We are each children of our Heavenly Father. As such we have incredible potential of what we can become. God has a vision for each of us to become something far superior than we can even comprehend in ourselves. His intention is for us to become like Him, possessing all of His divine qualities and virtues (Matthew 5:48).
The problem is that each of us are human beings, and thus we all sin and fall short of inheriting eternal life (Romans 3:23). Nothing unclean can dwell in God's presence, and sin makes us unclean, so therefore, because all of us have sinned, no one can live with God again...Right?
Well, fortunately, because God foresaw that each of us would sin, and because he wanted each of us to return to Him, He provided a way for us to become clean and forgiven. That way is through His Son, Jesus Christ. God sent His Only Begotten Son to pay the penalty for each of our sins, so that we could return back to Him (John 3:16).
Although God in His great mercy and love sent His Only Son to suffer, bleed, and die for us, so that we could receive mercy, it still requires effort on our part to receive Christ's Atoning sacrifice. This "effort" is called repentance -- repentance is the means by which we are reconciled to God through Christ. Because Christ felt our pains, and understands us personally, when we repent, He is able to plead with the Father:
"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).
