James 1

I recently wrote that the Prophet Joseph Smith that faith is a principle of action and a principle of power. True faith suggests conversion to the gospel and principles of the gospel. James taught much the same doctrine as he teaches -

"Blessed is the man that endureth [or resisteth] temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." (New Testament | James 1:12)

True faith requires action to resist temptation but also it provides sufficient strenghth to do so. A "crown of life" seems conditional upon man having sufficient faith to resist temptation. James explains -

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (New Testament | James 1:13 - 15)

"For the wages of sin is death..." (New Testament | Romans 6:23)

Since we all sin, then faith and repentance is required to receive the blessings of the atonement. So therefore -

"...be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (New Testament | James 1:22 - 25)

If we really want to know what the Lord expects of us, James teaches -

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (New Testament | James 1:27)