The counsel against speaking evil of Church leaders is not so much for the benefit of the leaders as it is for the spiritual well-being of members who are prone to murmur and find fault. The Church leaders I know are durable people. They made their way successfully in a world of unrestrained criticism before they received their current callings. They have no personal need for protection; they seek no personal immunities from criticism—constructive or destructive. They only seek to declare what they understand to be the word of the Lord to his people.

Our critics at home and abroad are watching us. In an effort to find fault, they listen to every word we say, hoping to entrap us. We may stumble now and again. But the work will not be materially hindered. We will stand up where we fell and go forward.

A wife who is in competition with her husband, or who has just enough mind to detect his faults, is the extinguisher of genius.

Cease to find fault with one another. Cease to speak evil one of another. These commandments are given to preserve the spiritual well-being of the potential critic, not to protect the person(s) who might be criticized. We will lose the Spirit of the Lord if our attitudes and our actions are fault finding...If we cannot say something good about our fellows, say nothing...Love one another and leave the judging to God.

I have given much advice to the Latter-day Saints in my time, and one of the principal items was never to criticize any one but ourselves. I believe in fault-finding for breakfast, dinner and supper, but with our own dear selves.

It is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. So to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship.