Vain Imaginations

I was surprised to see in the scriptures how often the idea of “vain imaginations” is spoken of.  I believe that in most if not all of them, the word “vain” is meant to indicate prideful (although the other interpretation, meaning “futile”, would also work well).  The angel told Nephi that the large and spacious building represented “vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men,” clearly linking pride with these imaginations (1 Nephi 12:18).  Paul spoke of those who were ungrateful and “became vain in their imaginations” (Romans 1:21).  When the devil caused the Nephites to disbelieve the signs of the Savior’s birth, Mormon said the people were “imagining up some vain thing in their hearts” as their way of discounting the many indications of the fulfillment of prophecy (3 Nephi 2:2).  The same group was described this way: “Many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain” (Helaman 16:22).  The Psalmist questioned, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” (Psalms 2:1)  Pride and imaginations are also linked in Psalms 10:2.  So what are all of these scriptures really referring to?  Are we sometimes guilty of the same sin?  Perhaps at least part of these “vain imaginations” is when we start thinking or daydreaming or just wishing that at some future point we will be recognized by some group for our great accomplishments or character or physical traits.  Even if we live a relatively “righteous” life in the sense that we aren’t out committing grievous sin, where do our thoughts wander when we have nothing in particular to think about?  I think that our human nature is, whether we realize it or not, to puff ourselves up in some way by thinking about how we shall be applauded by men.  Sometimes we can get caught in thinking about how great others will view us because of our “righteousness” that we think we have.  President Kimball apparently said something to the effect of “Don’t be proud of your humility,” which can be surprisingly difficult.  Perhaps the antidote for these “vain imaginations” that we might find ourselves thinking about is to seek to ponder the important things in life that the people in the scriptures spend time pondering: what the Lord wants of us in our life, the scriptures themselves, Christ’s atonement, and revelation from the Lord.