Do you think we’ll see General Authorities with beards in the future?
Question
Gramps,
As someone who loves beards, I am curious, do you suppose we will ever see them sported by general authorities in the future? Why or why not? Thanks!
Shawn
Answer
Shawn,
There is no right or wrong answer to this question because facial hair, such as beards, has not been declared sinful. People’s responses to beards (and other facial hair) are the result of cultural shifts and changes. The Church responded to said changes in culture but not any declared word of God on the subject of sinfulness (or lack thereof) of facial hair. There is no revelation or doctrine that requires such either way. We see this in the very clear differences between the earlier church leaders and the more modern ones.
However, there has been a culture in the Church and even some policies regarding facial hair. Both the policies and the culture can change. But unlike aspects of worldly culture that might change to be more accepting of sin (which the Church must hold a line against), facial hair does not have that problem. It can change without embracing sin.
The culture of the Church can change as the rising generation determines for themselves what the significance of facial hair means. As this rising generation takes up leadership duties in the Church, they will carry with them their understanding of the subject and it will influence the Church, its policies and practices.
So yes, it is possible that one day we might see a General Authority with a beard. If it happens it will undoubtedly generate a lot of talk and conversation.  But it will be totally meaningless in the ability of the General Authority to do his calling.
Gramps
For me, I wore a mustache when I was younger and single, because I was interested in the “macho” image it presented when I was dating and wanted women to notice me. Now that I am 30 years older, married, a dad and grandfather, my spirituality has grown and I am just more aware that for me, facial hair feels like a thing of the world. I enjoy keeping myself clean shaven because it represents a separation for me from the ways of the world. It also lets the world know that I intend to be different. That may not be how everyone in the church feels. But for me, I like the feeling I have in following the example of the Brethren (General Authorities).
I get that it’s not your personal choice to have a beard, etc. but since HF and Jesus Christ both appeared to Joseph Smith sporting beards, that tells me beards are not “of the world.” Case closed. In some cultures, men with no facial hair are considered effeminate. It’s a cultural and not a religious practice.
Not that it matters to me what you do either way but how does “keeping myself clean shaven because it represents a separation for me from the ways of the world.” when much of the world conforms to that look? In fact some of the most despicable people in the world today, in politics and in business conform to the look you consider somehow more special. For me that conformity is more about looking like the 1950s business man that the church likes to project than it does a separation from the world. It looks exactly like the worldly look to me. I’m not suggesting you need or should have facial hair or not. Only that there is also a commandment that we learn to govern ourselves outside of just blindly following which many in the church have come to do. I appreciate the desire to “look like the church leaders” and I respect that position as long as it’s for the right reasons. Too many people do it so thy don’t have to think for themselves and force cultural things to control others rather than to just worry about themselves.
Although I am sure its not intended I find that a very judgmental and self serving interpretation. As beards fell out of fashion and being clean shaven became a sign of respectability in the modern world the church, wanting to be seen as respectable moves in that direction. When beards reemerge a in society as a sign of rebellion, nonconformism to societally accepted family values and moral codes, and highly linked with the rising drug culture, the church made a solid attempt to ask its members to be clean shaven. But now that beards have lost much If not all of that stigma and no longer carry that message, I think the beard stance will probably go away since it is no longer needed. It’s really not complicated.
surely it is what is in your heart not on your face that matters. My friend holds the priesthood and several callings in the church. He has a mustache, goatee beard and one earring. No one has ever attempted to persuade him to give up either. His brother is totally clean shaven . His wife wears a nose ring. Many women now wear dress pants to church and jeans outside of church, especially in colder climates .Modest attire is one thing but how we adorn ourselves outside of that is surely our own business.
To a degree yes I agree with you, we are also told to not mark our skin, nor over indulge in adornment and costly apparel in the scriptures. Some people seem to think that means its ok to wear tea-shirts and denim dresses to church even if they can afford to dress better. I do find it amusing how men are expected to conform to a uniform where even wearing the wrong style of suit or ties will get you criticized but women are not. en without suits or who dress too casually are considered “projects” that need to be worked on in some wards but women can get away with almost anything and no one seems to care much about it. Double standard?
So are men allowed to or not? My husband used to have most wonderful beard and mustache. More like Robert Downy Jr then a Duck dynasty sort of thing. He was made a high priest and he asked point blank if he would have to shave and he was told no. A few months later, he was very publicly humiliated and told if he did not shave he would be relieved of his position. My husband hid a facial deformity with his mustache that is frankly hard to shave around. It’s done a number on his self esteem and he’s so depressed I wish he would just grow the facial hair back and tell them he wants to be an elder again. At least then he was happy. I can understand that they don’t want church leaders to look like wild men but look at some of the former prophets. They were all fashionable for their times.
I know an LDS you, who when asked if he would go on a mission when asked by his boss replied, he didn’t plan to. Then the boss said he’d fire him and did. I would say to your husband that the Church is true, but he needs to stand his ground agains cultural Mormons and keep his beard. People, even leaders who bring cultural bias into the Church, need to have their practices pointed out as not being part of Church doctrine when appropriate.
Where I live he would never have been asked. I think our Temple workers in our area are asked to shave, but I know of at least one man who does not to cover a skin problem he has. But as I said I’ve seen lots of leaders with facial hair in recent years, it really is just the preference of the local leader more than it is a rule. And I’ll argue that it’s more about conformity than serving any purpose. And I don’t sport a mustache or a beard but I do have a small goatee that covers a constant and permanent skin rash.
Thanks for the answer Gramps. I’m somewhat biased when it comes to this topic, because growing up, though very familiar with bare faces in the Church and otherwise, I have always wanted to sport a beard when I was able to. In most cases I thought and still think that it’s aesthetically pleasing. I’d like to think that this question came about mostly because of my imagining of how epic Elder Holland or others of the Twelve would look with beards. But that’s just me 🙂 thanks again for your response!
So everyone should assert their individuality by growing facial hair?
That was not the point at all. And I think you know that.
All I know is that it is only women, never men, asking me to shave my facial hair.
You’re so right. Much to do about nothing!
Beards will be sported when it’s considered businesslike and conservative in appearance. It was in BY’s day. GA’s give up a lot, especially business and professional opportunities, to serve,which they do so gladly, and typically are humble enough to forgo their personal grooming preferences as they represent the Church in their capacity.
I would agree that it shouldn’t ‘matter’, but the neither the Lord, nor his servants, have seen fit to obtain MY counsel on the subject, let alone any other. The Lord knows what He’s doing, and if he demands a ‘clean shave’ of his highest servants, so be it. Maybe the Church’s investment arm bought “Dollar Shave Club”. Who knows?