Mormon 2

In Mormon 2, Mormon is appointed to lead the Nephite army at age 16.  They fought long and hard.  They won and lost battles.  Mormon say in verse 8 that "there was blood and carnage spread throughout all the face of the land."  Finally, the people begin to lament and mourn  what is happening.  Mormon says that he began to rejoice when he saw this because he knows the wonderful mercy of the Lord, but then in verses 13 and 14 he says:

"But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.  And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God..."

Those verses are very interesting to me.  Sorrow for sin needs to be sorrow because we realize we have done what is contrary to that which is right.  We should sorrow because we have chosen to act in defiance to God's will.  Therefore, we have separated ourselves from his fold.  It is a slightly different way of thinking about it than being sorry because wickedness often does bring with it consequences that cause us no end of sorrow and trouble.