If you recall, the people of Limhi were wicked. As a consequence of their wickedness, they were brought into bondage. This was one way the Lord chose to show them their wickedness. It took them quite some time to escape from the Lamanites.
One thing to remember, however, is that not all trials come just as a consequence of wickedness.
"21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.
22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people.
23 For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob.
24 And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did show forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings." (Mosiah 23:21-24)
This chapter rewinds a little bit to tell what happened to the people of Alma. At the time that Abinadi was killed, Alma was converted, and fled into the wilderness. He taught the gospel and baptized people. King Noah found out what they were doing and sent an army to slay them because he assumed they would rise up in rebellion against him. Alma and his people fled, and the Lamanites didn't catch them at this time.
Alma and his people found a place called Helam and they started to build homes and farm the land, and were happy for quite some time. Fast forward in our story now to the time where Limhi and his people finally escape from the bondage they were in with the Lamanites. The army of the Lamanites tried to catch Limhi's people but couldn't, and as they were wandering about the wilderness trying, they happened across Helam, and took over the city. The people of Alma, who were a righteous, good people, were in bondage.
So they were tried, but eventually they were delivered by the hand of God.
The point is, though, that sometimes we have trials and things happen to us that seem like punishments, even when we are living a pretty good life. The trials don't only come as a punishment, but as the verses say, we have trials to test our patience and faith, and to see if we will put our trust in the Lord. When we do put our trust in Him, we can learn from our trials, and we can grow spiritually during our trials. Nobody wants trials and tribulation, but when it comes, and it will come, approach it as a learning experience and try to make the most out of it that you can.
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