When we are offended, applying forgiveness allows us to focus on the future with God's love in our hearts.
"Each of us on Earth, living under the stress and strain of this telestial climate, will have reason — real or perceived — to take offense. How will we react? Will we take offense? Will we find fault? Will we let the passion of the moment overcome us?"
President Brigham Young compared being offended to a poisonous snake bite, with two possible courses of action to follow.
One may search after the snake in anger and kill it or quickly rid himself of the venom.
"If we pursue the latter course, we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish it."
Latter-day Saints must be careful not to cause offense, or snake bites, in the first place, especially within their families.
"Let us not hurt the ones we love the most by selfish criticism. In our families, small arguments and petty criticisms, if allowed to go unchecked, can poison relationships and escalate into estrangement, even abuse and divorce. . . . We cannot afford to let such dangerous passions ruminate — not even one day."
Although we are commanded to forgive sins, that does not mean we must tolerate them. We should work to prevent injuries from happening again. Although it can be difficult to forgive, doing so gives us freedom.
"When we forgive others, it frees us to choose how we will live our lives."
