I loved that talk in General Conference!

I think of a pampered rich kid, given everything he wants at all times. Such a person would invariably be emotionally crippled as an adult. Selfish, childish, petty, not stretched to all that he could be.

When we consider that Jesus doesn't expect us to go through anything that He hasn't experienced, we can see that there is mercy in God's plan for us. And understanding. And healing. Only Jesus knows us well enough to heal us as we need to (according to Alma 11).

We can also consider that we fought a war in Heaven to give us the right to make our own choices. Unfortunately, this means that people choose cruelty...or more commonly, they have been abused themselves and don't know a better way.

The point is, God does not want us to be slaves. He lets us do as we will, but then sent Jesus to guide us, heal us, and strive for a better way.