Mosiah 24:10

And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.

The purpose of afflictions is not to punish us, but to turn us to God. Even the faithful followers of Alma needed a heavy affliction to get them to earnestly call upon God. The heavier the affliction, the more we recognize our dependence on God, and the more humble and sincere our prayers become. The more powerful are our prayers, the more powerfully God can act in our lives.