Anddenex

Well, and there's 3rd Nephi with all those disasters at the time of the crucifixion.  Of course, I would be willing to accept the idea there that God allowed the Earth to do all that, but the voice of the Lord, as recorded there, claims responsibility for all that destruction, so...
Nonetheless, I agree, most of the time, the Lord allows people to be killed rather than taking action which leads directly to the deaths of humans.  (Or so I believe.)

There are multiple scriptural meanings for the terms "one" and "God," which allows members to consistently and rightly believe in both one God and many Gods. So, trying to nail down the exact number of Gods will miss the illuminating points of those various scriptural meanings. As such, I find it useful to concern myself less with determining the number of Gods, and content myself with the 1st Article of Faith as a flexible descripter of our LDS belief.
Thanks, -Wade Englund-

This is a good quote; although there is a fallacy within it that a person must be cautious of, "Do not try to believe anything that affects thee as darkness."
Anytime we reject truth (I agree with Mr. MacDonald, not the interpretation of truth) we are indeed hurting ourselves and we are not doing Christ any less wrong by rejecting truth. If we reject truth, because we see it as darkness, we are doing wrong (saying it is less would be false).
Let me give another example from scripture. At one time God had all the firstborn children (even the House of Israel children who did not head the warning) would die. The destroying angel would come, and did come. If a person views this as "darkness" it doesn't change that this is light -- truth. So by rejecting truth, we are actually rejecting Christ who is the "the way, the truth, and the life."
I do like the concept though, "to misinterpret what God does," is very important and something we all should seek to refrain from.

That's because God doesn't usually testify in a courtroom. If He did, jurors might consider things differently (or that might not, to our shame).

People fully comprehend the gravity of this. I am not sure others fully comprehend the gravity of disobedience from an eternal perspective.

Thanks.  i hear what you are saying.  George MacDonald said what i want to say better than i could ever say it.  perhaps this is really what you are recommending to me - and i'm just too stupid to see it  .  This, in fact, is a distinct possibility.
 
"Neither let thy cowardly conscience receive any word as light because another call it light, while it looks to thee dark.  Say either the thing is not what it seems, or God never said or did it.  But of all evils, to misinterpret what God does, and then say the thing, as interpreted, must be right because God does it, is of the devil.  Do not try to believe anything that affects thee as darkness.  Even if thou mistake and refuse something true thereby, thou wilt do less wrong to Christ by such a refusal than thou wouldst by accepting as His what thou canst see only as darkness."
- George MacDonald

That's an interesting question I suppose.
In Nephi's case, that is a story that has troubled MANY people.  Individuals are NOT alone for having it trouble them, some to the point that they have problems even accepting the church or the Book of Mormon.
Let's look at the actual story though.  Nephi sought to buy the Brass plates and brought everything his family owned in order to buy it.  Laban stole that property and then sought to kill Nephi.  He and his guards/soldiers were actively trying to kill Nephi at the time. 
To put it in perspective, it would be if you brought me everything you owned.  Instead of selling you something or making a trade for it, I illegally seized it and then to hide up my crime I decided I would kill you on sight, or anyone from my employ or gang would kill you on sight without the approval or consent of the US laws. 

In this light, it could be considered debatable on whether if you killed me, because me and my entire organization was trying to kill you, was legal in self defense, or whether it was wrong.  I think it's actually a pretty good debate one could have about the morality of it, even if the Lord was not involved. 
In the event of Saul, it's more questionable if we take the Lord out of the picture.  Today, I think society would condemn his actions as genocide.  However, the fact is that he was commanded of the Lord to do so.  Today we would probably condemn the ruler of warcrimes, but unless the world actually brought him in, as long as he remained solvent, he could not be charged (much like Stalin could be recognized for great evil today, but we never did anything to him...but then he was not commanded to do so).  The big thing in this is to know that it was commanded of the Lord, which is the big difference there.  In this instance however, it would probably not be us, the little people, receiving the order.  It would be more like the prophet delivering this type of commandment to us and it would be more a question of whether we chose to follow that command or not.
As we see from the Story of King Saul, he chose not to follow it completely.  He was not struck dead instantly, or any other such thing.  The ramifications of what he chose came later, but it was not an instant type of punishment.
In Abraham's case, this may be the most problematic for people in regards to how he received and fulfilled the commandment.  If he had actually been allowed to go through with it, it probably would be heavily problematic for people to this day.  The only thing that saves the story is that the Lord stops him from doing it at the last minute.
The story can be seen as a parable though, and if it bothers you to think about what would have happened if Abraham had actually sacrificed his son, there is another story that actually tells of a father who did sacrifice his son in such a manner.  Our Father let his son, the Savior, die for us.  Instead of sending an angel down to stop it like he did with Abraham, he allowed his son to be sacrificed for us.  Thus we are saved both from spiritual death and physical death, but only because our Father allowed his only begotten son to be sacrificed in that manner.
It is this that was symbolized by Abrahams story, and if that impacts us, to think of the great impact that the real story of Jesus Christ has upon us and our lives and eternities.

People fully comprehend the gravity of this. I am not sure others fully comprehend the gravity of disobedience from an eternal perspective.

Because you weren't there, you don't know what the lives of those children would have been like, and you have lost track of both the eternal nature of mankind and the promises made regarding children who die before the age of accountability.  What's more, I'm not sure we can be completely confident that we have full and accurate records of who said and did what back then.  Let God and the people who were there worry about the right and wrong of it.  You worry about what lesson you might learn from it - like not to ripen in iniquity....

I cannot think of a case in this dispensation which reminds me of the incidents described in the OP.  So I'm not sure what you're worried about.  We are not living in the same time, culture, tradition, governmental system, or pretty much anything else as the Old Testament.  You cannot take the Old Testament events and say, "What if this exact thing happened in modern America?" - it won't.  The Lord deals with us as we are, not as someone else once was.  While eternal principles are true (such as the expectation that we will obey God), our culture, government, knowledge, etc. all impact the way in which we live the gospel.
We aren't the children of Israel who have to drive out exceedingly wicked inhabitants to inherit the land promised to Abraham.  We aren't dealing with an evil relative who has denied us access to the scriptures (even if we had such an evil relative, we can just go get our own copy now).
You're worrying yourself over something you weren't a part of and will never be a part of and can never come close to understanding (unless you spend ages studying the cultures and traditions of people who lived in the middle east / north Africa during Old Testament times).  That's a pointless worry.  When you read the OT (if you decide to again), leave behind the modern American sensibilities and recognize you are a stranger in that world and you your sensibilities just don't apply there and then - stop worrying about their cultural differences and look for what the Lord would teach you.  Honestly, when I read the OT, I see the generosity, love, and patience of God.

True; although an act of self-defense can and does occur through promptings from God (which doesn't mean a person is dead at the end of the act, but they may need hospitalization).
This is one good example from General Conference, "His eyes and disarming smile gave me the impression that he was harmless, so I quickly left him and started to move toward the table. The suspect was now behind me. At that instant, I had the distinct, powerful impression come into my mind: ‘Beware of the evil behind the smiling eyes.’
“I immediately turned back toward the suspect. His hand was in his large front pocket. Instinctively I grabbed his hand and pulled it from his pocket. Only then did I see, clutched in his hand, the semiautomatic pistol ready to fire. A flurry of activity followed, and I disarmed the man..."
"Later, in another case, the drug dealer was convicted of murder and boasted that he would have also killed my friend had he not turned around at that very moment." (Source)
In this case, the impression from God spared this man's life. In other cases I know of, a woman's life was spared. God does prompt people to act in self-defense either for themselves or for their neighbor.
Obedience to God is the first law of heaven (but I am not sharing something you don't already know).

First of all, no one said on this thread, "it's okay to kill in the name of God." So nothing to be blown away by, or to call cops in reference to actual events that occurred in scripture.
Second, the OP mentioned three experiences: Abraham, Nephi, and Saul. Out of all these experiences the hardest one to muster is Saul's who was obedient except for killing the animals.
Third, there is a huge difference between someone saying "I kill in the name of God," which is often someone killing on their own -- not in the name of God, in comparison to what Abraham and Nephi experienced, and the Israelites experienced.
Fourth, no one here in 2017 is more moral than Nephi, Abraham, or the Israelites. Truth transcends time.
Fifth, being blown away by this conversation would be similar to being blown away by people who protect in self-defense, and yes brother, God could command you (general) when you see someone in danger to kill in order to protect the life about to be taken. Laban wasn't innocent.
Sixth, fortunately, we live in a time where the chances of God telling someone to "kill" (not murder) is so unlikely for any of us as our lives are no where near the same position. So again, the "I sort of want to call the cops and warn...." is amusing in reference to this thread. And I am glad in this day and age that this command, similar to Abraham and Nephi, are not likely to be given.
Seventh, how easily people forget Abraham 3: 25, John 14: 15, and John 15: 14-15. I desire to be the Lord's friend, and to meet him in proper countenance and glory, that can only be accomplished by honoring these verses which are encompassed in the two great commandments.
 

Perfectly said zil. Perfectly said.

True; although an act of self-defense can and does occur through promptings from God (which doesn't mean a person is dead at the end of the act, but they may need hospitalization).
This is one good example from General Conference, "His eyes and disarming smile gave me the impression that he was harmless, so I quickly left him and started to move toward the table. The suspect was now behind me. At that instant, I had the distinct, powerful impression come into my mind: ‘Beware of the evil behind the smiling eyes.’
“I immediately turned back toward the suspect. His hand was in his large front pocket. Instinctively I grabbed his hand and pulled it from his pocket. Only then did I see, clutched in his hand, the semiautomatic pistol ready to fire. A flurry of activity followed, and I disarmed the man..."
"Later, in another case, the drug dealer was convicted of murder and boasted that he would have also killed my friend had he not turned around at that very moment." (Source)
In this case, the impression from God spared this man's life. In other cases I know of, a woman's life was spared. God does prompt people to act in self-defense either for themselves or for their neighbor.
Obedience to God is the first law of heaven (but I am not sharing something you don't already know).

True; although an act of self-defense can and does occur through promptings from God (which doesn't mean a person is dead at the end of the act, but they may need hospitalization).
This is one good example from General Conference, "His eyes and disarming smile gave me the impression that he was harmless, so I quickly left him and started to move toward the table. The suspect was now behind me. At that instant, I had the distinct, powerful impression come into my mind: ‘Beware of the evil behind the smiling eyes.’
“I immediately turned back toward the suspect. His hand was in his large front pocket. Instinctively I grabbed his hand and pulled it from his pocket. Only then did I see, clutched in his hand, the semiautomatic pistol ready to fire. A flurry of activity followed, and I disarmed the man..."
"Later, in another case, the drug dealer was convicted of murder and boasted that he would have also killed my friend had he not turned around at that very moment." (Source)
In this case, the impression from God spared this man's life. In other cases I know of, a woman's life was spared. God does prompt people to act in self-defense either for themselves or for their neighbor.
Obedience to God is the first law of heaven (but I am not sharing something you don't already know).

Perfectly said zil. Perfectly said.

It seems to me this is the primary dividing line in the thread.  There are some who take the OP and ask, how could I ever be sure that it was really God asking me to do this thing?  They answer that from their experience in life thus far, they personally could not be sure, and therefore would not do it.
On the other side of the aisle are those who start from the assumption, "If I were sure God was asking me to do this, would I?"  For these people, it's not a question of "how can I be sure it was God?" - these people are assuming we've established certainty.  Therefore the question is whether they could obey God in some extreme.
This is why I said the real test isn't whether you will kill once you are certain God is telling you to do so.  No, the real test is if you will do [X] once you are certain God is telling you to, where [X] is something you don't want to do - like accept a call to be the bishop, or do your visiting teaching, or go on a mission, or pay tithing, or whatever.  The principle is the same, no matter what [X] is, and [X] will be very different from person to person.  The older I get, the more certain I am that all of us have an [X] that it will nearly destroy us to do, and that at some point, in this life or the next, we will be called on to do [X].

As a caveat, often in the Church the Spirit of the Lord speaking to us is described as a voice we hear and feel in our mind and in our heart.
10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.
11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.
I would say he did indeed feel and hear a voice in his heart and mind, which he then exclaimed in his heart, but I assume we are talking the same thing in reference to the last sentence, just clarifying the first.
EDIT: I see now your response was more in response to Omega's simplified statement regarding Nephi.

I am pretty sure Nephi didn't need to be forgiven of any crime, and it wasn't an excuse, "God told him so." You can tell Nephi when you meet him how disturbing and unforgivable his actions were since in 2017 we are so much more moral than he was.

Abraham 3:25, might disagree with this thought. The whole experience with Saul (sacrifice rather than obey) appears to disagree with this thought. Nephi's experience and statement of within 1 Nephi 4: 14-18 appears to disagree with this also.

As a caveat, often in the Church the Spirit of the Lord speaking to us is described as a voice we hear and feel in our mind and in our heart.
10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.
11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.
I would say he did indeed feel and hear a voice in his heart and mind, which he then exclaimed in his heart, but I assume we are talking the same thing in reference to the last sentence, just clarifying the first.
EDIT: I see now your response was more in response to Omega's simplified statement regarding Nephi.

If I had the knowledge and relationship with the Lord and Heavenly Father as Abraham, yes I would follow the commandment with the same thoughts Abraham entertained, that God was a God of truth and that he would fulfill all his promises to me, by which without my son would not be possible (as in Abraham's context). A person denying God's direct commandment does not make them more moral or strong, it actually makes us weaker and less moral.
If I experienced what Nephi experienced, yes, I would not have any reserve to kill a "Laban." Laban sought to kill them twice. Nephi received three witnesses before slaying Laban. I really dislike it when I hear/read talks as if Nephi's experience was like this, "Nephi, kill Laban." Nephi's response, "YES! Off with his head." An awesome sword sound is made, and done. The morality and understanding of the purpose of this life is fully shown with Nephi's encounter. He received command and he hesitated. Upon viewing his hesitation God provided further witness. Upon that further witness it is easy to see from scripture that the Holy Ghost also provided further witness as Nephi's mind was enlightened regarding the love of God and God's commandments. He then went through something that probably bothered him the rest of his life, but as he declared, "[He] knew in whom he trusted." A person that wouldn't go through with it does not make them more moral than Nephi, or more good. If we experience what Nephi experienced and deny/reject God, we are actually less moral and weak.
I feel sorry for Saul in relation to the Amelikites, and more sorry for his good son Jonathan. If not for Jonathan, it appears from scripture that David would have met a sooner end, but Jonathan was used by the Lord to spare David's life. Jonathan was a righteous man, a good man, who loved God, and yet, his Father's decision to sacrifice rather than obey cost Jonathan his life. The death of Saul's sons allowed David to be pronounced King, otherwise one of Saul's sons would have become King of Israel. Here is a great article pertaining to Jonathan and David: https://www.lds.org/manual/primary-6-old-testament/lesson-29?lang=eng
This experience humbles me as the father of four boys, and I wonder how my earthly decisions affect them, and hope that I do not ever (but probably have) make a decision that brings their possible peace to come short. If I knew God commanded me, I would do what God commanded as a result of one simple principle -- charity - if we love God we keep his commandments no matter how difficult they may be (Abraham 3: 25, John 14:15 includes all commandments not the ones we want to ignore and pretend they were never given or that they don't apply to us)

So, in Nephi's experience, we must remember that he had already had angelic visitations, witnessed by a group.
It's not that Nephi was hearing voices telling him to kill.  It's that he and his whole family had received angelic visitation in addition to spiritual promptings, nice and consistent and rational, and involving multiple senses, and correctly predicting future events.  
 

@Sunday21"Welcome! Perhaps it would be an idea to visit the temple and pray in the Celestial room. You could ask, How am I doing?"
Or
@zlarry123  Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. KJV
Or
Acts 22:17 "And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;" KJV
Or
Luke 18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican." KJV

How can one possibly get lost in the right path? Through apathy and having an attitude of "All is well in Zion."
Still, day in day out, I struggle with the question of what ifs... What if I don’t make it? Welcome to the club brother, we all struggle, and a great prophet struggled, and allowed us to view his struggle with this thought, "I know in whom I have trusted." Encouragement, continue to trust in Jesus (as you already know).
What’s the point of thinking I won’t make it? Nothing, this brings a smile to the adversary as he and his minions are the only ones that want you to think this way (what you already know), but again, welcome to the club, and remember as Nephi, "I know in whom I have trusted." Encouragement, continue to trust in Jesus."
Will the Lord not want me to make it? Sorry, as to the way I am reading (as I am not sure your meaning of "not") I have this to share: 1) If you are meaning "Does the Lord want me to make it?" An astounding and emphatic "YES!" He desired all our exaltation! 2) If you are meaning a negative "not" then -- NO -- God wants and desires your happiness and joy to make it.
So every night? I end up petitioning;  I would like to provide a thought. Rather praying "help me to enter the kingdom I build" (as I don't want to enter the kingdom I build), might be more profitable to pray, "Dear Father in heaven, help me that I might build thy kingdom, and help thy kingdom come." I would venture to say that this would be more profitable if we are seeking exaltation through Christ, and it honors his thoughts during his prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done."
Just a thought, as I don't know the intent of your heart, I am only able to read what you have written.