As far as I've been able to tell, the Book of Mormon isn't a very sympathetic book when it comes to rationalizations and human error. It's pretty cut and dry. If you try to rationalize away the miracles of God you're in a state of doubt. However, sometimes it does present the points of doubt that unbelievers had, quite well. For example, when Zerahemna attacks the Nephites, Moroni claims that God has delivered the Lamanites into their hands, while Zerahemna claims it is because the Lamanites didn't have body armor and the Nephites did. Likewise when Amalikiah brings his armies into the lands of the Nephites he is repelled by Moroni's fortifications of earth, even though he's got an army equipped with body armor. And no doubt he doesn't see this as God's protection, but rather just a cunning man, named Moroni, hence Amalikiah vows to drink his blood.

I like to think of this in terms of modern terms. Do we view the technological advances that have preserve this nation's freedom through financial strength and independence as blessings from God? Or do we just see them as a natural biological process that occurs when some people get together and evolve over aeons of war and barbarism? I personally believe God has blessed many nations with the means to eliminate hunger and help others. It is sad what we've done with those means, but surely God has been generous to us, especially to Americans. Makes you wonder how long it will last. Are we ripe for destruction, swollen with pride, filled with our own self-agrandizing dreams of "Look what we did"? What does it take to make us remember God in this age? The Book of Mormon seems to suggest that the cycle of pride will eventually lead to a strong reminder of who created us, and sadly, that usually comes in the form of destruction. --Ray