Visiting Teaching Message
The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Advocate
Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what
to share. How will understanding the life
and Mission of
the Savior to increase your faith in
Him and bless those you watch over through visiting
teaching? For more information, go to
reliefsociety.lds.org.
Faith, Family, Relief
This is part of a series of
Visiting Teaching Messages featuring aspects of the mission of the Savior.
Jesus Christ is our Advocate
with the Father. The word advocate has Latin roots meaning “one
who pleads for another”¹ The Savior
pleads for us, using, understanding, justice, and mercy. Knowing this can fill us with love and
gratitude for His Atonement.
“Listen to [Jesus Christ] who
is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—
“Saying: Father, behold the
suffering and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased;
behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest
that thyself might be glorified;
“Wherefore, Father spare
these my brethren that believe on my name that they may come unto me and have
everlasting life” (D&C 45:3-5).
Of Christ as our Advocate,
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles sale: “It is
of great significance to me, that I amy at any moment and in any circumstance
approach through prayer the throne of grace, that my Heavenly jFather will hear
my petition, thatmy Advocate, him who did no sin, whose blood was shed, will
plead my cause.”²
Additional Scriptures
Mosiah 15:8-9; Moroni 7:28; Doctrine and
Covenants 29:5; 110:4
From the Scriptures
Throughout the history of the
Lord’s Church, female disciples of Jesus Christ have folled His example. Esther was faithful and courageous. Her cousin Mordecai sent her a copy of the
king’s decree that the Jews should be destroyed, and he charged her “to make
request before [the king] for her people.”
He added: “And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such
a time as this?” (Esther 4:8,14)
Despite the danger, Esther
agreed: “So will I go in unto the king,
which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
Esther then spoke humbly to
the king and “fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears … to reverse
the letters… to destroy the jews.” She
added, “How can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” (see Esther 8:3, 5-6). The king’s heart was softened and he granted
her petition.³
Consider This
How can the advocacy of Jesus Christ inspire
us to extend mercy and forgiveness to others?
Notes
1.
See Russell M. Nelson, “Jesus Christ Our Master and More” (Brigham Young
Univ. fireside, Feb 2 1992) 4; speeches, byu.edu
2.
D. Todd Christofferson, “I know in Whom I Have Trusted,” Ensign,May 1993, 83.
3.
See also Daughters in My Kingdom:
The History and Word of Relief Society (2011),
180
