globe to third-world countries to help the poor, feed the hungry, teach English, build schools and homes and teach people about Mormonism. Most are young men and women under the age of 25, serving in nearly 350 missions throughout the world. Missionaries pay their own expenses for their service, and after two years of work, return to their home countries and their ordinary lives. During their mission, they are required to dedicate all of their time to missionary work and are not allowed to read newspapers, listen to popular music, surf the Internet or watch TV or movies. They can only call home twice a year on Christmas and Mother's Day. Along with the restrictions the missionaries face, all Mormons are forbidden to drink alcohol, coffee or tea, smoke cigarettes or have premarital sex.

The Men on a Mission calendar features twelve handsome returned Mormon missionaries from across the United States who, for the first time ever, have dared to pose bare-chested in a calendar. Usually seen riding their bicycles and preaching door-to-door, these hunky young men of faith explode with sexuality on each calendar page. Hand-selected for their striking appearances and powerful spiritual commitment, the "devout dozen" are stepping away from the Mormon traditions of modest dress, and "baring their testimony" to demonstrate that they can have strong faith and be proud of who they are, both with a sense of individualism and a sense of humor.

Behind the eye-candy, this calendar has a deeper story — one that can reshape perceptions, heighten awareness, and perhaps encourage and inspire a broadened acceptance of human and religious diversity. The fact that twelve young returned missionaries are posing shirtless will certainly raise eyebrows, but may also help to sort out some common misconceptions about Mormons. The shock value of what these traditionally conservative young men have helped to create has the power to build a dialog that encourages people across every belief system and walk of life to defy stereotypes and embrace tolerance.