Mosiah 17

When Abinadi was finished speaking, King Noah ordered him put to death. But there was one young priest, named Alma, who believed what Abinadi said and knew it was true. Alma was a descendant of Nephi’s. He pled with King Noah to set aside his anger and let Abinadi leave in peace. This caused the King to be even angrier and he ordered Alma immediately removed from his circle of priests. After Alma left, the king sent servants out to kill him; but Alma fled from the city and hid from the King’s anger. In hiding, he wrote down what Abinadi had said.

Abinadi was thrown into prison and King Noah consulted with his priests. After three days, the King ordered Abinadi brought before him again. “Abinadi, you have declared that God himself will come down among the people. Unless you retract this declaration and reverse your accusations against me and my people, you will be put to death for heresy.”

“I will not recall my words concerning you and your people,” stated Abinadi, “because they are all true. In order to be in a position to declare their truth to you personally, I have even allowed myself to be captured and imprisoned. I would rather die than recall my words, because they will stand in eternal testimony against you. If you kill an innocent man, this also will stand as testimony against you on the day of judgment.”

At this point King Noah, was thinking of releasing Abinadi because he was afraid of the judgments of God that Abinadi had foretold; but the priests argued against his release. They wanted him dead; so, the king ordered Abinadi put to death. They tied him to a stake and set the wood beneath him ablaze. When his flesh was burning, Abinadi said to Noah and his priests, “Just as you do this to me, your descendants will also cause others who believe in God to suffer as I do. Because of your sins, you will become diseased, be stricken, and become scattered like wild animals chased by ferocious beasts. You will be hunted, taken into slavery by your enemies, and suffer the pain of death by fire. God avenges himself on those who destroy his people.”

After saying these words, Abinadi died in the fire because he would not retract the commandments of God. In his death, the truth of his words were sealed.