(Hey, when you're auditioning for godhood -- like temple Mormons are, you better be on your best outward behavior)...
Of course...I'm sure the Pharisees' neighbors of Jesus' day would have complimented them...even Jesus did re: their OUTWARD behavior...saying at one point that unless one's righteousness exceeded theirs, they would in no wise inherit the Kingdom of God...
Of course, the rest of the story about the Pharisaical religious assessment -- their inward one -- can be found with Jesus' assessment in matthew 23...
Your experience, then, appears to have been different than mine.
We Buddhists don’t worry about such things...thanks though !