Fourfold purposes of the Church?

I don't know if this is news for those of you that are Utards or not, but this is the first I've heard of this out here in the PNW.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13965607

The LDS Church is adding "to care for the poor and needy" to its longstanding "threefold mission," which is to preach the LDS gospel, purify members' lives and provide saving ordinances such as baptism to those who have died.

Very nice. That fits in well and explains why there seemed to be an increased amount of talks on that subject the last conference or two.

Interesting Idea

If you read much of this blog in the beginning you know that although I fully sustain and believe in the prophet, I do not believe in the infallibility of our prophets. That is why I feel comfortable in thinking that BY started the priesthood ban incorrectly, JMHO. Here is a very interesting article at BCC that sounds like a plausible reason for my own only concern with the issue...if it was an error on BY's part, why didn't it get corrected earlier when David O McKay and others wanted to correct it.

Enjoy! David O. McKay and the Priesthood Ban

In the middle

My effort to find the happy medium tends to isolate me. Life seems to usually generate two main schools of thought in any given subject. I see correct principles in both sides of the story and therefore, end up in the middle. That makes side A and side B both dislike me because I am not in whole agreement with them. Case in point, the Church and homosexuality issue. There are those that think the Church should condone the act, and those that think the Church shouldn't (and they think it doesn't) condone anything relating to the practice.

Recently, WA state had a measure on their ballot, called the "Everything but Marriage Act." Although I didn't get my mail in card in and therefore didn't vote, I probably would have supported this measure. There are people I know that think I am completely wrong in doing so. I can be arrogant sometimes in thinking that I figure the Church out pretty well and am in sync with it more than most others. Whether it be good or bad, my confidence got another boost recently...

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705343558/Gays-get-Mormon-support-in-SLC.html

For those that think the Church doesn't approve gay rights...
"In a rare public appearance before Salt Lake City lawmakers Tuesday night, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supported two proposed ordinances protecting gay and lesbian residents from housing and employment discrimination."

For clarification on where the Church stands...
"The church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage,"

Because I believe that the greatest attribute anyone can have is kindness, the following was the best quote of the night...
"I represent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree — in fact, especially when we disagree."