Mormon leaders in Las Vegas have excommunicated a man who created a calendar that featured missionaries with their shirts off.

Chad Hardy's calendar, called "Men on a Mission," had pictures of 12 missionaries in modest poses, wearing black slacks but not their trademark white shirts. The men also were photographed in traditional missionary clothing and share their religious beliefs in biographical sketches. The 2008 calendar sold 10,000 copies.

Hardy says church leaders made it clear to him it wasn't the image they wanted to portray. But Hardy says the calendar is about "stepping outside the stereotypes."

Excommunicated Mormons are welcome at church services but are removed from official church rolls and are prohibited from receiving the sacrament. They're also barred from teaching or preaching during meetings.