Comments on: Another “Fourfold Purpose” Thought (or, Why I follow prophets instead of trying to lead them)

By: Robert Scott

Robert Scott — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:10:00 +0000

I agree that there is fundamentally not much difference between taxes and tithes. And when the “new purpose” of The Church was discussed in my EQ meeting Sunday the spirit bore witness of some interesting things. 1. This does not necessarily mean new or more programs. Those we have are wonderful and should be implemented fully. But through placing the responsibility squarely on the backs of each individual, God will bring about his strange and marvelous works. 2. (And this is directly related to the first) Personal involvement and interaction between rich and poor, lds and non lds, etc. is vital for the rolling forth of the kingdom. One brother in my ward identified, as a major barrier to his helping the poor and needy, the fact that he did “not know any poor or needy people.” He contrasted this with his wife who worked in the public school system and therefore came in regular contact with poor people. I found it very interesting and revealing. I mean this brother brings this situation up as an inhibitor to christian charity on his part. And I would say rightly so. But it doesn’t have to be this way. So what is it that really holds people back from caring for the needy? If an unfamiliarity with the poor people of our world has anything to do with it, then what keeps someone like this man from becoming familiar with financially struggling individuals. I was sitting right in front of him and I am poor by every definition of the word. The group that meet for services in the Tongan tongue in the same chapel as us, on the same day most definitely stand in need of assistance. The man is a resident of a small but incredibly affluent town and would but have drive only ten minutes from his house to find real suffering. How real are these divisions? How were they created and maintained? And please tell me how all pervasive has this false sense of separation become when a wealthy individual can claim to feel paralyzed in terms of philanthropy due to lack of association with the poor while in the same breath admitting that the connection is no further than his spouse lying next to him in bed every night?! Priesthood and Relief Society working together should be essentially husband and wife teams tirelessly bettering the world around them.

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:34:23 +0000

Maurine: I don’t think too many people had heard about it. Thank goodness for Ardis and Keepa to keep us up to date on the current going-ons of the Church.

By: Maurine

Maurine — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:45:13 +0000

Steve C.,
Nobody in our correlation meeting yesterday had heard anything about this, but because I was assigned the spiritual thought, I used that time to explain what I knew and read some from Bishop Edgley’s remarks in the Deseret News.

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:21:46 +0000

Yesterday after PEC I asked my Branch President if he had heard that the Church was adding a new mission to the three-fold. He started laughing and asked what the punch-line was. I guess the way I asked my question sounded like the start of a joke.

That said, after I explained the new mission/purpose to him he got quite excited. We spent about ten minutes talking about what this means for the Church. I for one am glad to see the addition.

By: Dovie

Dovie — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:56:46 +0000

Four fold is awesome. First I’ve heard should read the tribune more regularly. I remember weeping when PEF was announced. At the time the spirit had been brooding over me for months. My heart was drawn out to the those around the world in desperate circumstances, mothers, fathers, children. I wanted so badly to lift and render aid and yet I felt so helpless to do anything that would really matter. It felt like PEF was an answer just for me, even though it wasn’t really about me at all, but rather those ones that had been in my heart. Four fold, awesome.

By: queuno

queuno — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:00:58 +0000

“If charity is forced — whether extracted from us by a government or by the Church — it isn’t charity, it’s socialism.”

I often think that the Lord doesn’t care how charity is provided, or what its name is, or what the methodology is.

We will be compelled to be humble if we won’t humble ourselves…

By: m&m

m&m — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:46:49 +0000

I’m also mulling over the comment about the Relief Society and how its mission might play into this new element of the Church’s purposes.

Still, the concept of being organized under the priesthood is relevant and significant.

And exciting.

(Lots to think about, too, as I mull over the lesson for GD that I have been assigned for Sunday, on the Proclamation…)

By: Jack

Jack — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:49:09 +0000

I think the future will also show that God prepared the right leadership at the right time to bring about this change. President Monson must be one of the most compassionate men who ever lived.

By: Bookslinger

Bookslinger — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:59:07 +0000

A scripture that seems to apply is Alma 1:30.

By: m&m

m&m — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:45:49 +0000

Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Ardis. I think you have hit on something really important and it has me thinking more deeply about this.