Alma 57

The Savior taught His disciples -

"In your patience possess ye your souls." (New Testament Luke 21:19)

Paul taught the Hebrews -

"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." (New Testament Hebrews 10:36)

Throughout the scriptures we read of righteous saints that even though they were obedient, they still suffered many afflictions. We read of the Sons of Helaman who being miraculously spared in battle such that -

"...there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war." (Book of Mormon Alma 56:56)

And again in a second battle -

"...there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds." (Book of Mormon Alma 57:25)

These were young men that -

"...did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them." (Book of Mormon Alma 57:21)

"...behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come." (Book of Mormon Alma 58:40)

Yet they still suffered a great deal. Not just with many wounds but they -

"...did wait in these difficult circumstances for the space of many months, even until we were about to perish for the want of food." (Book of Mormon Alma 58:7)

There is great evidence that even to the best -

"...the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:21)