If you haven’t figured it out yet, they all belong to of The Church of Latter-day Saints (Mormons to you and me), an often criticized, sometimes-misunderstood religious group. With over 12 million members and growing, it is one of the most powerful religious sects in the world, and although their numbers may be plenty, many of their customs and traditions seem so out of touch from everyday society that the religion has become a constant target for scrutiny and skeptics. 

One of those traditional practices is the idea of fulfilling what is often referred to as a mission. As a right of passage, young men and women between the ages of 19 and 25 are chosen by the church and sent abroad alone on a powerful mission to educate others about religion and the book of Mormon.  

With such strict church restrictions as a ban on soda and requirements that men and women be covered in traditional garb, it seems odd that a group of male hunks would be willing to shed their clothes to create the 2008 Men on a Mission calendar... but that's just what they did.

This 12-month pictorial strips these amazing young men who have returned from their appointed missions half naked and exposes them as sex objects. While the sexy boys don’t seem to have much trouble exposing their bodies for the camera, it raises the question of just how strict the rules of the church are and makes you wonder who the calendar is actually suppose to appeal to.

Under their clothes, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traditionally don what is known as the temple garment, said to represent the sacred and personal aspects of their relationship with God. Almost like a white one piece, it has sparked much criticism from outside church factions and anti-Mormon groups who have suggested that the tradition is all part of a brain washing technique to make the members feel embarrassed about their bodies.  

To members of the church, the garment symbolizes the "coats of skins" which Jehovah made for Adam and Eve before casting them out of the Garden of Eden. It is worn, in part, to remind adherents that they have made special oaths and covenants to God. It is also believed to be a spiritual shield for the church members so that they are protected from outside forces.  

The steamy hot Men on a Mission calendar dispenses of the traditional ideals behind the Mormon beliefs and creates a progressive way of looking at the constantly evolving religion.  

The calendar was created by Chad Hardy, co-founder of Mormons Exposed, which distributes the calendar, t shirts and other not so secular items. His idea to showcase the beautiful bodies of the boys returning from their mission is an effort to debunk some of the myths that people have about the faith and, according to the website, to “encourage people of every belief system to be more tolerant of one another.”  

Hardy himself is Mormon and has completed his mission. He created the merchandise as a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek approach to Mormonism, which would still show the religious aspects of the men involved.  

Each of the twelve hot models has just returned from their mission and has a fascinating story to tell about their experiences. The idea behind this calendar is to allow those stories to be told through a different medium and to expose people of different cultures and backgrounds to the work and sacrifices that these men go through during their time on mission.  

The guys are definitely hot and a far cry from the traditional 'white shirt and tie riding their bicycles door-to-door to spread the word of God' image typically associated with Mormon boys.  

There has been an onslaught of criticism from some fundamentalist groups who have said that the calendar makes a mockery of the traditional religion. Hardy welcomes the criticism, saying, “whatever the reaction solicited, the project is already achieving what we set out to do - it is sparking dialogue, which is the first step toward understanding.”  

A portion of the proceeds will also go to benefit a charity chosen by the model. Organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army and Care for Life will all benefit from the generosity of these young men who have shed some clothes for a worthy cause.  

Looking at the calendar, the images are obviously geared toward a gay audience, but the creators of the company don’t seem to be concerned about who the calendar appeals to as long as the missionaries’ stories are heard.  

“While it is true that much of their duty is focused on promoting Mormon ideals, these men have helped the poor, fed the hungry, built schools and homes and helped many people in need. Theirs are stories that deserve to be told.”  

Although it may sound cliché, as you look at the before and after pictures of the men featured in the calendar, it becomes apparent that sometimes, things are not always as they seem. Most people have resentment and contempt for things out of fear of the unknown and unveiling the unknown can help make that fear subside.  

We live under a premise that all men are created equal no matter what their creed, color, nationality, sex, religious belief or sexual orientation may be and in order to put that premise into action it is sometimes import to dispel myths and not just judge a book by its cover.  

For moor information about the calendar or to audition for next years, visit www.MormonsExposed.com