Growing popularity of beards

[Obrien]

A light hearted observation - attendance at sacrament meeting this morning appears to be 320 people total (men, women and kids). There are about 180 kids (counted 120 ish during primary song, and there about 40 YM-YW and 20 nursery aged kids)

Of the 140 adults, there are about 75 men, 24 of which are sporting full beards. There are several moustache only guys, and I'm not including them in the count. t's interesting to me that fully 1/3 of the adult men here in attendance are bearded.

Noticing just now the ward choir has 10 men, 4 of whom are bearded.

Personally, I've chosen to wear a beard for approaching 30 years, and in the past it has been common for me to be one of 2 or 3 in the ward with a beard.

Ps - neither the bishopric nor the stake councilor here have beards...

[gkearney]

They are all trying to avoid being called to be a Bishop or Stake President.

[Obrien]

They are all trying to avoid being called to be a Bishop or Stake President.

Although I'm not in danger of being called to such a calling, I have always believed an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in this regard...

[sandman45]

When other men in the ward start growing beards I support them and compliment them. For a while I was the only one now I’m seeing more grow it.

We are only doing what the Father and Son do and aren’t men supposed to emulate those perfect beings?

[David13]

I know when we changed Bishops about a year ago a great comical and childish hubbub was made about the incoming Bishop shaving off a mustache.

I was sent a letter from the Temple president that I could not work in the Temple (did I really want to) even tho' he was told by the assessor? that he need look no further than the handbook which allowed for medical reasons for exemptions for one not being clean shaven for work in the Temple.

He was a particularly unenlightened character who didn't seem to be able to understand the nature of exemptions nor the irony of his preaching his philosophy of man, unfettered by any mingling with any scripture, he doing it all in front of a large painting of Brigham Young and Wilfred Woodruff in the St George Temple ... WITH BEARDS!!!, AS GIVEN TO THEM BY THEIR GOD!!

So this weird fetish that grew up in the church somehow against beards reared it's ugly head quite personally to me.

I have had a beard in essence for medical and cosmetic reasons for more than 30 years, which I trim regularly. Well, truthfully since my teen years.

Now this idea of the young growing beards.

For far too many of them, they are just wild, unkempt, untrimmed blotches. I think it's a "hipster" thing. I think it's a thing that Mormon young men feel left out of the societal sins of this generation, and that's their way of at least partially opting in.

So what of this nonsense of clean shaven to work in the Temple or to have much of a calling. What is it supposed to be.

Unquestioning obedience? What? Tell me the scripture. Is there no one who can at least mingle some scripture with this fetish?

Tell me who doesn't understand that God gives men facial hair.

Is there anyone who believes that God could not give men razors with their birth, if he wanted them to shave?
dc

[David13]

A lot of the wives want the men to grow beards, or so I am told.
dc

[etravis0219]

I have a full beard. I haven’t shaved since I left BYU 10 years ago. I have a young looking face so I look older with a beard and my wife likes it as well. The closest thing I can come up with for a scripture is that “the natural man (beards are natural) is an enemy to God” and we must become “as a child”. In my case when I shave I literally look like a child!

[Lexew1899]

I always liked having a beard, because I'm trying to be more like Jesus.

[mahalanobis]

I grew beard because I'm too cheap to buy the good razors or good electric trimmers. The inexpensive versions hurt or damage my skin.

Even if I found a cheap option that didn't hurt, didn't damage, and didn't require frequent replacement: I'd still be annoyed at shaving often! I guess I'm just cheap and lazy.

For the record: if my wife uses the same excuse to not shave her legs, more power to her! She often doesn't shave and I don't care. As long as we are both well-groomed, smelling good, and not overweight, I'm happy.

[nightlight]

Mormons started to shave because Americans(the world )started to shave.
Everything is about perception ie outward ordinances

[Alaris]

I always liked having a beard, because I'm trying to be more like Jesus.

I'm sensing an amended version of the primary song.

[BeNotDeceived]

I always liked having a beard, because I'm trying to be more like Jesus.

I'm sensing an amended version of the primary song.

Jesus shaves.

[marc]

I always liked having a beard, because I'm trying to be more like Jesus.

I'm sensing an amended version of the primary song.

Jesus shaves.

I got sick and tired of shaving years ago. I've maintained a trimmed beard for the last four or five years. I've saved money on razors and shaving gel. My face used to dry up and get red and scaly. My beard covers it up and keeps my face nice and warm. Plus I look more my age with my graying beard. One of these days, when I've entered the ornery codger stage, I will probably stop getting hair cuts. We'll see.

[BKColt]

Served with a bearded Stake Presidency counselor 20 years ago in Virginia. Wasn't a problem then nor when he was a bishop for 5 years before that!

We had a luncheon with 24 other people/stakes' leaders and President Hinckley with then-Elder D. H. Oaks and Elder Marlin K Jensen. At the 1 hr break when mingling, Elder Oaks made a beeline over to our table and extended his hand to the bearded counselor. He was affable, effusive, and actually quite jolly in conversation.

Made me think then and there I ought to grow a beard! Friendliest luncheon I've ever attended, lol.

[Summerwind]

My husband grows a beard because I like it, and because it helps off set our age difference. He keeps it well trimmed and groomed so it's not wild and unkempt at all.

From my understanding there was a period when facial hair and longer hair for men were considered rebellious, and this is when the trend ran counter to what it had previously about beards being more distinguished. Things seem to be changing yet again about beards depending on how well they are groomed.

By the way, one member of our bishopric sports a beard a lot like my husband's and no one has batted an eye, nor has he shaved it.

[PressingForward]

Does it matter?
We have a Priest that has a 2 foot tall afro, and a deacon with a man bun. We’ve got all kinds of younger boys in the primary with long hair. My Mom would freak out.

[Allison]

I love nice, full, trimmed beards on men. It’s something no tranny can pull off, so I know I am talking to a real man, not an FTM tranny.

I believe the Brethren will eventually soften the policy on shaving when beards become more ubiquitous in our culture, and more distinguished, as they once were.

[The Airbender]

I know when we changed Bishops about a year ago a great comical and childish hubbub was made about the incoming Bishop shaving off a mustache.

I was sent a letter from the Temple president that I could not work in the Temple (did I really want to) even tho' he was told by the assessor? that he need look no further than the handbook which allowed for medical reasons for exemptions for one not being clean shaven for work in the Temple.

He was a particularly unenlightened character who didn't seem to be able to understand the nature of exemptions nor the irony of his preaching his philosophy of man, unfettered by any mingling with any scripture, he doing it all in front of a large painting of Brigham Young and Wilfred Woodruff in the St George Temple ... WITH BEARDS!!!, AS GIVEN TO THEM BY THEIR GOD!!

So this weird fetish that grew up in the church somehow against beards reared it's ugly head quite personally to me.

I have had a beard in essence for medical and cosmetic reasons for more than 30 years, which I trim regularly. Well, truthfully since my teen years.

Now this idea of the young growing beards.

For far too many of them, they are just wild, unkempt, untrimmed blotches. I think it's a "hipster" thing. I think it's a thing that Mormon young men feel left out of the societal sins of this generation, and that's their way of at least partially opting in.

So what of this nonsense of clean shaven to work in the Temple or to have much of a calling. What is it supposed to be.

Unquestioning obedience? What? Tell me the scripture. Is there no one who can at least mingle some scripture with this fetish?

Tell me who doesn't understand that God gives men facial hair.

Is there anyone who believes that God could not give men razors with their birth, if he wanted them to shave?
dc

I'm becoming of the belief that 90ish% of what goes on in the church policies is the philosophies of men.

[Thinker]

I'm becoming of the belief that 90ish% of what goes on in the church policies is the philosophies of men.

Sounds about right.

“If you want to get a diamond out of a dumpster, you’ll have to get dirty.”
But I wonder if that applies to more - like people. Most put up various layers of masks and often you never know how someone really is until they’re tested - put under pressure. Yet, you also never know how someone really is until they aren’t put in a position that draws out their full potential and they really shine.

RE: beards... well trimmed beards make men look better.

[Absolom]

I own a couple of beard and mustaches retail stores in Utah and salt lake counties. Trend started about 6 years ago. Doesn’t really show signs of abatement.

[Robin Hood]

They are all trying to avoid being called to be a Bishop or Stake President.

When I was released as bishop my replacement had a beard. After a few months he shaved it off, citing subtle but consistent pressure from the SP. In fact he even spoke in sacrament meeting about his beard removal being an example of obedience.

I am pleased to report he now has a full beard again. I suspect Mrs Bishop applied less subtle pressure in the opposite direction.

[Robin Hood]

My brother-in-law has worn a beard since he returned from his mission. He is now 62.
A few years ago he was called to serve as the branch president and was instructed to remove his beard. He asked "will shaving off my beard make me serve more effectively as a branch president?" The SP said "no", so he said "then the beard stays".

[gkearney]

Perhaps LDS men in the IK are made of sturdier stuff than their US counterparts as so are able to stand up to such pressure. :)

[Vision]

I was at the SL Temple enjoying the lights with my family last night and noticed that 60-70% of the men had beards.

[Allison]

I was at the SL Temple enjoying the lights with my family last night and noticed that 60-70% of the men had beards.

Yay! They are manly and are the antithesis of androgeny! Hooray for the two genders—manly men and feminine women!