One quality of righteousness that is seldom discussed is to develop a faith that cannot be easily offended. Whether offended by the word, or more commonly, by someone at church, our testimonies should be strong enough to withstand such offense. Even if the bishop calls you an “incompetent, stupid idiot” that is not a justification for leaving the Church. The Lord taught, And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me (Matt 11:16).
The phenomenon of falling away from the Church because of being offended is part of the parable of the sower. The seed which fell among stony ground did well for awhile, until tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended (Matt 13:20). The Savior says that He cannot be easily offended. He holds no animosity toward the offenders but forgives them all, And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him (Matt 12:32). If all of us had the same attitude, there would be none who had fallen away because of offense.
There are so many who have fallen away because someone has said or done something offensive to them. More often than not the offender meant no harm and has been misunderstood. Nevertheless, once offended, its tough to come back, A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city (Prov 18:19). Although we have a responsibility to seek out the offended, straying sheep, we also have a responsibility, as members, to develop a faith which can withstand any blows to our personal pride.
Spencer W. Kimball
“We may get angry with parents, or a teacher, or the Bishop, and dwarf ourselves into nameless anonymity as we shrivel and shrink under the venom and poison of bitterness, little realizing the suffering of the hater, the latter cheats himself…To terminate activity in the Church just to spite leaders or to give vent to wounded feelings is to cheat ourselves.” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 242-3 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 318)