Alma 5:16-18

"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?
Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?
Alma 5:16-18


This is a chapter that is interesting in a lot of ways, where it talks about that mighty change of heart that we need to get in our lives, and keep in our lives.  And in that context these verses seem like a really good lesson/reminder that conversion can't just be external, but it has to be internal.  In facing the Lord it will be impossible to lie, or to misrepresent what we feel internally.  "Going through the motions" of following the gospel isn't going to cut it.  It is a fine way to start, if we are trying to find the spiritual/emotional side, but until we get all of that and the physical/mental "act on your beliefs" part, we won't be completely, wholly converted.  It's awesome to go to church, to answer the questions correctly, etc.  But it is also necessary to feel it.  To build and have that personal relationship with God that we gain through prayer and study and meditation.  Too often we stand too far back, refusing to engage with the gospel on a personal level.  We discuss it intellectually, we go to church and answer questions in Sunday School, but we don't feel it, and it doesn't engage our souls at the deepest level.  Today, let's work on that part.  Let's figure out how we feel about God, and about the gospel today.  If we need to repent to get rid of some guilt, let's do that. Nothing should stand in the way between ourselves and God.  Same goes for if we feel it and aren't quite getting the actions down.  Let's work on it.  ... And once we get the external and the internal working together, we'll be able to imagine returning to God with pleasure rather than fear.  Which, after all, would be a lot more fun. :)