1. Job is sorely tested.

Job 1:1 Perfect and upright

‘Job was a “perfect and upright” man who “feared God, and eschewed evil.”  ^{Job 1:1} Pious in his conduct, prosperous in his fortune, Job was to face a test which could have destroyed anyone. Shorn of his possessions, scorned by his friends, afflicted by his suffering, shattered by the loss of his family, he was urged to “curse God, and die.”  ^{Job 2:9} He resisted this temptation and declared from the depths of his noble soul, “Behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.”  ^{Job 16:19} “I know that my redeemer liveth.”  ^{Job 19:25′ (Thomas S Monson, General Conference, October 2002)}

Job became a model of unlimited patience. To this day we refer to those who are long-suffering as having the patience of Job. He provides an example for us to follow.

Job 1:21 Being grateful in our circumstances

‘My dear brothers and sisters, the choice is ours. We can choose to limit our gratitude, based on the blessings we feel we lack. Or we can choose to be like Nephi, whose grateful heart never faltered. When his brothers tied him up on the ship—which he had built to take them to the promised land—his ankles and wrists were so sore “they had swollen exceedingly,” and a violent storm threatened to swallow him up in the depths of the sea. “Nevertheless,” Nephi said, “I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.” ^{[See  1 Nephi 18:10–16]}

We can choose to be like Job, who seemed to have everything but then lost it all. Yet Job responded by saying, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return … : the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”  ^{Job 1:21}

We can choose to be like the Mormon pioneers, who maintained a spirit of gratitude during their slow and painful trek toward the Great Salt Lake, even singing and dancing and glorying in the goodness of God. Many of us would have been inclined to withdraw, complain, and agonize about the difficulty of the journey.

We can choose to be like the Prophet Joseph Smith, who, while a prisoner in miserable conditions in Liberty Jail, penned these inspired words: “Dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.”  ^{Doctrine and Covenants 123:17}

We can choose to be grateful, no matter what.’ (Dieter F Uchtdorf, General Conference, April 2014)

Job 1:7–12; 2:1–6. Did God Converse with Satan?

‘Some have questioned whether God converses with the devil and his spirit-followers as described here. These verses may be a poetic way of setting the stage for what follows in Job’s life—his afflictions, temptations, loss of worldly goods—rather than a reporting of an actual conversation. The Lord does not bargain with Satan or agree to his evil deeds. However, Satan is permitted by the Lord to afflict and torment man until Lucifer’s allotted time on earth is done. Thus, Job’s trials would be consistent with the concept that Satan was allowed by God to bring the afflictions upon Job, not because of a bargain God made with Satan, but because it fit God’s purposes for Job.

Meservy suggested that the appearance of Satan to the “sons of God,” however, can be explained literally: “Is the portrayal of the devil in chs. 1–2 a true one? I believe so. We are told there that Satan came among the sons of God? Who are these sons? Usually this term means in the scriptures those who have covenanted to serve the Lord and are willing to take his name upon them by baptism and are born again, and are then led by the Spirit of God. These are his sons and these are they who cry ‘Abba Father.’ (Moses 6:65–68, 7:1; Mosiah 5:7–10, 15:10–12; D&C 11:30, 39:4–6, 76:23–24, 51–60; Romans 8, esp. vv. 14–17). Our author says, ‘there was a day when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them’ (Job 1:6). This would suggest that Satan came among the faithful when they met to carry out their religious devotions. At the time the Lord chose to single out one of them in a remark to Satan.” (“Job: ‘Yet Will I Trust in Thee,’” p. 155.)’ (Institute Old Testament Manual)

Job 31:24-32

‘Job protests, 1. That he never set his heart upon the wealth of this world. How few prosperous professors can appeal to the Lord, that they have not rejoiced because their gains were great! Through the determination to be rich, numbers ruin their souls, or pierce themselves with many sorrows. 2. He never was guilty of idolatry. The source of idolatry is in the heart, and it corrupts men, and provokes God to send judgments upon a nation. 3. He neither desired nor delighted in the hurt of the worst enemy he had. If others bear malice to us, that will not justify us in bearing malice to them. 4. He had never been unkind to strangers. Hospitality is a Christian duty, 1Pe 4:9.’ (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary)

Read: Dealing with adversity

2. Job finds strength in the Lord.

Job 13:13-16 Yet will I trust in him

‘Perhaps the best-known Old Testament example of perseverance is the story of Job. As you know, it narrates the afflictions that befell a righteous man and considers reasons for those afflictions. It does not entirely answer the question of why Job, or anyone, might suffer pain and sorrow, but does state clearly that affliction is not necessarily a sign of God’s anger and a punishment for sin, as Job’s friends told him. The book suggests that affliction, if not for punishment, may be for experience, discipline, and instruction (see Bible Dictionary, LDS edition of the King James Version, s.v. “Job”).

I do not know of anything that members of the Church need more than they need the conviction and perseverance of Job. He was a just man who feared God and avoided evil. After the Lord allowed Satan to torment Job, his afflictions included the loss of his seven sons and three daughters, the loss of his wealth in flocks and herds and serious physical illnesses. Remaining faithful to the Lord through his indescribable sorrow and suffering, Job was able to say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord”  Job 1:21 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. … He also shall be my salvation. … For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth … yet in my flesh shall I see God”  Job 13:15–16  Job 19:25–26

The result of Job’s perseverance is told in the conclusion of the story. The Lord blessed him with a family, good health, and great possessions. He continued in his course, despite unrelenting opposition, until he saw the Lord (see  Job 42:5) (Joseph B Wirthlin, General Conference, October 1987)

Job 19:25-27 I know that my redeemer liveth

‘I feel to say with Job of old, whose knowledge came from the same source from which mine has come: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth,” and that “in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold. …”  Job 19:25–27

And as I join my testimony with that of Job, may I also unite with him in thanksgiving, for the cry, uttered out of the anguish and sorrow of his soul: “… the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”  Job 1:21′ (Joseph Fielding Smith, General Conference, October 1971)

3. Job finds strength in his personal righteousness and integrity.

Job 27:3,5 I will not remove mine integrity from me

‘Catastrophic conflicts come and go, but the war waged for the souls of men continues without abatement. Like a clarion call comes the word of the Lord to you, to me, and to priesthood holders everywhere: “Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.”  ^{Doctrine and Covenants 107:99} Then we will be, as the Apostle Peter declared, even “a royal priesthood,”  ^{1 Peter 2:9} united in purpose and endowed with power from on high. ^{[See  Doctrine and Covenants 105:11]}

May each one leave here tonight with the determination and the courage to say, with Job of old, “While my breath is in me, … I will not remove mine integrity from me.” ^{Job 27:3, 5} That this may be so is my humble prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen.’ (Thomas S Monson, General Conference, April 2014)

4. After Job has faithfully endured his trials, the Lord blesses him.

Job 23:10 -11 I shall come forth as gold

‘One hundred fifty years of Church history provide us with a lesson that when resistance and opposition are greatest, our faith, commitment, and growth have the greatest opportunity for advancement; when opposition is least, the tendency is to be complacent and lose faith. President Brigham Young said: “Let any people enjoy peace and quietness, unmolested, undisturbed,—never be persecuted for their religion, and they are very likely to neglect their duty, to become cold and indifferent, and lose their faith” (in Journal of Discourses, 7:42). This lesson, which applies to the Church collectively, also applies to individuals.

Documented in scripture are episodes from the lives of many former-day Saints who, by personal sacrifice, opposition, and adversity, achieved their exaltation. From their biographies of struggle, I offer their testaments of faithful endurance.

The classic example of faithful endurance was the Old Testament prophet Job. He lost all his possessions, he suffered great personal affliction and physical pain, some of his children met tragic death, and even his friends deserted him. Yet he proclaimed his faith: “[God] knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. … His way have I kept, and not declined”  Job 23:10–11′ (Howard W Hunter, General Conference, April 1980)