If it's so simple, why is it so hard?

Mormon 4

War and carnage continue – the wicked punish the wicked.  This period of time is the most wicked in the entire history of the Nephite nation and according to the records Mormon has, the entire world. 

This part of the Book of Mormon is so sad.  What is it that gets into the hearts of men – and women – that causes them to lose all sense of reason?  They didn’t need to be at war.  Why couldn’t they live in peace?   What caused the Nephites to go against the Lamanites?  It says in v4 that had they not done so, they would not have been destroyed.  The key to this question is in v5.  The wicked punish the wicked.  They “. . .stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed.”

How does one go about stirring up the hearts of men?  What exactly does that look like and do we see it today?  I suppose the conflicts I don’t understand in Iran and surrounding areas could be similar.  Their wars are because of injustices perceived on both sides and to my simple mind, I could see them destroying and obliterating themselves if the other nations of the world would let them do so.  Why?  Hate!  Generations of hate and misunderstandings. 

Do we see it closer to home?  I see it in the political world.  No, we haven’t gotten to the point of bloodshed yet, but as I see things heat up over political divisions, it’s not hard to imagine it could go there. 

I can see families with serious rifts in them.  Frequently, it is perceived injustices that create these rifts.  My data base is small, but I have seen those who have lost the spirit in their lives go about stirring up drama in their families for simple, petty reasons. 

So where am I going with this?  I really don’t know other than it is a very sad thing when the Spirit of the Lord ceases to dwell in the hearts of men – whether it be a nation or a family.  Destruction is imminent whether it be unto bloodshed or the destruction of a unit such as a family.  We see the end results on the news every day. 

So how do we avoid this destruction on a personal level?  Here I fall back on the Sunday School answers again, but they are truth.  Keep the commandments of God.  Follow the prophets.  Be anxiously engaged in doing good at all times.  If it’s so simple, then why is it so hard?