One of the finest statements in all our literature is a poignant plea of the Perfect One:
“Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him-saying: Father, behold the sufferings 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 italics added).
“He Will Plead Your Cause”
Though Christ suffered for all, he is justified in pleading only the cause of the righteous, those who repent and obey (2 Nephi 9:21; Alma 11:40; D&C 18:11-12, 19:16-17; D&C 38:4). Only those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit (2 Nephi 2:6-7) -those who have become the children of Christ by covenant adoption-are entitled to the intercession of the Son. Abinadi said: “Whosoever has heard the Words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the Coming of the lord-I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God. For these are they whose sins he has borne, these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. ” (Mosiah 15:11-12; italics added.)