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.