Seminary
Mosiah 21–24, Part 1: Finding the Lord’s Purposes for Our Trials and Afflictions

“Mosiah 21–24, Part 1: Finding the Lord’s Purposes for Our Trials and Afflictions,” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)

“Mosiah 21–24, Part 1,” Book of Mormon Student Manual

Mosiah 21–24, Part 1

Finding the Lord’s Purposes for Our Trials and Afflictions

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a youth pondering, who appears sad

How would you explain to someone why the Lord allows us to experience trials and afflictions? Mosiah 21–24 describes the experiences of the people of Limhi and the people of Alma, who both encountered difficult challenges. This lesson is intended to help you feel increased trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when you experience trials and afflictions in your life.

Carrying burdens

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person carrying a heavy backpack

Imagine that your trials, burdens, and afflictions are represented by rocks you have to physically carry in a bag or backpack.

  • What are some of the trials or burdens teenagers might experience that could feel like heavy rocks in a backpack?

  • What questions might people have about the burdens they carry?

Take a moment to think about some of the trials and burdens you are currently facing or have faced in your life. Consider listing these in your study journal. You may want to include questions, concerns, or desires you have related to your trials and burdens.

As you study today, look for truths that can help you better understand why the Lord might allow you to experience these trials.

The people of Limhi and the people of Alma

In Mosiah 21–24, we learn about two groups of people who experienced great trials and afflictions. The first group lived in the land of Nephi and was led by King Noah’s son Limhi. The second group lived in the land of Helam and was led by Alma.

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illustration of places in Mosiah 21–24

The following is a brief summary of the events surrounding the captivity of each group:

The people of Limhi

After rejecting the teachings and warnings of Abinadi, the Nephites, who were now led by King Limhi, were taken captive by the Lamanites in the land of Nephi and were required to pay heavy taxes (see Mosiah 19:15). As prophesied by the prophet Abinadi (see Mosiah 12:5), the Lamanites forced Limhi’s people to serve them and to carry heavy burdens (see Mosiah 21:3).

The people of Alma

After Abinadi’s death, Alma and his followers fled to the Waters of Mormon, where they were baptized (see Mosiah 17:1–4; 18:1–14). They later fled for their safety and built a righteous settlement in the land of Helam (see Mosiah 18:32–34; 23:1–4, 19–20). Alma’s people were eventually discovered and taken captive by the Lamanites (see Mosiah 23:25–29, 36–37). Amulon, who had been one of Noah’s wicked priests, was given authority over them and began persecuting Alma and his people (see Mosiah 24:8–9).

Why the Lord allows trials

Read the following scripture passages, looking for teachings that can help you understand why the Lord allows us to experience trials and afflictions. You may want to mark words and phrases that stand out to you.

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icon, record

  1. Answer the following questions:

    • What similarities and differences did you see between the two groups of people and what they experienced?

    • What evidence did you see in these accounts of the Lord’s love and concern for the people?

    • What did you learn about why the Lord allows people to suffer trials and afflictions?

These accounts reveal several truths about why the Lord allows people to experience trials. Among others, you may have noticed the following:

  • The Lord allows us to experience trials to help us become humble and rely more upon Him (see Mosiah 21:5–14).

  • Some trials and afflictions come as a result of disobedience (see Mosiah 21:15).

  • Our trials can give us opportunities to seek after and feel the Lord’s power in our lives (see Mosiah 21:15–16; 24:14).

  • The Lord chastens His people and tries their patience and faith (see Mosiah 23:21).

Many people think being chastened (see Mosiah 23:21) has the same meaning as being punished. Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy explained, “The word chasten comes from the Latin castus, meaning ‘chaste or pure,’ and chasten means ‘to purify’ [see Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed. (2003), “chasten”]” (“The Righteous Judge,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 97). Ponder for a moment how the Lord might be purifying you through your trials and afflictions.

  1. Answer at least two of the following questions:

    • How could understanding these truths influence the way you react to your trials?

    • What experiences have helped you see the Lord’s purposes for allowing you to experience trials?

    • What have you learned today that can help you better understand the trials you experience?