Fear of Man vs. Faith in God: Why We Hesitate to Speak Plainly

Today, I was struck by the phrase “with sharpness” in Doctrine and Covenants 121:43. In our culture of heightened sensitivity, we often hesitate to speak plainly, fearing we might offend or unsettle. But in our effort to be gentle, we sometimes cross a line—from compassion into compromise. We begin to soften truth not out of love, but out of fear. And in doing so, we risk being untrue to ourselves, to God, and to those we’re called to love with honesty. The Lord has warned against this very impulse: “you feared man more than God” (D&C 3:7). When we let the fear of disapproval outweigh our duty to truth, we trade divine trust for temporary peace.

Correction, when needed, is rarely comfortable. It can sting. It can wound pride. And if the heart receiving it is not humble, it may even provoke anger. But discomfort is not the same as harm. In fact, when someone is wandering, a vague or diluted warning may do more damage than a clear, courageous word.

To speak with “sharpness”—with clarity, directness, and calm authority—is not to contend. Contention is driven by ego, by heat, by the desire to win. But correction, offered without malice or emotional charge, is an act of mercy. It is not unkind to speak plainly. It is not contentious to speak truthfully. As the Lord reminds us elsewhere, “whom I love I also chasten” (D&C 95:1, Hebrews 3:6). Love does not always whisper. Sometimes it warns.

The verse continues with a sacred charge: “showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him.” This is not damage control—it is discipleship. It is the act of reaffirming relationship, of proving that correction was never condemnation. This healing instruction is the balm. A smile, a kind word, a quiet act of service—these are the echoes of love that follow truth. They say, “I spoke plainly because I care deeply. I am still here. You are still loved."