The word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow (DC 6:2). There are times when using the word with sharpness is appropriate, especially when the audience is particularly wicked. Jacob grieved that he had to speak with such boldness to the wicked of his day (Jacob 2:6), Mormon used the sharpness of the word until it had no more effect among his people (Moroni 9:4), the Savior offended the scribes and Pharisees because he called them to repentance (Lu 11:37-54), the Savior even used sharpness with Peter when he said, Get thee behind me Satan (Matt 16:23). In the last instance, the Lord was chastening Peter for suggesting that He should not go through with His death and resurrection--the things which would bring about the Atonement. This is what the Savior came into the world to do. Peter's spiritual shortsightedness was appropriately chastised by the Lord.
In using sharpness, we would do well to follow the counsel found in DC 121:41-4:
No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile--
Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
Laman and Lemuel's response to Nephi's sharpness was like that among Mormon's people, they accused him of being angry with them. Mormon wrote, when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me (Mormon 9:4). And so it is that the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center (1 Nephi 16:2).