In terms of suggesting mistakes are the will of God... lets see, how about the ban for starters? Today, few members, (if any) will suggest the church made a mistake when they banned men with African ancestry who still have dark skin. Rather they will say it was the will of God, God just changed his mind a few decades ago. And Today, the idea of women not having equality in the church while continuing the ban, is considered God's will... no mistakes there. And lest we not forget polygamy, God's will that a man should have sex with women other than his wife. I have yet to hear a church leader suggest it was a "man" thing rather than God's will. How about Joshua slaughtering whole communities? God's will or a mistake of men? The restriction on birth control... God's will or a prophet getting it wrong? Adam/God? I could go on but do you see the point?
I do not think I have ever heard the church make an apology or admit it did something wrong... everything that we may look upon as unholy, uninspired, cruel, horrific is brushed away as, "God's ways are not man's ways." In other words, blame God!
Loran:
1. How about Jesus' own self imposed ban regarding teaching his Gospel to anyone other than the House of Israel?
2. What about the, by LDS theological standards, the some 1,600 year Priesthood (indeed, gospel)ban upon virtually all of Caucasion Europe?
3. A Melchezedek Priesthood ban on the Jews for much of their ancient history?
4. A Priesthood ban (because of a general gospel ban) on ancient Japan, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Tibet, and whoever, whenever.
Perhaps it wasn't' a mistake to deny black Africans the Priesthood. I don't know the will of God on the matter, or the origin of the ban. What we do understand from the PofGP is that the ban had to do with lineage, to the extent it had to do with anyting. Skin color or race is never mentioned In the PofGP. Our assumption that it did have to do with race, and the assumption of some GAs that it did, is a cultural artifact, not gospel doctrine. Our culture's obsessin with race imposes harsh delimitations on our perceptions TD (as do most obsessions), and restrict our abiltiy to see things clearly.
As to woman, they have full equality in the church. What do you mean? They don't govern the church in a formal capacity. Oh well, yes, that's correct. Think carefully TD; if the church were to bow to cultural and political pressures to alter its core doctrines, then your suspicions that the church is not the divine organization it claims to be would be validated. That which you would like to see the church change in the area of social issues would be the very things that would ultimately undue its claims to divine sanctrion. You can't lose that one TD, only the church can. I prefer a church that swims against the stream and does so with chutzpa.
Birth control. Yes, the church is against the artificial curtailing and limiting children. The key here TD, is that that is between the individuals involved and the Lord. The church doesn't tell people how many children to have. As I interpret that teaching, birth control is perfectly OK beyond the point a couple decide the children they have is enough. Spencer Kimball made clear that in matters of procreation, the mother's health, both psycholgical and physical, was of prime importance.
The gospel is a system TD, and as a system, if you break it up into small, isolated parts, those parts may appear contradictory of incongruous with others.
Loran.