Ever since this whole thing has erupted I've been pondering 1 Nephi 16. I think this is a really good example of that. Yes, President Packer could have been more sensitive to the feelings of those who struggle with this and whose feeling ar...e close to the surface. These are hard things to listen hear. But this is no different then Nephi's brothers who: "Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear." (V.1) I agree. But I also agree with Nephi's response. "And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center." Notice that he did say "and the rightous I did justify?" That means those who may struggle with things but seek to stay faithful. Nephi didn't say these things out of hatred or intolernce. He said these things out of love, I truly feel in my heart that Pres Packer also feels this great love and urgency that we follow the Lord and am "willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God" we will be blessed. Pres Packer has a solemn responsibility to warn us and somethings what he warns us against may be things we have issues with.
When I'm faced with a situation where I may feel offended I sometimes worry when I find something that I personally feel is out of line with what I may feel is right and its because it offends me even if it does line up with what is doctrinal, it's just not presented in a comfortable way. Honestly I guess in some ways its better to be offended now then not to be warned because the consequences could be far worse then the discomfort I feel at the moment.
