One of the great purposes of this earthly life is that we may become strong in our love for righteous principles and thereby do the things the Lord requires of us. We overcome the world and the things of the world, not by making them part of our lives, nor by condoning them.
A life of comfort and ease usually begets indifference to righteousness. Almost unfailingly it drives all thoughts of God from one's heart. We take a deep plunge into the pseudo joys and follies of the world all the while forgetting the real purpose of life. To remind us that we owe to God a full measure of devotion to Him, and that He will surely require it, "He doth chasten" us, sometimes with sickness, hunger, pestilence, and many other trials and tribulations. Chasten, means (1) To correct by punishment or by subjection to suffering, trial, etc. (2) To purify and refine, by freeing from faults, especially with a lash, rod, or the like. (Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary)
A few passages from the Book of Mormon, and the Holy Bible, explain the meaning of, and the reason why, "the Lord doth chasten" His people:
And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him. (Hel. 12:3)
Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of Nephi except they shall repent, when they shall see all these signs and wonders which shall be showed them; for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea, in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them. (Hel. 15:3)
And from the Bible:
Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. (Deut. 8:5)
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. (Prov. 13:24)
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Heb. 12:6)
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev. 3:19)
Therefore, the sacred historian says of the people of Helam, "He trieth their patience and their faith." Nevertheless, he also says, "Whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day."
Be lifted up at the last day. From statements made by the Nephite prophets we can easily understand what these words imply.
And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be. (1 Ne. 13:37)
And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center. (1 Ne. 16:2)
Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest. (Alma 13:29)
And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day. (Alma 36:3)
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good: yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (Alma 37:37)
And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (Alma 38:5)
Jesus Christ, the Risen Redeemer, said to the Nephites,