Luke 13

As we consider some the significant tragedies of our day, we can look at some events in the Savior's day where some individuals -

"...told him of the Galilæans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices." (New Testament | Luke 13:1)

It seems that these individuals were suggesting that these Galileans must have been sinners for God to allow this tragedy. To which the Savior answered -

"...Suppose ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (New Testament | Luke 13:2 - 3)

Again it seems this continued extended to another tragic event where the Savior again taught -

"..eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (New Testament | Luke 13:4 - 5)

I believe the Savior is teaching two principles. First, that God allows tragic events to take place on their own natural occurences or circumstances and also as a result of the decisions of other men. It hads to be so -

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:11)

In other words, how would we know happiness without sorrow, or pleasure without pain. The second is that disobedience to the commandments will always bring pain, suffering, and in an eternal sense, spiritual death for -

"...wickedness never was happiness." (Book of Mormon | Alma 41:10)

For the wicked will suffer for their sins for -

"...if they would not repent they must suffer even as I..." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 19:17)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie commented -

"Does God send accidents, violent death, and other calamities upon individual men to punish them for their sins? Apparently there were those among Jesus' hearers who thought so. Accordingly, we find the Master expressly saying that those subject to the misfortunes here involved were not greater sinners than their fellows whose lives were spared.

True it is, as a general principle, that God sends disasters, calamities, plagues, and suffering upon the rebellious, and that he preserves and protects those who love and serve him. Such indeed were the very promises given to Israel—obedience would net them the preserving and protecting care of the Lord, disobedience would bring death, destruction, desolation, disaster, war, and a host of evils upon them. (Deut. 28; 30.)

But to say that particular individuals slain in war, killed in accidents, smitten with disease, stricken by plagues, or shorn of their property by natural calamities, have been singled out from among their fellows as especially deserving of such supposed retribution is wholly unwarranted. It is not man's prerogative to conclude in individual cases of suffering or accident that such has befallen a person as a just retribution for an ungodly course. (DNTC 1:475.)