This morning, while waiting for Sacrament Meeting to start, I read from the Book of Mormon. In my personal reading, I've started 2nd Nephi.
I read this (2nd Nephi 1:8-10
I wondered what if the descendants of Lehi, all of them, had remained righteous? Would the "New World" as the Americas were called ever been discovered? Would Christopher Columbus had been able to find the Americas? Would the pilgrims have known about the Americas to leave Europe in search of religious freedom? Would there have been a Trail of Tears?
Then the answer came. Sometimes the question "what if?" is good for an increase in knowledge and understanding. In fact, it's great if you are looking to innovate something for the future.
But pondering "what if?" about the past? It may be interesting and even educational, but to dwell on it serves no purpose as it will not change how things are now.