A friend raised the question whether Job was a real person. My understanding and belief is yes, he was real.
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Ezekiel refers to Job along with Noah and Daniel.
Ezekiel 14
[14] Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
[20] Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
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James draws upon the example of Job to comfort the suffering, proving the point that God is merciful. He commends the endurance of Job.
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:11)
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Doctrine & Covenants Section 121 gives a prayer and prophecies written by Joseph Smith the Prophet while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, dated 20 March 1839. The Prophet and several companions had been months in prison. Their petitions and appeals directed to the executive officers and the judiciary had failed to bring them relief.
The Lord answers Joseph Smith’s prayer:
[7] My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
[8] And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
[9] Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.
[10] Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job.
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The Book of Job teaches many important lessons.
Job’s suffering explains why developing character is more important in God’s eyes than the trials and pain we experience.
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Centuries ago the man Job—so long blessed with every material gift, only to find himself sorely afflicted by all that can befall a human being—sat with his companions and uttered the timeless, ageless question,
If a man die, shall he live again? (Job 14:14)
He later answered his question:
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: (Job 19:25-26)
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If any of us feels our challenges are beyond our capacity to meet them, let us read of Job. By so doing, there comes the feeling, “If Job could endure and overcome, so will I.”
Job was a “perfect and upright” man who “feared God, and eschewed evil.” Pious in his conduct, prosperous in his fortune, Job was to face a test which could have destroyed anyone. Shorn of his possessions, scorned by his friends, afflicted by his suffering, shattered by the loss of his family, he was urged to “curse God, and die.” He resisted this temptation and declared from the depths of his noble soul, “Behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.” “I know that my redeemer liveth.”
Job became a model of unlimited patience. To this day we refer to those who are long-suffering as having the patience of Job. He provides an example for us to follow.
– President Thomas S. Monson, They Marked the Path to Follow, October 2007
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– Tom Irvine