Mosiah 17-18

Mosiah 17

Abinadi finishes delivering his message from God to King Noah and his wicked priests. They are angry and determined to kill him, but his message touches the heart of one priest—Alma—who pleads with the king to let Abinadi go. The king orders his guards to kill Alma, but he runs and is able to escape and hide. He hides for many days, and while he is hiding he writes down the words of Abinadi, which is how we have a record of what he taught. We will read a lot more about Alma.

But meanwhile, back in the palace Abinadi is sentenced to death by fire, despite his warning that King Noah and his priests “shall suffer, as I suffer, the pains of death by fire (v 18).” And so Abinadi dies a martyrs death, being burned at the stake, “having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death (v 20).” Abinadi is one of the great heroes in the Book of Mormon -- a prophet of God brave enough to die for his convictions. 

I stumbled across a blog post about Abinadi that I really liked. The author said, “God sends certain people into our lives to help us see the Savior more clearly. I will refer to these people as “Abinadi’s”. They can be prophets (like the Abinadi in this account), or leaders, or parents, or teachers, or friends, or whomever the Lord chooses. We don’t always appreciate the Abinadi’s God puts in our lives. They can make us feel uncomfortable. Sometimes they point out things that we are doing wrong. But God sends Abinadi’s into our lives because He loves us and He is trying to save us. Unfortunately many times we ignore the Abinadi’s that God sends. And sometimes we may even burn them! (Mosiah 17) If I could get one message across with this post it would be: DON’T BURN YOUR ABINADI’S! They are your friend, not your foe. We tend to burn our Abinadi’s when we confuse friends with fiends."

Mosiah 18

Alma begins to teach the words of Abinadi in stealth mode! He hides out by day near a “body of water” in the wilderness called the Waters of Mormon, and people come to hear him preach there. He begins to develop a following of people who believe the words of Abinadi, and want to repent and follow God again. 

I have always loved Alma’s words about baptism:

8… and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

 10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

I think this counsel is so logical. If you want to be part of God’s people, and you want to help other people and make their burdens light, and be a witness of God, and be part of the first resurrection… well then, what do you have against being baptized to demonstrate to God that you are willing to make a covenant with him? Ultimately God expects this change of heart and demonstration of commitment from all of us (John 3:5, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”, and 2 Nephi 9:23, “And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.”)

Alma establishes a proper church amongst those who are baptized in the Waters of Mormon in the wilderness. He ordains righteous priests (unlike King Noah’s) and teaches the people to work hard, to avoid contention, to keep the Sabbath day holy, and to support each other by sharing their possessions with those in need.   

Their peace won’t last long, however, because King Noah’s spies discover Alma and his people and tell the king. But Alma’s group is able to escape deeper into the wilderness before they are caught by the King’s army.

Mosiah 15-16

Mosiah 15

As Abinadi continues to preach to King Noah and his wicked high priests, he testifies of Jesus Christ’s role as the Redeemer. Christ is often referred to as both the Son and the Father. I believe (and Mormons believe) that God the Father and Jesus Christ are two separate beings. To me it makes logical sense, and I believe the scriptures as a whole teach this. But there are many confusing passages of scripture—such as here in Mosiah 15—that talk about the Father and Son being one. This means one in purpose, in desire, in righteousness. They are totally unified, and in many ways Jesus Christ can be called a Father because of his sacred role and accomplishments in doing the will of God the Father.  To summarize the ways that Jesus Christ is a Father, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church said:

“As Abinadi taught, Christ was ‘conceived by the power of God’ (Mosiah 15:3) and therefore has the powers of the Father within him. In addition to that divine lineal relationship, Christ also acts as the Father in that he is the Creator of heaven and earth [see John 1:1-3 and Hebrews 1:1-2], is the father of our spiritual rebirth and salvation, and is faithful in honoring—and therefore claiming the power of—the will of his Father above that of his own will” (Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 183–84).

Abinadi also teaches important principles about the Atonement of Jesus Christ in this chapter. Christ suffered for every sin of every person who has lived and will ever live. His pain was so great that he bled from every pore (Luke 22:40-44 and D&C 19:18-19). Why would he do this?—and how could it possibly be worth it to him? Abinadi tells us in vs. 10 that, “when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed.” In other words, when I choose to actually USE his sacrifice to repent and follow him, Christ sees results that make his sacrifice worth it to Him. Abinadi describes the people who will “be His seed”—or those who make Christ’s sacrifice worthwhile:

 11 Behold I say unto you, that 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.

12 For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions.

Abinadi also teaches about the resurrection in vs. 20-26. Those who are "his seed" will also qualify for the first resurrection. The scriptures teach that everyone will be resurrected some day, but it will happen in batches -- the righteous first, and the rebellious much much later.

Mosiah 16

Abinadi prophecies of the day when all mankind will know the truth of the Lord, and at that day the wicked will be cast out. Notice he says it will be those who “would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord”, not those who did not know about the Lord, who will be cast out (vs. 1-2).

This chapter describes more qualities of those who will not qualify for the first resurrection. These are worth pondering, because they sound bad but really anyone could fall into these behaviors:

• Persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God (v 5)
• Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires (v 12)
• Having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not (v 12)
• They being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them (v12)
• They were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent (v 12)

But on a happier note, because of the resurrection of Christ, all mankind will be resurrected and brought to stand before God to be judged. His gift of resurrection is a gift to all.

 7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.

 8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

 9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.

 10 Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil.

Mosiah 13-14

Mosiah 13

King Noah and his Priests are angry with Abinadi’s words and try to take him away to kill kim, but Abinadi’s “face shone with exceeding luster, even as Moses’ did while in the mount of Sinai, while speaking with the Lord” and he warned them that they could not touch him until he had finished delivering the message the Lord had sent him to give (vs. 1-10). He also says that after he is finished delivering the message, it doesn’t matter what happens to him—but he warns them that whatever they do to him will be a “shadow” of what will happen to them.

Abinadi continues his message, teaching the king and his priests the 10 commandments. He says, “I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts; I perceive that ye have studied and taught iniquity the most part of your lives (vs. 11).” I like the concept of having the commandments written on your heart. What do you think that would “look” like if someone had the commandments written on his/her heart?

After reading the 10 commandments, Abinadi goes deeper to explain that keeping the 10 commandments won’t save anyone—not by themselves. They must keep the law, but then they also need the atonement of Jesus Christ.

27 And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses.

 28 And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses.

 29 And now I say unto you that it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God;

 30 Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him.

 31 But behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to come.

 32 And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there could not any man be saved except it were through the redemption of God.

 33 For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?

 34 Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?

 35 Yea, and have they not said also that he should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself, should be oppressed and afflicted?

Mosiah 14

Abinadi quotes from Isaiah to demonstrate to Noah and his priests that the scriptures prophesy of Jesus Christ. If you are familiar with the Bible, you will probably recognize these beautiful verses (compare to Isaiah 53). Here are a few of my favorites:

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

 4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Mosiah 11-12

Mosiah 11

King Noah is a trouble-maker. In a short period of time, he turns around the righteous culture of Zeniff’s people as they follow after Noah’s bad example. Here are a few of the details of King Noah’s lifestyle:

2 For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness.

 5 For he put down all the priests that had been consecrated by his father, and consecrated new ones in their stead, such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts.

6 Yea, and thus they were supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which king Noah had put upon his people; thus did the people labor exceedingly to support iniquity.

14 And it came to pass that he placed his heart upon his riches, and he spent his time in riotous living with his wives and his concubines; and so did also his priests spend their time with harlots.

Not coincidentally, the Lamanites begin creating more trouble. They start by attacking small groups of Nephites working in the fields, and eventually they start a battle. The Nephites are lucky enough to win again… for now. But their victory won’t last long with their new attitude:

19 And now, because of this great victory they were lifted up in the pride of their hearts; they did boast in their own strength, saying that their fifty could stand against thousands of the Lamanites; and thus they did boast, and did delight in blood, and the shedding of the blood of their brethren, and this because of the wickedness of their king and priests.

At this time, a prophet begins preaching to the people. His name is Abinadi (pronounced Uh-bin-uh-die). He tells them that the Lord has commanded him to tell the people to repent, or destruction and bondage will come to them. The people, of course, don’t like to be told they need to repent—and neither does King Noah—and they try to kill Abinadi but “the Lord delivered him out of their hands.” This isn’t the last we will hear from Abinadi.

Mosiah 12

After 2 years, Abinadi comes back—this time in disguise! He continues prophesying the destruction of the people if they do not repent. Actually, this time there is no “if you do not repent” condition—he prophesies that bondage and destruction WILL come to King Noah and his people because they did not repent. Notice all the calamities that Abinadi prophesies in vs. 2-7, because you will see them come to pass in future chapters.

This story always makes me think of how many chances God gives us in life. We are taught, we are warned, we are counseled—sometimes lovingly, sometimes strictly, sometimes subtly, sometimes blatantly. And whenever we insist on persisting in behavior that we know is not right, negative consequences will come. And I believe it isn’t usually God “punishing” us for the bad decisions. I believe the consequences are natural results of our decisions, and that is what God has been trying to warn us of all along. He isn’t trying to take away all our fun—he is trying to warn us of harm we will naturally bring on ourselves.

Abinadi is taken captive and brought to the King and his high priests for questioning. They pepper him with questions, trying to catch him in his words, but Abinadi strongly answers all their questions. He calls the priests out in their hypocrisy—they claim to teach the Law of Moses (keep in mind this is B.C. times) but they do not keep it themselves.