Lessons of 2025
Lesson No. Forty-One

Adversity, Faith-Patience, and Deliverance

The prayer and teachings by Joseph Smith while incarcerated in Liberty Jail, as recorded as D&C 121, is among the most inspired and sublime writings in scripture or literature. We can learn much from Joseph’s experience with adversity, faith-patience, and deliverance in Liberty Jail.

The Prophet pleads with the Lord to deliver His suffering saints: “How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries? Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?” (vs 2-3).

The Lord answered, and He counseled patience and promised deliverance: “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. (vs 7-8).

Faith and patience are required virtues and close companions. The Apostle James beautifully explained the relationship between faith and patience: “Know this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:3-4). These two verses are the introduction to the next verse: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

Joseph Smith wrote of James 1:5: “Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart” (Joseph Smith History 1:12). The next verse emphasizes the relationship between faith and patience: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:6). Joseph’s prayer of faith received an immediate answer, but this is an exception. “Nothing wavering” suggests that in our prayer of faith, patience is usually required.

Faith in Jesus Christ and patience (patience is faith in the Lord’s time table) is the way forward in any adversity. As men measure time, whether the adversity we experience is long or short, from an eternal perspective it is but a small moment. Believing that if we “endure adversity well God will exalt us on high is the key which allows us to be patient in any circumstance. (See D&C 121:8)

Mosiah 3-4 reveals much about how the Lord feels about adversity, faith/patience and deliverance. (My comments follow each verse quoted and are italicized” After escaping from king Noah, the account of Alma and his people continues:

- “And it came to pass that they began to prosper exceedingly in the land; and they called the land Helam. And it came to pass that they did multiply and prosper exceedingly in the land of Helam; and they built a city, which they called the city of Helam” (Mosiah 23:19-20). The fact that the people of Alma “prospered exceedingly” is repeated in both verses 19 and 20. This helps us understand that adversity comes to people who are righteous. The only sinless man experienced the greatest adversity. (See D&C 19).

- “Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith” (23:21). Paul taught the same very important doctrine: “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:5-6). The Lord’s people should expect to experience adversity.

- “Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people. For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob. And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did show forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings” (23:22-24). The people of Alma experienced great adversity in a very unexpected way. (See Mosiah 23:25 – 24:11, I suggest reading these two chapters very closely)

- “And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage” (24:12-13). The covenant that the people of Alma made to the Lord and the covenant He made to them must have been similar to the temple covenants we make and experience in the temple.

- “And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and 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. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (24:14-15). The Lord may not remove our afflictions immediately, but if we put our trust in Him, and submit cheerfully and with patience to His will, He will always strengthen us and make our burdens light so we can bear them up with ease.

- “And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage…And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep. (24:16, 19). They did not need to get their guards drunk at night as when Limhi and his people were delivered. (See Mosiah 22:5-15). With the people of Alma the Lord intervened directly in a way no one can mistake. In the morning hours He put the Lamanite guards in a deep, profound sleep for an entire day, and the people of Alma departed in broad daylight. They paused in the valley of Alma to gave thanks to the Lord. (See 24:17-22)

- “And now the Lord said unto Alma: Haste thee and get thou and this people out of this land, for the Lamanites have awakened and do pursue thee; therefore get thee out of this land, and I will stop the Lamanites in this valley that they come no further in pursuit of this people” (24:23). An army moves more quickly than a group of men, women, and children, so the Lord again showed His power, and stopped the Lamanites in the valley of Alma. I believe that some day we will know the details of how He did this.

Testimony. From Joseph Smith in the Liberty Jail and from the people of Alma we can conclude:

1. Adversity is a required class in the school of mortality.

2. Success in the school of mortality requires faith and patience. These are close companions.

3. Those who have faith and learn patience will be delivered from all adversity in a way and at a time the Lord knows best. And when their work on earth is finished, they will graduate from the class of mortality with honors.

Released on October 26th. 2025.