Seeking vs. Sitting on One's Thumbs.

Here's what Nephi has to say about seeking:

I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgment. Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.(1 Nephi 10:17-20)

Nephi is implying that those who do not seek do not find. But, there’s more. Those who don’t seek are brought into judgment and the judgment is, if you have sought (think of seek) to do wickedly you get cast off. The person was in a non-active state of ‘unseek’ which condemned him.  Amulek was in a state of ‘unseek’ when he had chosen to harden his heart, etc. to the truths he already knew.  When we stop seeking, our ability to see, hear and know truth diminishes.  As we are conditioned by the world around us, the traditions that we choose to follow crowd out the correct traditions or the ways of the Lord.

There are so my falsehoods that stop us from seeking. Republicanism creates a belief that we all prosper according to our genius. Democratism creates a belief that redistribution must be done involuntarily. Never-do-it-once-ism teaches a belief of anti-atonement and self-righteousness. Mormon conservatism teaches a belief that spiritual manifestations are weird and wrong. Mormon structuralism teaches a belief that all worship has to be done a three hour block of time without the ability of the Holy Ghost to override the meeting plan. Never-do-it-once-ism creates a fear that someone with a different belief is evil and all must conform. Never-do-it-once-ism teach a belief in the cult of the prophet. Magic-Temple-ism believes that by going to the temple you have made it to the third degree without even knowing or doing anything (regarding the covenants).

We are also so attached to things that give us a perceived identity (nation, race, religion, creed, family, middle class, upper class, etc.) that anything that clashes with how we identify ourselves has to be resisted and if possible, forced out.

I got away from seeking. But, it all applies. If we seek Christ and his ways, all false believes are rooted out over time.