War Can Be a Call to Repent

[Sullyute]

So in this months Ensign, there is an article about living in times of war.

War Can Be a Call to RepentWhen we forget God, He calls after us. At first He uses merciful means such as personal promptings and prophets. But if we do not respond, He escalates His efforts. At times, He allows wars and violence as part of His last resort to help us return to Him.6

Mormon said, “And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him” (Helaman 12:3). War can be a reminder to repent and return to God.

I realize that the author qualified the statment with "can be" instead of "is" but the problem I have with this statement is that some of the greatest victims of war and violence is innocent widows and children. These are the very ones that God is suppose to be protecting according to the quote below...

Mormon also observed that “those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times” (Alma 50:22). Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reaffirmed this principle when he said: “Obedience allows God’s blessings to flow without constraint. He will bless His obedient children with freedom from bondage and misery.”5

The Book of Mormon also shows that even a few righteous people can secure peace and safety for a whole city (see Helaman 13:12–14).

The article is void of any real-life examples either way, can anyone provide or speculate on any examples outside of the scriptures to back this up?

The two that I think of is the Jasmine revolution, where the righteous god-fearing people are obtaining freedom from tirants, and Japan and Elder Packer and other service members sharing the gospel there after WWII. Once again it seems like a lot of innocent people had to suffer to humble a few tiranical leaders.

Also the author is part of the "priesthood department" anybody know what that is or what it's function would be?

[wuapinmon]

Then mankind has been in need of repentance every day since its creation.

[Indy Coug]

Mormon also observed that “those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times” (Alma 50:22). Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reaffirmed this principle when he said: “Obedience allows God’s blessings to flow without constraint. He will bless His obedient children with freedom from bondage and misery.”5

The Book of Mormon also shows that even a few righteous people can secure peace and safety for a whole city (see Helaman 13:12–14).

Of course, we know what ultimately happened to Mormon. Righteous people have never been completely impervious to the wickedness of others. Except for perhaps the Three Nephites.