Lesson 18: D&C 45

April 26 - May 2 
Doctrine and Covenants 45
"The promises... shall be fulfilled"

Materials: dice, hymnal, printed quotations below
Opening Song: "I know my father lives" (Hymns, 302)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

What does a lawyer do? Where do they work? Lawyers are people who understand the law. They use their knowledge of the law to either help convict criminals or to help people accused of a crime. Defense lawyers speak on the behalf of their client, pleading with the judge for them on their behalf. Another word for this kind of lawyer is an advocate. John the beloved said, "And if any man sin, we have an ^badvocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:1)

Lesson:

In the Doctrine and Covenants, Jesus explains how he is our advocate with the Father. Read D&C 45: 3-5. In these verses, we hear Jesus speaking to the Father about us, pleading for us, and  asking Heavenly Father to grant us everlasting life. Jesus's role as our advocate is one of his most important jobs--a job only he can do because only he is perfect. 

Activity: Roll and Learn

To learn more about Jesus Christ's roll as our advocate with Heavenly Father, we will take turn rolling a die. The number on the die corresponds to an activity or passage to read below. Keep rolling until all six numbers have been rolled. (You may wish to print off the quotations)

Sing the 4th verse to "Reverently and Meekly Now" #185 

1. 4. At the throne I intercede;

   For thee ever do I plead.

   I have loved thee as thy friend,

   With a love that cannot end.

   Be obedient, I implore,

   Prayerful, watchful evermore,

   And be constant unto me,

   That thy Savior I may be.

   
   

   
   

   
   
   Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “It is of great significance to me, that I may at any moment and in any circumstance approach through prayer the throne of grace, that my Heavenly Father will hear my petition, that my Advocate, him who did no sin, whose blood was shed, will plead my cause.” D. Todd Christofferson, “I Know in Whom I Have Trusted,” Ensign, May 1993, 83.

Watch "The Mediator" Video 

Read Jesus's Intercessory Prayer. Remind your family that Jesus gave this prayer just after the last supper. He pleads to Heavenly Father on our behalf in prayer before going to the Garden of Eden to atone for our sins. 

"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

I pray for them." [John 17:6–9]

Read Moroni 7: 28 "For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens."

"In the terminology of today’s legal system, an advocate is a lawyer who pleads another’s cause in a court of law, or in other words, an attorney for the defense. Usually, the attorney for the defense pleads the cause on the basis that the client is innocent; or if guilty, that extenuating circumstances should be considered and mercy extended. At the time of eternal judgment, we will stand before the bar of God accused of being imperfect and unworthy to enter God’s presence, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). At that time we have an Advocate with the Father. He will stand beside us to plead our cause before the Great Judge; however, He does not plead our case by pointing to our lack of guilt; rather, it is His own sinlessness to which He calls God’s attention (see D&C 45:4). His perfection and His suffering pay the price to satisfy justice for those of His “brethren that believe on my name” (v. 5). Imagine the indescribable sorrow of standing before the judgment bar with no one to step forward, no one to speak for you. How tragic that some will not come to Him in true faith and repentance so that He can take their guilt upon Him and become their advocate with the Father" (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Section 45). 

After learning about the Jesus's special role as our advocate with Heavenly Father, we should be grateful and humble that we have such a benevolent Savior. What does it mean to you to know that Christ is your advocate? Bear your testimony

Closing Song: "I feel my Savior's love" (Children's Songbook, 74)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Cheesecake Bars recipe here