Accuser

We have learned: "Satan is a title, and means accuser, opponent and adversary; hence once he fell, Lucifer became, or in other words was called, Satan, because he accuses others and opposes the Father."

A day will come when, standing before the Father, Lucifer will strive to bar your upward progression by accusing you of sin and (correctly) demanding justice be done. Lucifer will stir those up who have a just cause against you, to also stand before the Father and accuse you. He will bring witnesses and records, proving all the sordid details of your transgressions. 

"This man took my life and robbed me the days of my probation..." "This man stole from me..." "This man lied to me... cheated me... dug a pit for me..." "This man, on this day, did this thing..." and so on.

There are several items worth pondering.

If no one justly accuses you, despite your transgressions against them, then Lucifer's case against you becomes near extinct. He is a prosecutor without cause. Christ's blood satisfies the remaining demands of Justice for the penitent and the plan of mercy is brought about for them. Lucifer becomes powerless. It will be a glorious day for the righteous. Alma's counsel to his son Corianton is an excellent meditation on this subject. 

So there are two things we should strive for. First, cause no offense against your brother that provokes him to rightfully accuse you. Second, do not accuse others. Frankly forgive them. The standard by which we do that will be the same by which the great Judge will hold us. We will come forward and stand before Him to acknowledge all His judgments are just. 

Christ as the Mediator and Advocate does the opposite of accuse. He will plead our cause, 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." 

There will be others who will come forward as well, to advocate on our behalf. They will bear witness of what we did for them, the widow, the beggar, the weary, the downtrodden, the friend, the forgiven enemy, who will testify of our deeds. Some will do this even though all we did was offend or hurt them. Some will plead for us simply because they love us. The righteous spouse, parent, child, sibling, friend has great power of persuasion with the Lord's kind heart. 

Joseph Smith said, "if you do not accuse each other God will not accuse you. If you have no accuser you will enter heaven ... If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you. If you will throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours- for charity covereth a multitude of sins." 

(see p. 20 History, 1838-1856, Volume C-1 Addenda of the Joseph Smith papers)

Today in our hearts and at that future great day of the Lord, we can Accuse or we can Advocate. 

I hope that Christ will present the best possible case for me, with all the energy of His heart, pleading on my behalf. How then ought I to pray for others, how ought I to treat them?

What manner of men ought we to be? What title do we want to bear?