Mosiah 17:1-10

Chapter 17

Alma believes and writes the words of Abinadi—Abinadi suffers death by fire—He prophesies disease and death by fire upon his murderers. About 148 B.C.

1 AND now it came to pass that when Abinadi had finished these sayings, that the king commanded that the priests should take him and cause that he should be put to death.

2 But there was one among them whose name was Alma, he also being a descendant of Nephi.  And he was a young man, and he believed the words which Abinadi had spoken, for he knew concerning the iniquity which Abinadi had testified against them; therefore he began to plead with the king that he would not be angry with Abinadi, but suffer that he might depart in peace.

3 But the king was more wroth, and caused that Alma should be cast out from among them, and sent his servants after him that they might slay him.

4 But he fled from before them and hid himself that they found him not.  And he being concealed for many days did write all the words which Abinadi had spoken.

5 And it came to pass that the king caused that his guards should surround Abinadi and take him; and they bound him and cast him into prison.

6 And after three days, having counseled with his priests, he caused that he should again be brought before him.

7 And he said unto him: Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death.

8 For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of men; and now, for this cause thou shalt be put to death unless thou wilt recall all the words which thou hast spoken evil concerning me and my people.

9 Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands.

10 Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you.  And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day.

 Mosiah 17:1-10

When Abinadi finished his words, the king and priests were angry. Noah ordered that Abinadi be put to death.  Abinadi’s situation was similar to that of Jeremiah.  He was tried, and “[t]hen spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears” (Jeremiah 26:11).  It would seem Abinadi’s words had fallen on deaf ears.

In fact, he had changed the future of the Nephite civilization with one covert. “Alma₁ … was the young priest in the court of king Noah who attempted a peaceful release of the prophet Abinadi. For that action, Alma incurred royal vengeance, banishment, and threats upon his life. He had been impressed by Abinadi’s accusations of immorality and abuses within the government and society and by his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mosiah 17:2).”[1]

Alma rose in defense of Abinadi.  He accepted his words and knew his charges were true.  He began defending Abinadi against the charges and asked he be allowed to depart in peace.

“The most potent legal aspect of Alma’s defense of Abinadi was that it forced King Noah to drop the charge that Abinadi had lied about the king. Although the text is silent on this point, it appears that Alma spoke out boldly and irrefutably concerning the iniquities of Noah and his priests (who otherwise would not have sought to kill Alma). If so, Alma’s argument probably stressed the truthfulness of what Abinadi had said about the king and his government, for Alma ‘knew concerning the iniquity which Abinadi had testified against them’ (Mosiah 17:2). By emphatically corroborating the truth of Abinadi’s words, Alma effectively negated and refuted the charge that Abinadi had lied.

“As a further consequence of his bold statement, Alma’s defense of Abinadi effectively took the matter out of the king’s jurisdiction and left standing only the false-prophecy charge, over which the priests had primary responsibility.”[2] 

Noah, with Alma’s defense of Abinadi ringing in his ears, became even angrier with him.  He was cast out and servants were sent to kill him.

Alma was able to successfully elude the servants.  He hid himself and began to write down the words of Abinadi.

“The amazing thing about this young priest named Alma is that he stood before King Noah, begging him to spare Abinadi’s life and allow him to leave. Now, Alma must have known Noah quite well, known him as a pompous, sinful, demanding, if sometimes cowardly, magistrate who would not look kindly on insubordination among his paid yes-men. Yet, risking his own life, Alma dared challenge the king’s command that Abinadi be executed. Not only was Alma cast out, but orders were issued for his capture and execution. Alma was able to escape and hide, and most certainly under the influence of the Spirit, he wrote ‘all the words which Abinadi had spoken’ (Mosiah 17:4). Abinadi would die for his testimony, but his words would be preserved intact and then taught by one man whose heart was changed by them. That one man was Alma.”[3]

Unlike his son, Alma₁ received no vision nor heard the words of the Lord from an angel.  “The conversion of Alma₁ is closer to the kind experienced by most people who join the Church (Mosiah 17:2—4; 18:1). When Abinadi called him and the other priests of the wicked king Noah to repentance, Alma₁ knew in his heart that Abinadi spoke the truth. He repented of his sins and began to keep the commandments, with which he was already basically familiar. This wrought a significant change in his life.”[4]

Have gotten rid of Alma, Noah had Abinadi bound and put in prison.  He and the priests discussed the matter and, after three day, he had Abinadi brought before him.  The king informed him “we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death.

This charge was blasphemy.  “[T]hou hast said the God himself should come down among the children of men.”  Then, Noah offers Abinadi a way out.  “[R]ecall all the words which thou has spoken evil concerning me and my people.”  “This is a curious plea bargain for Noah to offer. Why should the crime of offending God be dropped if the offender withdraws his words not against God but against the king and his people?”[5]

Abinadi refused.  He informed them that he had allowed himself to fall into their hand.  He was prepared to suffer death rather than recall his words.  These words will stand a testimony against him and, should he be killed, this action will also stand as a testimony against Noah at the last day.

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[1] To All the World – Alma₁, L. Gary Lambert, Maxwell Institute.

[2] The Trial of Abinadi, Maxwell Institute.

[3] The Book of Mormon: Passport to Discipleship, Marilyn Arnold, Maxwell Institute.

[4] To All the World – Conversion, Kay H. Smith, Maxwell Institute.

[5] The Trial of Abinadi, Maxwell Institute.