Speaking as one who joined the organization wearing a beard, kept it for quite a number of years and then regrew it just before he left, I think #'s 2,6,7, and 12 are applicable. Although 6,7 are so similar, they could be considered as one reason, #12 could include: beards are reminiscent of hippiedom and/or a socialist leaning, which of itself smacks of political involvement.
#2- Just after my deletion as an elder and just prior to my exiting the Gulag, I was being reprimanded by a couple of elders about romoving my beard, while their wives were commenting on how they liked my beard and could never understand why the Society had such a problem with them. Needless to say I kept my beard. No one's going to rain on my parade!!!
It's an easy way for the elders to judge a man's willingness to conform. If he has whiskers, he is obviously rebellious and doesn't care what kind of example he sets and he should be marked. Because you know everytime you saw a brother in a beard you were thinking, "Okay, brother fuzzy face must be on the backslide." Not to say you didn't admire his moxey at showing up at the meetings in full facial hair.
Beards on a man are kind of like pants on a sister at a meeting. You see a sister at the meetings, habitually, with pants on then you just know this sis must be ready to join the local chapter of N.O.W., right?
Can I add a little thought to your beard thought? Since once women near the old midlife change of life, they tend to grow coarser facial hair, is there a ban on sisters with beards??Food for thought.
