How foolish and dark the mind that supposes a person can lie to God, hide his sins, and excuse and cleanse his soul with words of fulsome praise. Why would anyone reverence a God so easily deceived by fools? And of what pleasure would a heaven be that was filled with such beings?
“A Pure Heart and Clean Hands”
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? the ancient psalmist asked. And in response he wrote: “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul onto vanity nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalms 24:3-5.) Elder Dallin H. Oaks has written: “If we do righteous acts and refrain from evil acts, we have clean hands. If we act for the right motives and if we refrain from forbidden desires and attitudes, we have pure hearts.” (Pure in Heart, p. 1.)