My disciples In Days Of Old/ Forgiveness

“My Disciples, In Days of Old 

D&C 64:8 - My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.  

At this time period in the church there was contentions among the brethren.  Ezra Booth was printing misleading information and talking badly about the Prophet Joseph.  History account -  Ezra Booth parted ways with the Church in a very public fashion. Because his experience did not match his expectations of how Zion should look or how Joseph Smith should behave, he first wavered and then abandoned his faith. Beginning that October, the Ohio Star, a newspaper located in Ravenna, Ohio, began publishing a series of letters Booth penned, heavily criticizing Joseph Smith and the Church. 

There was indeed contentions going on among the members.  

President Joseph Fielding Smith explained in referring to this verse, The Lord declared that when he was in his ministry, his disciples saw occasion against one another and failed at times to forgive in their hearts.  It was this condition which prompted Peter to ask the Lord how many times he should forgive his brother, till seven times? The Lord answered him - “ I say not until the until seven times but until 70 times seven.  Matt: 18:21-22- As the disciples of old brought upon themselves affliction  and chastening,  so do we, when we do not have in our hearts the spirit of forgiveness-  brings upon ourselves affliction and chastening from the Lord.  There is a great lesson to learn that contention and not forgiving one another brings sorrow and separation in our family circle, ward members and friendships.  This has been a painful lesson for me to learn and accept in my own life.