IF THE INHABITANTS OF THIS LAND ARE EVER BROUGHT DOWN INTO CAPTIVITY, IT SHALL BE BECAUSE OF INIQUITY

"While the iron curtains fall, we eat, drink, and make merry. While armies march and drill and officers teach men how to kill, we continue to drink and carouse as usual. While bombs are detonated and tested, we continue in idolatry and adultery. We live riotously, and divorce and marry in cycles, like the seasons. While leaders quarrel and authorities analyze, we break all the laws in God’s catalog. If we would but believe the prophets! For they have warned that if the inhabitants of this land are ever brought down into captivity and enslaved, ‘it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land.’ (2 Nephi 1:7) O that men would listen! Why must men rely on physical fortifications and armaments when the God of heaven yearns to bless them? One stroke of his omnipotent hand could make powerless all nations who oppose, and save a world even when in its death throes. Yet men shun God and put their trust in weapons of war, in the ‘arm of flesh.’ Will we ever turn wholly to God?” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, 317–19.)