What are the conditions of salvation? Specifically, people must believe the word (v. 11); experience the mighty change, the new birth (v. 12); humble themselves and put their trust in God (v. 13); and remain steadfast and faithful to the end of their mortal lives (v. 13).
“Joy or Remorse of Conscience”
Upon the same principle, evil thoughts or desires are sinful under the laws of God even though not translated into the actions that would make them punishable under the laws of man. Similarly, if a person performs a seemingly righteous act but does so for the wrong reasons, such as to achieve a selfish purpose, his hands may be clean but his heart is not ’pure.’ His act will not be counted for righteousness. (Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart, pp. 12-13.)