Abinadi's Warnings Are Rejected

Two years later, Abinadi came among them again, this time in disguise, saying, “The Lord commanded me, ‘Abinadi, go and prophesy to my people, for they have hardened their hearts against my words. They have not repented of their evil doings, so I will visit them in my fierce anger.’ This generation is cursed, for the Lord said to me, ‘Stretch forth your hand and prophesy: Thus saith the Lord, this generation will be brought into bondage because of their sins. They will be slapped in the face, driven by their enemies and killed. Vultures, dogs, and wild animals will eat their carcasses. King Noah’s life will be as worthless as an old coat that is burned in a furnace. And at that time, he will know that I am the Lord. Then I will afflict my people with drought, famine, and pestilence, and they will suffer. I will allow burdens to be placed upon their backs, and they will be driven like dumb mules. I will send hail and the east wind to afflict them. Insects will eat their grain, and I will afflict them with a great pestilence. I will do all this because of their great sinfulness.

“If they do not repent after all this, I will completely destroy them off the face of the earth. But they will leave their record, which I will preserve for future nations that will possess their lands. By reading their record, these future nations will be given a vivid warning not to repeat their sins.’ ”

This is how Abinadi prophesied against the people, and they became angry with him again. They tied him, carried him to King Noah and said, “This man has prophesied evil about your people, saying, ‘God will destroy all of you’. He has prophesied about you, saying, ‘King Noah’s life will be as worthless as an old coat that is burned.’ He said your burned body will be like a dry stalk of corn that is trampled by people and animals—that your ashes will be like ripe thistle blossoms blowing in the wind across the land.

He pretends the Lord has said these things to him, and that all this will come upon you, oh King, unless you repent. And now, oh King, what great evil have you done, and what great sins have your people committed to deserve this man’s judgment and God’s condemnation? This man has lied about you and has prophesied in vain. We know how strong we are. We will not come into bondage or be captured by our enemies. You have prospered in the land and will continue to prosper. Here is the man. We deliver him to you to do whatever you want with him.”

King Noah had Abinadi put into prison. Then he called his priests to counsel with him. The priests told King Noah they wanted to question Abinadi, so the king had him brought before them.

The priests began to question Abinadi, wanting to accuse him of a crime. But to their astonishment, Abinadi answered their questions boldly and confounded them. One priest asked, “What do these written words mean, words taught by our forefathers:

“ ‘How beautiful will be the sight of him among the nations—he who will bring good news, announcing peace and salvation, who will say to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Your watchmen will sing aloud together, for they will be equal when the Lord establishes Zion. Break forth in joy, singing together, you who are in the war-ravished places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted His people and has redeemed you. He has shown His great power as all the nations watched, and throughout the earth, all will yet see the salvation of our God.’ ”

Abinadi answered, “How can you call yourselves priests? You pretend to teach this people, and pretend to understand the spirit of prophecy—yet you ask me what that means? If you do understand these things, you certainly do not teach them. Because of this, you have distorted the Lord’s ways and are cursed! In your hearts you have not desired understanding. This is why you are not wise. So, what do you teach this people?”

The priests replied, “We teach the law of Moses.” Abinadi responded, “If you teach the law of Moses, then why don’t you keep it? Why do you set your hearts upon riches? Why do you commit adultery with prostitutes, causing this people to also commit sin? This is why the Lord has sent me to prophesy a great evil against this people. Don’t you know that I speak the truth? Yes, you do know, and you should be trembling before God. Soon you will be stricken for your sinfulness, for you have said that you teach the law of Moses, but you know nothing about it. Does salvation come by the law of Moses? What do you say?”

They answered that salvation did come by the law of Moses. Then Abinadi said, “I know you will be saved if you keep the commandments that the Lord gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai, saying, ‘I am the Lord thy God who has brought you out of bondage in Egypt. Do not worship any God but me. Do not create images for worship that look like anything in heaven or on earth.’ ” Abinadi then asked, “Have you obeyed these commandments and taught this people to also obey them? No, you have not.”