Offense

• Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 125

Dissenters are offended because they have been reproved and use reproofs to lead others to become offended. They are "[making] a man an offender for a word, and [laying] a snare for him that reproveth in the gate."

The saints offer no retractions, and the point seems to be that when a man is offended because he has been reproved for his wickedness, the error lies with him.

On the other hand, the saints have been offended because they have had innocent blood shed among them. However, being offended is not evil in and of itself. The savior said, "It must needs be that offenses come, but woe unto them by whom they come."

Hence, the dissenters are unjustly offended because of just reproofs, whereas the Saints are justly offended because of the persecutions that have been unjustly heaped upon them.