Why do bad things happen to good people?

Why do bad things happen to good people?   He didn't do anything wrong; why did that happen to him?  These are a couple of examples of questions that some of us have.  I have heard these a few times on my mission.  I have also heard with these the connection between problems happening to good people and the drastic assumption of there not being a God.  This is a bold and not true claim.  I will write about an example of bad things happening to good people, and how they used God to overcome.  My purpose in writing this is to help others more understand the purpose of trials in life, and that how we react to them affects the outcome of the whole experience.

Example.  There is a group of people.  They are very righteous and trying to follow God.  They just escaped a wicked King and repented of their evil ways.  They are building a beautiful city and things are starting to go good, when they see a wicked army wander into their new found land.  They are promised safety if they tell the army how to get back home, but when they helped them, the army placed solders over them.  They fell into captivity.  A evil King is placed over them.  This is a story from the Book of Mormon.  Can be found in Mosiah 24.  They were in bondage with no way to escape.  The King persecuted them greatly.  Mosiah 24: 9-11 reads "he exercised authority over them, and put tasks upon them, and put task-masters over them.  And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.  And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death."  Even under these circumstances, the people showed faith in God; they were patient and God helped them because of it.  They prayed in their hearts and were answered.  Verses 13-15 reads, "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.  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."  The Lord didn't take it away, he helped them.  They were so faithful and patient that the Lord then delivered them.  Verse 16 reads, "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."  They were delivered.

The purpose for the trial wasn't to punish them for doing bad things.  It wasn't because they deserved it.  Trial was because "...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."(Mosiah 24:14)  It was a growing experience.  Heavenly Father was there the whole time.  It was a experience they needed to learn a lesson.  So it is with our trials.  God is there, we have to reach out to him and he will help us.  We don't know the full reason for why bad things happen to good people.  What we do know is that the lord will prepare a way for us to overcome.  He will be with us the whole time and help us if we allow him in.  I testify that this is true.  This is a well known poem written by Mary Stevenson, I really like it.  As you read it, think about what it means to you, and where the Lord is at while we are going through trials.

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”