In the Book of Mormon, we’re reminded of God’s cruelty. The Nephites were “in bondage” to the Lamanites, living in fear. Though they repented and felt sorrow for their sins, God refused to free them from slavery. Mosiah 21:13–15 records:

“& they did humble themselves even to ththees dust subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage submitting themselves to be smitten & to be driven to & fro & burdened according to the desires of their enemies & they did humble themselves even in the debths of humility & they did cry mightily to God yea even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions & now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries & began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage”

Mosiah 21:13-15, The Handwritten Book of Mormon (West Valley City, UT: Dan Wees, August 2017), 249-250. emphasis added.