There is one thing that the Lord cannot control, that is the use of agency. Therefore, the Lord can protect his church from anything but the unrighteous use of agency—the transgression of the church members. As the history of the Book of Mormon attests, this very thing becomes the downfall of the Nephites. The church members became wicked and transgressed the laws of the Lord, bringing destruction upon their heads and an end to the church.
In our generation even the transgression of the people is not enough to destroy the church. The Lord has promised that the kingdom will roll forth until it “has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say, ’The work is done.’” (History of the Church, 4:536.) The unrepentant church members who have transgressed will be left along the wayside while the kingdom of God rolls forth. The kingdom has been compared to a great train. The only question is whether we as individuals are going to stay on the train or be left behind.