Mosiah 13

When King Noah heard what Abinadi had said to his priests, he ordered Abinadi’s execution, saying, “We don’t need to worry about him. He’s crazy.”

When the priests attempted to seize him, Abinadi declared, “Don’t you touch me. If you do, God will strike you down. Because I’m here to deliver God’s message, he will not allow me to be destroyed at this time. Even though I’ve only told you the truth, you’re angry with me now and have decided that I’m crazy.”

After Abinadi spoke, the guards were afraid to touch him, because it was evident from his shining face that the spirit of God was upon him. “You can see that you have no power to kill me,” he said, with the authority of God. “I will finish delivering my message even if it hurts you to hear the truth about your sins. By the time I finish, my words will fill you with wonder, amazement, and anger. After that, it doesn’t matter whether or not I live. Whatever you do to me will be a preview of what will happen to you and your people.

“Now, I want to remind you about God’s commandments, because you don’t seem to know them. For most of your lives, you have taught heresy, instead. God has said that you must not make or worship idols or graven images. You must not use the name of God as a curse. You must remember to keep the sabbath holy by using it for rest and worship. You must honor your father and mother. You must not kill. You must not have sexual relations with anyone except you spouse. You must not steal. You must not lie about your neighbor. You must not covet your neighbor’s possessions, wife, or anything else of his.”

“Have you truly taught your people to observe these commandments?” Abinadi asked. “No, you haven’t. If you had, God would not have sent me to prophesy the destruction of your people. You say that salvation comes from the law of Moses? Then do it. A time will come when following these laws will not be enough on its own because without God’s atonement for our sins, we are doomed to perish even if we observe the laws of Moses. The day-to-day remembrance of Moses’ simple laws are necessary for a stubborn people to maintain God’s favor. Ever since Moses, prophets have foretold the coming of a Messiah who would redeem God’s people. This Messiah will be God himself who will become mortal, walk among us, be tormented, slain, and resurrected so that we may be forgiven for our sins.”