“Full purpose of heart” suggests a total commitment to Jesus Christ, with pure and sincere motives, rather than only pretending to follow the Lord. President Marion G. Romney (1897–1988) of the First Presidency observed such hypocrisy: “There are individuals who try to serve the Lord without offending the devil” (“The Price of Peace,” Ensign, Oct. 1983, 6).Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphasized the importance of sincerely following the Lord:
“Do we, indeed, actually live the gospel, or do we just manifest the appearance of righteousness so that those around us assume we are faithful when, in reality, our hearts and unseen actions are not true to the Lord’s teachings?
“Do we take on only the ‘form of godliness’ while denying the ‘power thereof’? [Joseph Smith—History 1:19].
“Are we righteous in fact, or do we feign obedience only when we think others are watching?
“The Lord has made it clear that He will not be fooled by appearances, and He has warned us not to be false to Him or to others. He has cautioned us to be wary of those who project a false front, who put on a bright pretense that hides a darker reality. We know that the Lord ‘looketh on the heart’ and not on the ‘outward appearance’ [1 Samuel 16:7]” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 17–18; or Ensign, May 1997, 15–16).