I have worn a beard on and off since I was discharged from the Marine Corps. My father wore a beard my whole life. I have only seen him without it one time. He was BIC and is still faithful.

BUT...... I have been criticized several times for my beard by the uber righteous. My dad has never mentioned it and we have never discussed it, but I have always wondered if that is why he was never called to be a Bishop or in the Stake Presidency. He wore his beard as a counselor in a couple of Bishoprics and as a High Councilman.

I am barely over forty and I have not been a member for 8+ years. I served as second councilor in a Bishopric one time but did not have a beard at the time. I also served as a stake financial clerk and was sporting a moustache. These are the two highest callings I had.

Maybe some of you old timers can answer a few questions.

So here are my questions.

1. Does anyone no when beards became semi taboo?

2. Is facial hair discussed when considering Bishop or higher callings?

3. Was there some stigma that the church was trying to avoid when Beards became a no no. Like maybe being associated with the old church(polygamy).


Thanks in advance ,

Mormonista



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/2011 07:53PM by Susan I/S.

I think it started duing the 60s. the leaders didn't want the members to look like hippies or protestors.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/2011 07:54PM by Susan I/S.

which began in 1951 when he was 77 years old. He was clean shaven, as was customary in those days and promoted the same "clean cut" look.
He was the first president to be clean shaven.

Brigham Young is shown with and without a beard.
EDIT: Joseph Smith Jr didn't wear a beard, of course.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/2011 05:46PM by SusieQ#1.

in leadership positions (bishops etc.) and as a temple worker.
I don't know why. Maybe someone else does.

Please correct me if that is not true!

Don't know about MoTab, but BYU students and staff are allowed to have a mustache. The only limitation I am aware of is it can't extend below the top lip.

Oh irony of ironies! Doesn't the leader of the church fit every physical description of what today we would call a hippy? Yes. Jesus Hippy Christ.

If he came back today, they'd probably crucify him.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/2011 07:54PM by Susan I/S.

They even specify that sideburns cannot go below the ear lobe.

SusieQ#1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They even specify that sideburns cannot go below
> the ear lobe.

LOL, that was a MAJOR reason I chose not to go Ricks or BYU, even though I was TBM. I thought it was a stupid rule and ridiculous that they would dictate the length of the hair on a man's head and face. I opted to go to the UofU instead because I didn't want to feel like I was a missionary all over again.

When we attended a sevicemen's ward in Germany for several years, a local member (non-military) with long hair and beard was called to the bishopric on the condition that he cut his long hair and shave his beard. He did, but didn't last long in the bishopric as I recall.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/2011 07:54PM by Susan I/S.

I know my gay married mormon friend loves the clean-shaven missionary boys. At least, you wouldn't attract him.

A cousin of mine had a long beard and looked like BY. For some reason the family thought this was a good thing.

When he was called to a job in the temple he was made to shave and has been clean shaven ever since. 30 years or so by now. So it's been quite a while since the "church" clamped down on beards.

I've had one for twenty years.

The last time I shaved I had some pictures taken. I haven't shaved since.

I know of a bishop who has a very attractive goatee, and he also served as a branch president. So I guess facial hair hasn't stopped him. He keeps it very short and trim and doesn't look attractive clean shaven.

When a guy comes into the scene with a beard you instantly know that he's the bad guy.

Mormonism understands this eternal principle.

Maybe that is why I hang on to my facial hair. Stick it to the man.

My primary teacher told us that one time a boy pulled down his pants in Sunday school class. Just as the boy did it, a "bearded" man thrust his head in through the door and laughed. The nasty boy's teacher ran after the bearded man, chasing him into the hallway. ( Cue Twilight Zone music) She found no man in the hall. Both beard and man had disappeared as if by magic. Demonic magic.

There was an investigator in my last ward, a man in his 70s with a huge white Santa-style beard. But the dickheads in charge had him shave it all off before he could be baptized. When he showed up in church the next Sunday, no one recognized him, and more than one person thought it was an awful thing to make him do.

Wow.