Neal A. Maxwell
’We need to remember, however, that people whose hearts are hardened will have to experience something sufficiently strong to break their hearts and bring them to their senses. If it is true (as it is) that the Lord chasteneth those whom He loves, we would not really want immunity from the chastening of either circumstance or other things.
"Because God loves us, He will do what is necessary in order to teach us what we need to know. ’Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you.’ (D&C 95:1.)
“In further modern revelation, the Lord says, ’Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified.’ (D&C 101:4-5.)” (Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward, p. 55)
Harold B. Lee
“’And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, they will not remember him.’ (Helaman 12:2-3.) Isn’t that a terrible indictment, and yet that is happening before us today. We are seeing that affluence. Never was there such prosperity in this country. We have been forgetting God, and we have turned aside from His teachings, and we are paying a terrible price. It is the test that, if we survive, will perhaps take some of the punishments that this prophet said would be necessary to bring us back to our knees and seek for the Lord to guide and direct us.” (Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p. 330)
Neal A. Maxwell
“Afflictions can soften us and sweeten us, and can be a chastening influence. (Alma 62:41.) We often think of chastening as something being done to punish us, such as by a mortal tutor who is angry and peevish with us. Divine chastening, however, is a form of learning as it is administered at the hands of a loving Father. (Helaman 12:3.)” (All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience, p. 39)