“As a missionary in Germany I was reading one evening ”Alma 62:41Alma 62:41, which states: ’But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.’
“I thought, how true to life. As we tracted from door to door a few years after Germany‘s defeat in World War I and saw the people’s suffering, we found many Germans bitter and asking how God could permit such suffering. And we met many who were humble and compassionate as a result of their suffering. Ever since, I have observed how suffering and privation affect people. I find it either hardens or refines them, just as the Book of Mormon observed in that day.” (Lowell Bennion, Converted to Christ through the Book of Mormon, edited by Eugene England, p. 160-1)
Spencer J. Condie
“Participants in that great [Nephite] war had all suffered similar deprivations and hardships. The terror of war had impacted them more or less equally. But from this same experience, some of the people ‘had become hardened’ while many others were ’softened because of their afflictions.’ We may not be able to change our current circumstances, our failing health, our economic challenges, our loneliness from being apart from loved ones, but we can employ our moral agency to change our attitude toward those circumstances and toward the future. There are many, many avenues to joy and fulfillment within the constraints of our immediate environment, and one of the most productive courses of action is to forget ourselves and begin serving others.” (Your Agency, Handle with Care, p. 21)
Dallin H. Oaks
"…great adversities are not without some eternal purpose or effect. They can turn our hearts to God…Such large-scale adversities as natural disasters and wars seem to be inherent in the mortal experience. We cannot entirely prevent them, but we can determine how we will react to them. For example, the adversities of war and military service, which have been the spiritual destruction of some, have been the spiritual awakening of others. The Book of Mormon describes the contrast: (quotes Alma 62:41).
“I read of a similar contrast after the devastating hurricane that destroyed thousands of homes in Florida some years ago. A news account quoted two different persons who had suffered the same tragedy and received the same blessing: each of their homes had been totally destroyed, but each of their family members had been spared death or injury. One said that this tragedy had destroyed his faith; how, he asked, could God allow this to happen? The other said that the experience had strengthened his faith. God had been good to him, he said. Though the family’s home and possessions were lost, their lives were spared and they could rebuild the home. For one, the glass was half empty. For the other, the glass was half full. The gift of moral agency empowers each of us to choose how we will act when we suffer adversity.” (Ensign, July 1998, p. 7)