Apostasy is nothing new, not in this world at any rate. It has been a struggle since the beginning of time and a condition of mortal agency and a fallen and telestial world. When Adam gathered his posterity at Adam Ondi Ahman before he passed away, the scriptures note only a residue of the people - those who were righteous. It was some time before Noah's flood that only 8 people were saved alive by water.
The only time we see apostates acknowledge they were wrong is just before/at their conversion. But otherwise we see both sides assert they are correct and it is the other side that is deceived.
The wheat and the chaff must grow together, side by side to full maturity.
One lesson we learn from the Book of Mormon is the allegory of the olive trees, how precious the Lord's trees/fruit/families were to him and the great pains he took to save as many as he possibly could. Nobody on this earth is beyond saving at this point until we pass through the veil. So when we're experiencing opposition, it must be because the Lord has a purpose in allowing it to continue.
We read in Alma 17 about the believer's in Christ's coming being burnt alive and that the Lord said to Nephi that they were not to stop it by the power of the priesthood because the Lord was receiving the righteous to himself, and the wicked were being let condemned.
Even the Savior Himself was betrayed and was abandoned.
Consequently, if we're still facing challenges, it is for a reason. When we're getting away with something, or think we are, it's also for a reason - either to give time to repent, or time to condemn ourselves.
There's all sorts of things happening in the world - we're going to see more on all sides, both in and out of the church, but when we are faced with challenges...we shouldn't be surprised, we just need to be sure we're in the right or striving to be right - "Oh be wise, what can I say more?" (Jacob 6:12).
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