As we have been discussing the deliverance of various peoples in the Book of Mormon from bondage, I have paused to reflect on one of my favorite scriptures:

Although most of us will not face the type of bondage the Nephites suffered, the modern-day world is as full of trials as was the world of Alma and his converts at the waters of Mormon. Some of us are in bondage to illness, to unemployment, to difficult family relationships or to jobs that we do not like. We may be in bondage to loneliness, grief, or despair.

I believe this scripture gives us the answer to that age-old question: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Alma's people were humble and repentant and clearly living the laws of the Gospel. Why did the Lord allow them to be in bondage, when, as he showed later, he could so easily rescue them?

Because of my own private experiences with bondage, I can testify that the reason is because of the latter part of the scripture: this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

Such was the testimony of those in the Martin Handcart Company. They came to know the Lord in their afflictions. They experienced miracles along with their hardships and came to know the Lord in such an intimate way that despite their horrendous trials, not one of their party ever left the Church.

Such was the testimony of Moses, when Pharaoh's soldiers were upon him and the only route forward was the Red Sea. The Lord had so obviously intervened in the deliverance of the Israelites that Moses knew He wouldn't allow them to be slaughtered or captured. Out of his previous trials, he had drawn the faith to believe that the Red Sea could part. And it did.

I never expected my bondage of depression to end in this life. It had gone on for twenty-five years. The doctors had told me I was one of the five percent for whom there was no cure. My therapist told me he could no longer help me because my depression was “just the way my brain was wired.”

I had no choice but to go to the Lord. Depression makes that difficult, because your heart is like Teflon and no good or calming feelings can penetrate. You are spiritually numb.

However, as I studied the atonement in detail — the great atonement sermons in the Book of Mormon, the heartening talks of Elder Holland, Elder Scott, President Faust, President Eyring, Elder Maxwell, Elder Bednar, and Elder Hafen, and such books as I could find on the subject — I drew courage. I was in the congregation at April, 2006 conference when Elder Holland counseled us to follow the instructions Christ gave to his apostles to walk with him and do what he did and go where he was going, and then we would talk together about where we were going. (“Broken Things to Mend,” CR Apr., 2006)

I knew I could follow this prescription, and so I put my heart and soul into it. However, when I had given all that I could give, my illness laid me flat. I wept because I could no longer even leave my house.

It was then, after I had expended my very greatest efforts, that the Lord took over. Against every medical prognostication, my family doctor happened on a combination of medicines that worked literally overnight to remove my depression. After so many years, I was left in no doubt that this was truly a miracle, that God did live, that He was capable of any kind of intervention.

Because of the weight of my burden, and the hopelessness of my situation, I could bear witness that my healing was truly the Lord's work. It was like the handcart pioneer who could go no further, until the angels of the Lord began pushing the cart, which in turn pushed him. The Lord made up his lack.

During my suffering and in my deliverance I had learned the most important thing there is for us to learn in this segment of our existence: John 17:3 “ And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ , whom thou hast sent.”

Put together with the scripture from Mosiah quoted above, we can see the answer to our question. We have trials because the purpose of our existence is to come to know God and Jesus Christ. In order to do that, we must be at the end of our own strength.

We must know that the consequent relief we feel comes from God and that it is rendered because of the enabling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Lord wants us to show our faith before the miracle, so that we will become acquainted with him and his grace and know that when the miracle comes, it is from Him.

Ever since the Fall, it has been the object of our existence to return to the Father. Coming to know him intimately in this life is the object and design of our existence.