America has thrived because of the religious foundation upon which it was established. For the entire existence of the US, an overwhelming majority of the population have worshiped the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, and in turn were blessed by it. Moroni explained how prosperity is secured on the American land: “Behold, this is a choice land; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under Heaven if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who has been manifested by the things which we have written.” Ether 1:7
Nephi explained to his brothers how every promised land has been lost by God’s covenant people when they reject God. He taught, “Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity, and the fullness of the wrath of God was upon them. And the Lord did curse the land against them and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers, unto their obtaining power over it. Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited, and he hath created his children that they should possess it. And he raiseth up a righteous nation and destroyeth the nations of the wicked. And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes. He ruleth high in the Heavens, for it is his throne, and this earth is his footstool. And he loveth them who will have him to be their God. Behold, he loved our fathers; and he covenanted with them, yea, even Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and he remembered the covenants which he had made; wherefore, he did bring them out of the land of Egypt. And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod, for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent flying fiery serpents among them; and after they were bitten, he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform were to look. And because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished. And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did revile against Moses and also against God. Nevertheless, ye know that they were led forth by his matchless power into the land of promise.
And now after all these things, the time has come that they have became wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness. And I know not but they are at this day about to be destroyed, for I know that the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity; wherefore, the Lord commanded my father that he should depart into the wilderness. And the Jews also sought to take away his life; yea, and ye also have sought to take away his life. Wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts and ye are like unto them. Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God.” 1 Ne. 5:19-21
God blesses, protects and raises up righteous people, and destroys the wicked. All promised lands are cursed for the sake of the wicked, to help them understand their conduct is destructive.
History has repeated the same cycles. But at the end, the Lord promises to interrupt the cycle. The wicked will plan to kill the righteous, but their plans “ shall turn upon their own heads, for they shall war among themselves, and the sword of their own hands shall fall upon their own heads, and they shall be drunken with their own blood.” 1 Ne. 7:4
Churches have one responsibility: To teach God’s commandments and urge that they be obeyed. Churches have and are failing to do that. Therefore, Nephi and Isaiah both promise us that the time “shall come that all churches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world and to do all manner of iniquity — yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the Devil — are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake. They are those who must be brought low in the dust, they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet.” 1 Ne. 7:5
No one needs to trust in a church with ambitions to get worldly gain. Nor does anyone need to follow a church trying to get power or become popular. And a church with lusts of the flesh (ambition, influence, carnal security, worldliness, immorality, acceptance of sexual confusion) will only lead you into the predicted destruction.
The way to peace is through following God. His commandments save us, both temporally and spiritually. God is the messenger of peace. But we have to choose whether we will heed and obey His message to have peace, or to reject it and dwindle into violence and misery.
The prophecies promise there will be people at the Lord’s return who will not be deceived because they obey His commandments. Hopefully there will be many who choose to do so.