But I did remain among them, but I was forbidden to preach unto them, BecauseOfTheHardnessOfTheirHearts; and because of the hardness of their hearts the land was cursed for their sake.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/morm/1?lang=eng&id=p17#p17

What causes this? Iniquity, which causes people to depart from God.

8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/heb/3.8,12?lang=eng#p8

When 'the day of temptation in the wilderness' is said, I think of the mistrust shown to God when it was time to go into the promised land. Spies had brought varying reports and the children of Israel, who had just experienced walking through the Red Sea, decided that their God asked too much of them now. 'Harden not your hearts…'

Humble ourselves before him. Put our trust in God.

-- JasonNemrow - 14 Apr 2024