This scripture contains a portion of truth combined with a clear lack of understanding regarding man’s purpose on this earth and the role of Satan’s influence as part of Our Father’s plan.

In the pre-existence, before man came to earth, a plan was presented by the Father to His children. An essential ingredient of the plan was that the agency of man continued on earth. It was therefore necessary that choice be given to man even though that meant that some of Our Father’s children would choose not to follow His plan. When Father presented his plan, it was necessary for a Savior to come to this earth and to pay in full the price that Justice required, so that the blessing of mercy could be extended, for Father knew that all would come short of complete obedience. Jesus Christ offered himself to serve as the Savior, as did Satan or Lucifer. Lucifer’s plan was contrary to the plan presented by the Father as it eliminated the opportunity of choice. He also sought to have the glory of the Father as his reward. His offer was rejected by the Father, however one-third of those present, chose Satan’s plan and lost their opportunity for further progression. Satan and his minions were cast out from Father’s present and came to this earth. The desire of Satan and his followers is to try and tempt the Father’s children to be disobedient and to become one of his followers.

To believe God would bargain with Satan is therefore in error, for the Lord does not bargain with Satan or agree to his evil deeds, however, it is consistent with current revealed doctrine that Satan is permitted by the Father to afflict and torment man until Lucifer’s allotted time on earth is finished.

We therefore understand that Satan tempting Job was part of the Father’s plan for each of us. In fact, one of the purposes for our being upon this earth is that we might be tried and tested to see if we will be faithful in keeping all of God’s commandments. In that sense, God does allow Satan to tempt each of us.

As fate will have it, Job loses all of his material possessions, including his posterity. In this sense, Job is not unique in his circumstances. There have been others, also successful, who have lost all their possessions and family members. Natural disasters and economic downturns, even war, have combined to bring similar circumstances to others. It is not that Job’s circumstances are completely foreign, but the question that follows is how do we now respond to the unfolding of such dramatic circumstances? Job’s submissive response to such a negating blow was a complete as Jesus’.

Job’s trials were not over. Combined with the loss of his temporal possessions and the death of his sons, he now experiences physical illness along with his emotional grief. Again, Job’s pain is not foreign to others of today who, along with temporal loss, also experience afflictions to their physical body. While the degree or circumstances may not be the same, there are those who can relate to Job’s afflictions, either personally or otherwise.

The loss of his prosperity, property and wealth with its related loss of security was one thing; but the loss of health and strength with pain and misery as daily attendants, was another. It appears that the pain of Job’s trials became too great for his wife to bear.

It not unusual that afflictions of one spouse also have a detrimental effect upon the other, due to the extra burden that she/he must bear as they care for the needs of their spouse. This burden become especially difficult when the disease lingers for an extended period of time. It is not just the one who is afflicted that is being tested, but also those who love them, including their children. Job’s response to her concern.

Job understood, even amidst his afflictions, that during our journey upon this earth our experiences consist of both trials and blessings.

A common misunderstanding at the time of Job, as well as for many individuals today, is that sin is at the root of all adversity. If one is suffering, it because of sin that they have committed. Afflictions are then the direct result of God’s punishment. This doctrine is labeled as “retribution justice” which correlates sin with suffering and righteousness with reward. Stated simply, if Job were righteous, he would not have suffered such terrible afflictions, therefore Job must be sinful. Job has three friends named Eliphaz, Bildad and Zopher. Good friends can often be a source of strength to someone who is experiencing adversity and hardship. Unfortunately for Job, and at times true today, the advice of well meaning friends can miss the mark when it comes to providing relief and comfort for the one who is suffering.

Eliphaz is first to respond to Job’s condition.

It is “as if” Eliphaz is saying to Job: I believe I know why you are suffering. The reason is that you are not innocent or righteous. Suffering is the result of iniquity and wickedness. Your suffering is the result of sin.

Eliphaz does offer some truth in his response to Job. God’s ways and purposes for his children are higher than our ways, and therefore it is not possible for man to discern God’s purposes for us unless he reveals them to us (see Isaiah 55:8-9). It is also true that there are times when God, in his desire to refines us, so that we may become the individuals He knows we can become, uses the adversity of our mortal experience to accomplish His purposes.

While we do understand and know that adversity and hardship serve to refine us, we also take comfort in the words of Paul to the Corinthians.

Job’s response to Eliphar.

Eliphaz’s effort to diagnose and treat the cause of Job’s suffering, failed to offer Job the one thing he needed most. Comfort and support from a friend. As a result, Job felt even more hopeless regarding his infirmities.

Job’s hope is fading. His strength to continue to the battle is waning. How much longer do I have to bear this infirmity? When will I gain relief from my afflictions?

His friend Bildad now speaks to Job.

Bildad, blinded by his own misunderstanding, it adamant that personal sin is the only cause of Job’s pain! Were he righteous, God would have healed him.

In Job’s reply to Bildad, he does not dispute that sin may be a factor in his trial.

Job has enough self-awareness to know that despite his effort to live an exemplary life, there are areas where he could improve. One area of concern is that due to the depth of his pain, his criticism may have overcome his true feelings. There have been others in their pain who have focused their blame on God, only to realize latter their error.

Job continues.

Job wants to know the reason for his pain. It is “as if” he is saying, “If my suffering is due to my transgression, tell me what I have done, so that I may acknowledge my error and seek forgiveness.” Not to knowing is almost greater than he can bear.

Another, Zophar.

Zophar’s words contain great insight regarding our relationship with God. The reply to his question, “Canst thou by searching find out God?” is a resounding, “Yes.” While it is recognized that the ways of God are greater than man’s simple understanding, it is only as we open up our lives to know God that we can then find the joy and happiness we each seek. It will require preparation on our part as we turn away from our personal wickedness so that we may in purity and humility seek Him. It will require us to be “stedfast” in our determination and not hesitant, but the reward for our efforts will be that we will find meaning in our lives including our suffering. This is the promise of the Father to each of His children.

Job’s reply to Zophar.

Job does know that God lives and that he has a personal relationship with Him. If he continues to trust in Him, in spite of all that he had had to bear, he know that eventually he will come into God’s presence.

Job knows that this life is not the end of our existence, but that he will live again. Like Job, we all will die, But like Job, we also shall live again.

Paul also taught this truth to the Corinthians.

Having heard from Job’s three friends and another, Zophar, we are now introduced to Elihu.

Elihu, though younger than the others, will offer some important truths for Job and the others to consider.

1. “God is greater than man” (Job 33:12)

2. God speaks to man “In a dream, in a vision of the night” (Job 33:15).

3. God chastens “with pain” (Job 33:19).

4. God ransoms all “He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living” (Job 33:28).

5. God “will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment” (Job 34:12).

6. “his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves” (Job 34:21-22).

7. “the cry of the poor… come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted” (Job 34:28).

8. To the kings and leaders of the earth “He openeth… their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity… But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword” (Job 36:10-12).

9. “Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightening unto the ends of the earth” (Job 37:2-3).

10. “Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14).

These important gospel truths are important for each of us to consider as we seek to understand the ways of the Lord. God is greater than man in all attributes and thus it is important that we seek his guidance and direction in our lives. God is not a silent participant in our lives, but speaks to us in “dreams and visions” or at other times in our lives through the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost. God in order to get our attention or in order to teach us important truths will do so by the things we suffer. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to serve as our Savior and Redeemer, by rescuing us from the pain of sin and

death. In all things, God acts in righteousness without impartiality. He also is bound by the laws of justice. He sees all that man does and the actions of those who do evil can’t be hid. He rewards those who are righteous and punishes those who are wicked. His power extends throughout the entire universe. When all is considered, His works are “wondrous” to behold.

The work and effort of the Godhead [The Father, Son and Holy Ghost} is directed toward bringing all of His children who desire back into His presence so that they may live with Him forever.

God knows where Job was when the Father presented His plan and the earth was created as a habitat for man. Job, and each of us, was present as pre-mortal spirits. When the opportunity of going to earth to live which also included trial and adversity, the majority of the spirits in heaven rejoiced in their opportunity. Job knew at that time that there were going to be challenges associated with earth life, but he accepted them.

Based upon the words of the Lord to Job, through the trials that Job has experienced, one area of weakness was that he sought to give counsel to the Lord, rather than to receive and accept his direction! It was Elihu who noted that “he [Job] justified himself rather than God” (Job 32:2). It is not uncommon that we discount any benefit that trials and adversity can bring into our lives. When they occur, we often feel that we are being cursed by God, rather than viewing these events as providing us with greater opportunity for personal growth and development. In this regard, we like Job, seek to counsel the Lord as to what experiences that we believe will promote our progress rather than accepting and trusting the will of the Lord in our lives.

Job does not seek to justify himself before the Lord. He acknowledges his transgression and begins the process of repentance or change. His humility before the Lord has been restored as seeks to put his life in order.

In this instance, the Lord held Job’s three friends accountable regarding their actions toward Job. It may be that Elihu was correct in his anger toward Job’s friends, “because they had found no answer [or given him incorrect information] and yet had condemned Job” (Job 32:3).

The reasons for Job’s suffering, like for each of us, is multifaceted. As I understand one of the lessons of the book of Job, Job’s suffering was not due solely to his unrighteousness as his friends had concluded. With the exception of major wickedness, this is also probably true for each of us. When we judge others as being righteous when they have obtained the temporal wealth of the world or unrighteous when either they do not obtain worldly possessions or in Jobs case, lost them, including members of his family and his physical health, we, like Jobs friends, are in danger of rebuke. Job’s error was that he sought to counsel the Lord, rather than receive counsel from him, for which he was reprimanded (see Job 40:2-4, 6). Job did acknowledge his error (see Job 42:6) for which he was forgiven. Sometimes we, like Job, think that we, rather than the Lord, know what is best for us. Rather than patiently waiting upon the Lord, we act based upon our own misguided impulses.

I believe this is the error that Job was guilty of and for which he was forgiven. It is an error that many of us today are also guilty.

We will now explore possible reasons as to why we may suffer:

During those times in my life when I felt all alone and that there was no one who really understood my pain, I came to understand that there is someone who does care and who does understand and understands perfectly. This individual is Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He has personally experienced all the pain and suffering that each of us have or will yet experience. Because He has experienced it ALL, He will bless us and strengthen us so that we too can endure our pain and even find benefit from our personal suffering and adversity. We need not stand alone. He is there and will attend to us, making it possible for us to rise above our pain and sorrow. All we have to do is ASK. In accordance with our need and the growth that we may gain, He will be there for us.

Our challenge, like was also Job, is to hold on to the truths which we know to be true. God the Father lives. We are His spirit children and He loves us. He sent His Son, to show us the way back to his presence. In all that the Son suffered, He did not doubt. He was faithful and He trusted His Father, even when His suffering was also the most excruciating. We too can hold on to Him and we too shall overcome. In the words of Job.

Like Job, each of us will live again after this life. Death will be our second birth where we will find peace and rest from all our sorrows and be united with loved ones once again. It is then that we will know for ourselves the truth of the words of Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith when he was unjustly imprisoned in Liberty Jail. Joseph had prayerfully petitioned the Lord for relief from his perils and adversity. He received this answer.

It is important that we understand that each of us will experience trials and adversity during our mortal journey. None are exempt from this learning experience. Our challenge is to rise above our pain and sorrow and to be strengthened in our faith and trust in Our Heavenly Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ. As we turn to them in prayer, we will not be left alone regardless of our circumstances. They know and understand our pain and anguish and will not leave us alone.

Hopefully, we have learned from the book of Job that our responsibility, when we see another experiencing periods of trial and difficulty, is to reach out, and to assist them to bear their burdens without judgment or complaint. May we all, like Our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, seek always to lift and bear up another. As we do so we will learn that while today we are the one giving comfort, tomorrow we will be the one who is in need of comfort. May we each learn to give and receive as the need arises.