Imaginations of the Heart

Virtually every instance of the expression "imaginations of the heart" in the Bible likens such imaginations with idolatry and following other gods. At a covenant ceremony, Moses warns Israel, "Lest there should be among you a man, woman, family or tribe whose heart turns away this day from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood" (Deut. 29:18).  Moses cites a classic kind of self-deception, at the same time harking back to the curses he has just enumerated in connection with the covenant: "And it come to pass, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace (salvation), though I walk in the imagination of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst" (Deut. 29:19).

Moses thereby gives us to understand that self-deception, or "drunkenness," follows a personal lack of "thirst" for the knowledge of God. Paul concurs with that interpretation. He says that imaginations--or reasonings and rationalizations--are a kind of conceit or pretense that exalts itself "against the knowledge of God" (2 Cor. 10:5).  Moses thus concludes his warning by showing how the Lord will not withhold his anger and jealousy from such but will bring "all curses that are written in this book" upon them, separating them unto evil from his covenant people, blotting out their names from under heaven (Deut. 29:20-21).

Imaginations of the heart are nonetheless something each of us has to live with. They are an integral part of being mortal, expressing a person's innate disposition to think or to do evil. Unavoidably, "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen. 8:21). People possess a natural tendency to be proud, mischievous, and wicked (Prov 6:18; Luke 1:51). But when they let the imaginations of their heart rule them, when they do not make captive every thought in obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), then they fall. Then, though "they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened" (Rom. 1:21).

When the Lord's prophet calls on the people to repent, they think, "There is no hope"--they continue following their own devices, relying for guidance on the imaginations of their heart (Jer. 18:12). Instead of hearkening to the Lord's counsel, they hearken to those who say, "Ye shall have peace.... No evil shall come upon you" (Jer. 23:17).  In the end, the Lord esteems such people as good for nothing and vents his wrath upon them (Jer. 13:10-14).  Biblical types of falling prey to the imaginations of the heart include the people before the Flood, the people at the Tower of Babel, and the nations of Israel and Judah before the Exile.

Nephi identifies the large and spacious building he and has father saw in vision as the "vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men" (1 Nephi 12:18). Nephi notes that a great and terrible gulf--the justice of the eternal God--divides those in the building from the godly (1 Nephi 12:18). Those who gather in the building include not only non-Israelites but also members of the house of Israel, who mock, scorn and fight their humble brethern (1 Nephi 8:27, 33; 11:35).

One thing that distinguishes the great multitude in the building is the exceeding fine manner in which they dress (1 Nephi 8:27). Their sophistication and finger-pointing reflect a preoccupation with unreality, as the building in the air, standing high above the earth, also signifies (1 Nephi 8:26). The building's fall is the destruction of all wicked nations, kindreds, tongues, and people--an event of the last days (1 Nephi 11:36).

In the days of Noah "God saw that the wickedness of men had become great in the earth, and every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart, being only evil continually" (Moses 8:22), a particular type of evil that also exists in these last days, even among those who "have professed to know my name and have not known me" (D&C 112:26).

By engaging in self deception, basing our behavior on false pretenses, we sell ourselves short of divine blessings. We endanger our lives as we face perilous times, denying the good effect of God's enduring love for us.

In summary, in the last days, those of us who seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but walk every one in our own way, after the image of our own god--whose image is the likeness of this world, whose substance is that of an idol--must face the consequences of our actions:  must perish in Babylon, which shall fall (D&C 1:16).

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man....  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator.... (Romans 1:21-23;25)

Vain Imaginations

Vain or vanity means useless, empty and without value. Used in the scriptures vain is often associated with the things of the world, or as a description that if we seek justification by works, Christ died in vain, whereas vanity is associated with unbelief. The words imaginations and image as used in the scriptures have a broader meaning and refer to the pride of the Lord's people who take great comfort in their image of goodness and righteousness. Because Satan cannot rule by virtue of his person because he is wicked, he therefore resorts to the use of images and self deception, of which he is the master. His world is a counterfeit full of illusions and "mists of darkness...which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men,... (1 Nephi 12:17).

The large and spacious building in Lehi's dream represents vain imaginations and pride of the children of men (1 Nephi 12:18). And when the Lord tells us at the beginning of this last dispensation that we 'walketh...after the image of our own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world' (D&C 1:16), He is telling us that we are the same as Israel of old.

We imagine ourselves as being righteous. We imagine that we are good. We imagine that we are favored of the Lord. We imagine ourselves as being obedient. We imagine that our works will save us. We imagine that the Lord may beat us with a few stripes but in the end we will be saved. We imagine that we study and know the word of God. We imagine that we believe. We imagine that we are in the world but not of the world. Through our vain imaginations, through our vanity and unbelief, we are lead away carefully down to hell.

Vain imaginations and vanity lead to a perversion of the Lord's word which leads to the teaching and believing of false doctrines. Vain imaginations and vanity cause us to hearken unto the precepts of men and to deny the power of God and the gift of the Holy Ghost. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8). While at the same time we hearken to the precepts of men, we rarely do away with the worship of our true God, but we worship the true God alongside our false gods. This compromise enables us to satisfy both our carnal instincts and our spiritual aspirations.

In some instances the worship of the true God and the false gods becomes fused, and the concept of the true God gets distorted. We impose our false images on the true God. This epitomizes the idea of "philosophies of men mingled with scripture." We then imagine that our outward forms of worship constitute true worship. For example we imagine that by actively congregating and religiously performing ecclesiastical duties that we are righteous. Another example is that by first giving ourselves to neighbor-love (service), we are serving our God. This is only true if we first love God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind, and not the other way around. If we give ourselves first to neighbor-love it cannot be sustained--it will become vain.

The Lord has told us that our vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation? Why because our minds have been darkened because of unbelief, and because we have treated lightly the things we have received-- (D&C 84:54-55).

Our minds become darkened when we set our "hearts upon the vain things of the world" (Alma 5:53); or when we gratify our vain ambition (D&C 121:37).

"I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth? Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say--Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth--and that he will save you?" (Alma 5:16-17)

By a simple sleight of hand Satan will trick you into imagining that you are on the straight and narrow path leading to the tree of life, when you are really in the large and spacious building.

And of Tenets Thou Shalt Not Talk #2

Tenet is defined as any opinion, principle, belief, creed, precept or dogma, especially one held in common by members of an organization. If this is true why then did the Lord say "of tenets that shalt not talk" (D&C 19:31)? Looking at the definition of dogma may give us some hint as to why we are not to talk of tenets. Dogma is often applied to statements put forward by someone who has 'not searched knowledge" (2 Nephi 32:7), (meaning, in this case, the knowledge revealed by God through His word), and believes that the statements should be accepted without proof just because they are spoken and repeated by others especially by those in authority.

This is one reason why I have a problem with talks in church that are made up of lists of things we are supposed to do or to be doing. Lists are tenets. And the problem is that everyone has their own list, and each list is usually preceded by the statement that if you do these four (or five, or six or seven) things you will be in the right path. Also associated with lists is that the speaker generally tells you that this list works for him or her (translation: I am on the right path because I do these things).

Another problem I have with these lists is that they are associated with a slogan such as 'follow the living prophet,' or 'read the Book of Mormon,' and (according to the person who made the list) why it is best for us to do each item on the list. There is seldom any explanation of the slogan which is repeated mantra style as if it is the gospel. Mantra is any repeated word of phrase, and is often without definition. These catch phrases are almost always on everyone's list, as if just the repeating of them makes them true.

But the biggest problem I have with lists is that they lead others astray by making the gospel of Jesus Christ into a 'to do' list, and cause people to seek after righteousness by their performance of the items on the list, rather than by faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 9:30-32), and most importantly they ignore the Lord's way: "And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost" (D&C 19:31 emphasis added). There is a reason why He has commanded us to "say nothing but repentance unto this generation" (D&C 11:9; 14:8; 19:21).

Repentance is the main message of the Book of Mormon, and the first commandment He has given the human race. "But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent" (Moses 6:50). The very purpose of our being here is to repent.  It is number one on our Saviors list where "God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son" (Alma 12:33-34 emphasis added).

Lists of things to do are almost always the product of the person making the list, and I ask why do we need someone's list when we have the Lord telling us what He does for us when we repent and come unto him?  And He makes it clear that repentance is a life long process. Hugh Nibley has said:

The fatal symptom of our day is not that men do wrong--they always have--and commit crimes, and even recognize their wrongdoing as foolish and unfortunate, but that they have no intention of repenting, while God has told us that the first rule that he has given the human race is that all men everywhere must repent. (Of All Things! Classic Quotations from Hugh Nibley, p. 189)

And every list I have ever heard spoken ignores this first rule.

The Lord has told us that strongly riveted creeds, which have been inherited upon the heads of the children, fill the world with confusion and are the "very mainspring of all corruption" (D&C 123:7-14). He describes these as lies and as "an iron yoke, ...a strong band...the very handcuffs, and chains and shackles, and fetters of hell" (Vs. 8).

Important in the records of the dispensations is that when men depart from God's way and substitute their own ways (lists) in its place, they usually do not admit that that is what they are doing. Often they do not deliberately or even consciously substitute their ways for God's ways. On the contrary, they easily and largely convince themselves that their way is God's way.

No list can come close to what the Lord has said and what our prophets (both dead and living) have always reminded us: that it is through our faith in Christ that we tap into His power. The Lord's Prophets have always reminded us that He is the vine and we are the branches and as branches we cannot bring forth the fruit--the fruit being becoming celestial persons--which all begins and ends with Him, and it is through planting His word (the seed) that we will, with continual nourishment from Him and His word, grow into celestial persons. That fruit will not be the result of our works, but because we are repenting and putting our faith in Him, and through Him, that is through His grace, we will be made perfect in Him. We are His fruit.

And that is another reason why I don't like lists, even if they are mingled with scripture.

Much Should Be Done Because of the Hardness of Their Hearts

Jarom said that "it is expedient that much should be done among this people, because of the hardness of their hearts, and the deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, and the stiffness of their necks..." (Jarom 1:3 emphasis added).

The idea of hardness of one's heart and/or the stiffness of one's neck is often associated with one's blindness as to the things of God. For example Nephi said that the devil "blindeth the eyes and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men..." (1 Nephi 12:1;13:1). Another way of saying the same thing is that when one's heart is hard or one's neck is stiff, one does not look unto the Lord, because one has turned his/her heart away from God, and has placed his/her heart on the ways of men and the treasures of men. Men then put their trust in science, technology, weapons, gold, silver, money, travel and worldly pursuits. One cannot 'see' the things of God if one is turned away from God, and if one's heart is set upon the things of the world. One becomes self deceived, contracted as to the things of God, and relying on material things, upon their own strength, and/or upon the wisdom and knowledge of men. The turning away is always associated with hardening of the heart and/or the stiffness of one's neck.

The idea of wholly turning away from God is associated with refusing to hearken unto His voice and turning away from His righteousness (Abraham 1:5). Turning away is also associated with turning toward, and in the case of Abraham's fathers it was the turning of their hearts to other gods (Abraham 1:6-7).

This is also clear in Helaman 6:31 where it is recorded that because Satan had great hold upon the hearts of the people, that they "...had become exceedingly wicked; yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness...and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver" (emphasis added).

When one's heart is set upon the things of the world, one's heart is hard. When one refuses to turn to the Lord one's neck is stiff.

The idea of turning toward either Good (God) or Evil (Satan--any alternative to God) is captured in the Old Testament where the prophets continually admonish the children of Israel to turn their hearts to Jehovah and away from other gods. One has to only look in the Bible Topical Guide under 'turn' and see the multiple references to turning to or away from God. Since the choice is either one or the other, one cannot at the same time worship false gods and the true God. The choice is a turning to God or a turning away from God. There is no middle ground, even though Israel's apostasy has always included giving lip service to the true God, while at the same time setting their hearts upon the things of the world and relying upon the arm of flesh--the false gods. Alma refers to this condition by saying "Behold, O God, they cry unto thee, and yet their hearts are swallowed up in their pride. Behold, O God, they cry unto thee with their mouths, while they are puffed up, even to greatness, with the vain things of the world" (Alma 31:27).

Being hardhearted is repeatedly used in connection with the opposite of repentance or turning to God. "If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son" (Alma 12:33 emphasis added). See also verses 34-37.

Also associated with the hardening of one's heart is the refusal to receive God's word. "Therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word,..." (Alma 12:10-13 emphasis added). Also associated with ignorance of God's word is being stiffnecked. "...I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be" (2 Nephi 32:7 emphasis added).

Is Jarom's comment applicable to us? Consider this. "And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning;... And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up;... Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this--Satan had great power unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world. And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity;... (3 Nephi 6:12-16 emphasis added).

Nephi adds, "Behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught" (2 Nephi 33:2 emphasis added).

The Goodman Letters

Several years ago, after the pattern of The Screwtape Letters written by C.S. Lewis, I wrote the Goodman Letters. For those who don't know, The Screwtape Letters are letters from a supervisory devil to a devil assigned to certain people. In the Goodman Letters, Boggs is the devil assigned to Goodman, and Nehor is his supervisor. The "enemy" is God. The 'Master' is Satan. The name Boggs comes from Governor Boggs who ordered the Mormons to leave Missouri. The name Nehor is from the Book of Mormon. His religion was the most popular in the Book of Mormon.

Dear Boggs,

Goodman is now under your watch, but I don't feel like you need to do anything other than to observe at this point. He is quite content that he is a good man who performs well, and is a good example to his friends and family. He has a very good image of himself, which others share as well. His family, his coworkers and ward members reinforce his image and flatter him that he is nice and well respected. He views his recent calling as a High Councilor as a reward for his goodness, and he now has an additional group of men who will also reinforce his image. For the moment, he uses the enemy's scriptures as part of his image, and considers himself one of the good guys.

Nehor

Dear Boggs,

You missed something last week concerning Goodman that you need to watch. He was asked in a gospel doctrine class if he compared himself to the older or younger brother in the parable of the prodigal son. The question had never occurred to him before that, as he had always compared himself with the older brother who had remained faithful. But Samuel planted a seed and he left the classroom thinking about it. Fortunately he didn't have time to ponder the question because he was stopped in the hallway by the bishop who thanked him for the wonderful talk he gave in meeting last week, and flattered him sufficiently that the parable did not come back into his mind. Watch him this week and hopefully he will stay so busy with work, family and church that he won't get beyond his duty to read the scriptures and actually hear the parable.

Nehor

Dear Boggs,

Good work keeping Goodman out of that gospel doctrine class last week. There are a few in that class who are actually listening to Samuel and likening the scriptures unto themselves. Once they do, and continue to do so, our work is much more difficult. So far Goodman hasn't considered it, as you have been successful in keeping him focused on doing his duty and keeping the commandments. That was ingenious of our Master to emphasize the outward performances. Use this with Goodman. Keep him active and self-sufficient in his talents and abilities, taking strength unto himself. Make sure others praise him and keep telling him what a good man he is. So far he believes it and as long as he does, our work will go smoothly.

Nehor

Dear Boggs,

I have been concerned about Samuel. For some reason he has taken it upon himself to go out of his way to befriend Goodman. Last week in the hallway at church, Samuel gave Goodman an article on the prodigal son. Your job this week is to make sure that Goodman does not read it. Samuel is a problem for you. Your predecessor lost his job because of Samuel. So far Goodman only sees Samuel as someone he is glad he is not--unsuccessful in most areas of his life, whose wife complains to others that he can't keep a decent job. She said he spends all his time reading and studying the enemy's words and doesn't live in the real world. (Another stroke of genius of our Master--the real world!) But Samuel has a gift from the enemy, and the enemy can get to Goodman through Samuel. You must see to it that Goodman continues to see himself as better than Samuel, but more importantly tempt him that his works are good and that he is good. He cannot be allowed to see the evil in himself. If he does you will lose him.

Nehor

Dear Boggs,

I see that Samuel was released last week, and no one with the gift of knowledge was called to replace him. Isn't it good that our Master has caused them to ignore the gifts of the enemy? It certainly makes our work easier. I don't think you are aware, however, that Goodman's wife found the article on the prodigal son, and read it last week. Unfortunately it touched her that the enemy can love both sons equally and that the enemy and his angels actually rejoiced over the prodigal son coming home. And worse, she wanted Goodman to read it, and because she asked he did. Fortunately he still saw himself as the elder brother who had been faithful, and you need to reinforce his faithfulness this week, which should not be too difficult. But watch Mrs. Goodman closely. She actually thanked Samuel for giving them the article. So guess what? Samuel gave her an article on the lost sheep, and asked her to think about why the enemy would describe the ninety and nine as those 'who need no repentance?' Your work is cut out for you, even though Goodman is still caught up in his goodness. In fact the stake president told his entire high council that they were righteous men. Good for us.

Nehor

Dear Boggs,

You fool! What good are you if you can't see what is happening? You were content to think that Goodman was already ours. No one ever is ours until the enemy no longer allows them to turn to him. I told you to watch Samuel. You didn't and Mrs. Goodman is asking for more articles and has started to really read the enemy's scriptures. I fear that your influence over Goodman is weakening, even though he still hasn't got a clue. I warned you that the enemy would use Samuel to get to Goodman. But you say it is only Mrs. Goodman. You are a stupid devil! Once the enemy's spirit gets to her, you can bet your job on the fact that she will turn her efforts to Goodman. Our only hope is that Goodman continues to love his place on the stand. Make sure that he does! And make sure that the enemy's scriptures stay on Goodman's table!

Nehor

Dear Boggs,

I feel very good about the majority of the people under your watch. They continue to teach their own doctrines mingled with the enemy's scriptures. Their discussions are low and vulgar as their founder Smith said. And they worship their false gods at the same time they give lip service to the enemy. Samuel does, however, have several of your people moving from pride to humility. This kind of cancer can spread to your whole community. Just the other day Mrs. Goodman told her husband that what she used to believe and what the enemy's scriptures tell her are not even close to the same. She has discovered that it is not about her own goodness but the enemy's. Goodman was upset with Samuel for feeding this stuff to his wife, but did acknowledge that his wife seemed much more humble. But the good news for us is that Goodman was given a promotion and will make twice as much money. The Goodmans are moving to a much nicer neighborhood! Your work with them is done. They will now be under the watchful eye of Trump.

Nehor,

Dear Trump,

As you are aware the Goodmans are moving to your neighborhood. I know you have talked with Boggs and have some background on both Goodman and Mrs. Goodman. Even with this move, I am still worried about Mrs. Goodman, even though these new circumstances will make it more difficult for her. But as long as Goodman can provide her with security, there is hope that her new found dependence on the enemy, will either replace or at least compete with the financial security she so desires. Either way will work for us. I understand that their new house is large and beautiful, but not the largest in their neighborhood, and that will also work in our favor. They, or at least Goodman, now has the trappings to go with his desired self image. He will spend much of his time comparing himself among his neighbors. (You have always had the easiest job!) You should't have much trouble with them as long as they build their portfolio and gain the security they desire. See that they do, and make sure that they thank the enemy daily for all that they receive (deserve), and remain active in their congregation.

Nehor

The Gospel is About Our Unworthiness

Alma teaches his son Shiblon that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about our unworthiness and not our goodness, righteousness or obedience.

"Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethern; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethern in mercy--yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times" (Alma 38:14).



Our attempts to establish our own righteousness, come as a result of having a zeal but not according to knowledge. Paul said: "Brethern, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:1-4 emphasis added).

The Lord teaches us that man cannot be righteous because righteousness requires both omniscience and omnipotence to know what should be done and to have the power to do it. So righteousness is of God, never of man. The gospel of Jesus Christ is about how to obtain the righteousness of God, and to either choose the righteousness of God (Good) or everything else (Evil), which is the definition of Good and Evil in the scriptures, and why I use a capital "G" and a capital "E" in describing Good and Evil. Human goodness (with a small "g") is flawed goodness and we can never be good enough to live our way back to His presence. That is why Christ reminds us that "there is none good but one, that is God;..." (Matt 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19), and why we "look to God and live" (Alma 37:47).

So the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about our nothingness and His goodness, and until we come to recognize this, and experience it, we will put our trust in men and make flesh our arm, and confuse righteousness with performing ecclesiastical duties, and go about to establish our own righteousness.

The formula of His goodness and our nothingness is the basis for both faith and repentance, which is what both Paul and Mormon describe as godly sorrow. (2 Cor. 7:17; Mormon 2:13) This is the subject matter of King Benjamin's discourse, which was not his actually, but the words of God delivered to him by an angel.

Let me illustrate further. The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican is about self righteousness and unworthiness, and after the Publican went back to his house justified, what would you, as his bishop, require of him following that experience? Would you be tempted to make him into a Pharisee by measuring his worth based on his worthiness, or would you trust the Lord to do the same the next week and the next, as long as the Publican was humble and recognizing his unworthiness? Remember that this parable was given to the Pharisees who "trusted in themselves that they were righteousness" (Luke 18:9-14).

And said another way by C.S. Lewis: "How is it that people who are quite obviously eaten up with Pride can say they believe in God and appear to themselves very religious? I am afraid it means they are worshiping an imaginary God. 

They theoretically admit themselves to to be nothing in the presence of this phantom God, but are really all the time imagining how He approves of them, and thinks them far better than ordinary people: that is, they pay a pennyworth of imaginary humility to Him and get out of it a pound's worth of Pride towards their fellow-men. ...  

Whenever we find that our religious life is making us feel that we are good--above all, that we are better than someone else--I think we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the devil" (Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis p. 96).

And the two major concerns of both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young when it came to members of the Church? Self-righteousness and covetousness.

"...yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times" (Alma 38:14).