Why would Joseph Smith publish revelations chastising him? Doesn’t this meet the criterion of embarrassment?

After losing the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith received and published the revelation found in Doctrine and Covenants 3. Verses 6 and 11 read:

And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men.

Except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up and become as other men, and have no more gift.

Isn’t this embarrassing for Joseph Smith? If he was trying to convince his followers he was a prophet why would he publish revelations like this? Wouldn’t these have given his followers reason to leave him? Aren’t these revelations too embarrassing not to be true?

See:

• Book of Mormon Central – What Can We All Learn about Repentance from the Tragic Loss of the 116 Book of Mormon Pages?

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