When speaking of Jacob 5 Joseph Fielding Smith said, “No greater parable was ever recorded” Context Just before Jacobs speaks the allegory of the olive trees, he shares something about the “unsearchableness of God” saying, Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God.

It’s a big question and can’t be fully answered with a simple one liner or one size fits all solution. We’re gonna take a stab at answering this question. It is a question every believer asks at some point during their lifetime. There is so much suffering in the world. There are examples of righteous people who suffered greatly, unrighteous people who suffered greatly. People who’s suffering was a result of their own actions, and people who’s suffering was a result of others actions, or just happened regardless of anyone’s decisions.