The Dew From Heaven
Salvation is the ultimate regeneration of the soul. God can change us from mortality into immortality, but can he change our love of sin? No unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of heaven.
When Jesus appeared to the Nephites, he taught that "... no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end." (3rd Nephi 27:19)
This isn't unlike the verse in Revelation that states "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:27)
The Jews thought that works, or obedience to the law, was sufficient for salvation. They didn't see the need for a savior. Nor did they understand salvation.
Repentance is good and obedience is good, but they aren't sufficient to regenerate our souls unto salvation. Works aren't enough.
“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” (2 Nephi 25:23)
We are saved by grace after we do everything that we can do. Works aren't sufficient. But Martin Luther took it to the other extreme, saying that works aren't needed at all. Faith is measured by obedience, and obedience is a work. Show me your faith without works, and I'll show you my faith with works. Faith without works is mere wishing. We are not saved by wishing.
The parable of the sower is a parable about grace. God is the sower. That is his grace. He gives freely, to the whole earth. But some of his gifts go to waste, like the birds that eat the seed. Some of the seed sprouts, but is overcome by adversity - the hot sun. Some of the seed is choked out by philosophy, or weeds. The seed that finds moist soil will return 30, 60 or a 100 fold, based on the fertility.
What is the seed? It is prophets and apostles, bishops and deacons, scripture, the Holy Spirit, commandments, sacraments, and authority. These are all tokens of God's love for us. If we don't reject his gift, we can all be saved in the kingdom of God. One can be 30, 60 or 100 fold saved, or not saved at all.