Mosiah 17:14-20

14  And now when the flames began to scorch him, he cried unto them, saying:
15  Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer the pains that I do suffer, even the pains of death by fire; and this because they believe in the salvation of the Lord their God.
16  And it will come to pass that ye shall be afflicted with all manner of diseases because of your iniquities.
17  Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every hand, 

           and shall be driven and scattered to and fro, 

           even as a wild flock is driven by wild and ferocious beasts.
18  And in that day ye shall be hunted, 

           and ye shall be taken by the hand of your enemies, 

      and then ye shall suffer, as I suffer, 

           the pains of death by fire.
19  Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy his people.  O God, receive my soul.
20  And now, *when Abinadi had said these words, he fell, having suffered death by fire; yea, having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death.

Mosiah 17:14-20 (Emphasis mine)

*About 148 B.C.

Poetic form in verses 17-18 from The Book of Mormon - A Reader's Edition, Grant Hardy, pgs. 217-218.

As Abinadi is dying, he reminds them one last time the consequences of what is happening.  He says that:

• Their seed shall cause death by fire for other believers.
• They will suffer all manner of disease.
• They will be taken by their enemies.
• They will suffer the pains of death by fire (King Noah specifically).

And with these last reminders, Abinadi dies the death of a martyr.

Robert Matthews wrote about Abinadi's death.

"We usually envision Abinadi being burned at the stake. That may be true. But the scripture does not say he was burned at the stake; what it says is that he 'suffered death by fire.' Mosiah 17:13 says that his executioners 'took him and bound him, and scourged his skin with faggots, yea, even unto death.'

"Several words in the foregoing sentence should be noted. The first is that they bound him. That seems self-explanatory. The second is that they scourged him. To scourge means to whip or flail or beat. The third term is faggots. A faggot is a bundle of sticks or twigs, tied together and used for fuel.

"We can imagine Abinadi being bound. As the 'flames began to scorch him' (Mosiah 17:14), his fiendish executioners, probably the priests, gathered about him, possibly shouting, exulting, and gloating over what they are doing. And during it all, Abinadi is pronouncing prophecies of God’s vengeance upon them. Then, says the record, he falls, 'having suffered death by fire,' having 'sealed the truth of his words by his death.' (Mosiah 17:20.)" (Emphasis mine) 

Abinadi: Prophet and Marty, Robert J. Matthews, Ensign, April 1992. 

Hebrews emphasizes the importance of Abinadi's sacrifice.

16  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Hebrews 9:16-17 (Emphasis mine)

What legacy was left by Abinadi? 

"Abinadi was remembered by the Nephites in at least three roles:

1. To Alma, his main convert, Abinadi was a prophet of Christ. Alma taught Abinadi's words concerning the death and resurrection of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the redemption of God's people (Mosiah 18:1—2), and the mighty change of heart through their conversion (Alma 5:12). Through Alma's descendants, Abinadi influenced the Nephites for centuries.
2. To Ammon, who beheld the martyrdom of 1,005 of his own converts (Alma 24:22), Abinadi was recalled as the prime martyr 'because of his belief in God' (Alma 25:11; cf. Mosiah 17:20; see also Mosiah 7:26—28). This was recognized as the real reason for Abinadi's death, since the priests' charge of reviling proved to be a false pretext.
3. To Mormon, who witnessed the decadence and destruction of the Nephites 500 years later, Abinadi was remembered for prophesying that because of wickedness evil would come upon the land and that the wicked would be utterly destroyed (Morm. 1:19; cf. Mosiah 12:7—8."  (Emphasis Mine)

Abinadi, Lew W. Cramer, Maxwell Institute, Accessed July 18, 2011.

What do we really know about Abinadi?  Most members picture Abinadi from the famous Arnold Friberg painting of Abinadi before King Noah.

We know little about Abinadi.  Robert J. Matthews wrote:

"We know nothing of Abinadi’s early life. Arnold Friberg has given us an outstanding painting that depicts the Abinadi we read about as an old man, thin and weather-beaten. It may have been so. But we find nothing in the record to indicate whether he was old or young, large or small. What we do find in his teachings and in his manner when confronting the priests of Noah—baiting them, challenging their knowledge, questioning their behavior—is a man of courage with an agile mind, a profound knowledge of the gospel, and a strong personality." (Emphasis mine) 

Abinadi: Prophet and Marty, Robert J. Matthews, Ensign, April 1992.

Abinadi's concern.  His concern was his message from the Lord.  Nothing would stop him from presenting it.  Even when given the choice of living (recanting his words) or dying (standing by his words), he did not hesitate.  He even went so far as to say it didn't matter.  What mattered was the Lord's will.  What courage and faith!

Robert Matthews lists the major teachings of Abinadi.  I close this post with that list, with my eternal gratitude to Abinadi for having the courage and conviction to complete his mission.  He will stand as an example through the eternities. 

"The law of Moses. Abinadi characterizes the law of Moses as '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.' (Mosiah 13:30.) He further said that the things of the law were 'types of things to come' and that the day would come when it would no longer be necessary to obey the law of Moses. He also said that the ancient people 'did not all understand the law' and did not comprehend that the law would be unable to save anyone without the 'atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people.' (Mosiah 13:28, 31, 32.)

"It is not only ancient Israel that has misunderstood the law. There is a great deal of misunderstanding today about what the law was and why it was given. This misunderstanding is found among both Christian and Jewish denominations. It is found even among teachers in the Church. Abinadi’s concise, summarylike statements about the purpose and place of the law are very enlightening in clearing up this confusion.

"The Atonement. A second major point of Abinadi’s teachings is that 'God himself' would make the atonement that will redeem mankind. Abinadi leaves no doubt in his teaching that the God of Israel himself will be the Redeemer who will come to earth as the Son of God. He is not the first in the Book of Mormon to teach this doctrine (see 2 Ne. 9:5; 2 Ne. 10:3; Mosiah 3:5–10), but he gives the topic such intensive and extensive coverage that a reader who had not picked up the concept earlier could scarcely miss it in the teachings of Abinadi.

 

"The Resurrection. A third major contribution Abinadi makes is his clarification about the doctrine of resurrection. Earlier prophets probably knew the details of the resurrection, but in our present Book of Mormon record, Abinadi is the first to speak specifically of the first resurrection and to discuss the general resurrection in detail. His discourse begins in Mosiah 15:20 and extends through Mosiah 16:11.

"Abinadi was an energetic witness for the Lord Jesus Christ and a fierce terror to evildoers. There is a significant lesson to be learned here. If he had not been so blunt, the people might not have thought he meant what he said; nor would they have thought that what he said was important. His testimony, given with fervor and energy, no doubt helped Alma have the strength to repent.

"Abinadi was exactly what the Lord needed. He was the right man for the right situation. As a result, his ministry not only influenced the second half of the Nephite history but has influenced millions in this dispensation who have read the Book of Mormon. It will yet influence billions more." (Emphasis mine) 

Abinadi: Prophet and Marty, Robert J. Matthews, Ensign, April 1992.

Mosiah 12:17-37

17  And it came to pass that king Noah caused that Abinadi should be cast into prison; and he commanded that the priests should gather themselves together that he might hold a council with them what he should do with him.
18  And it came to pass that they said unto the king: Bring him hither that we may question him; and the king commanded that he should be brought before them.
19  And they began to question him, that they might cross him, that thereby they might have wherewith to accuse him; but he answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions, yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand them in all their questions, and did confound them in all their words.

Mosiah 12:17-19 (Emphasis mine)

The people brought Abinadi before the King.  He decided to throw him in prison.  Then, he met with his priests.

The purpose was not to determine what to do with him, but to question him and use his words to convict him.  It won't work, as we will see.  He withstood their challenges and "... [confounded] them in all their words.

This is not an uncommon method used to attempt to confuse the righteous.

28  Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
29  Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
30  I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
31  For he shall stand at the aright hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.

Psalms 109:28-31 (Emphasis mine)

3  And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4  They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.  But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last ...

John 8:3-9 (Emphasis mine)

33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

1 Corinthians 14:33 (Emphasis mine)

14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

James 3:14-16 (Emphasis mine)

Let the questioning begin!  The first question:

20  And it came to pass that one of them said unto him: What meaneth the words which are written, and which have been taught by our fathers, saying:
21  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth;
22  Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion;
23  Break forth into joy; sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem;
24  The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God?

Mosiah 12:20-24 (Compare with Isaiah 52:7-10)

7  ¶ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
8  Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion (Heb - returns to Zion or restores Zion).
9  ¶ Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
10  The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-10

(Note:  The heading of Chapter 52 says, in part - In the last days, Zion shall return and Israel be redeemed.)

Abinadi's response.

25  And now Abinadi said unto them: Are you priests, and pretend to teach this people, and to understand the spirit of prophesying, and yet desire to know of me what these things mean?
26  I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the ways of the Lord!  For if ye understand these things ye have not taught them; therefore, ye have perverted the ways of the Lord.
27.  Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise...

Mosiah 12:25-27 (Emphasis mine)

As was mentioned earlier, the purpose of the questioning was to challenge and confuse Abinadi.  Abinadi makes it clear he has other purposes.

His first words are to challenge them.  He tells them they claim to be priests to the people, to teach them the word of God, yet they are asking him what it means?  If you know what it means, and haven't taught the people, then they pervert the word of God.  Either way, they are not fulfilling their responsibilities as priests.

This challenge is similar to that Christ gave the Jewish leaders in His day.

8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

John 3:8-10 (Emphasis mine)

19  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart ...

Matthew 13:19 (Emphasis mine) 

11  Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time.  Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

2 Peter 2:11-13 (Emphasis mine)

Then, the accused becomes the prosecution.

27  ... Therefore, what teach ye this people?
28  And they said: We teach the law of Moses.
29  And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it?  Why do ye set your hearts upon riches?  Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin, that the Lord has cause to send me to prophesy against this people, yea, even a great evil against this people?
30  Know ye not that I speak the truth?  Yea, ye know that I speak the truth; and you ought to tremble before God.
31  And it shall come to pass that ye shall be smitten for your iniquities, for ye have said that ye teach the law of Moses ...

Mosiah 12:27-31 (Emphasis mine)

Abinadi pulls a "gotcha!" on the priests.  He asks them what it is that they teach the people.  The Law of Moses in their response.  He has them where he wants them.

If you teach the law of Moses, Abinadi asks, why don't you live it.  He lists their sins - hearts set on riches, consorting with harlots, causing the people to commit sin.  This is not the law of Moses.

The next question he asks convicts them of their wickedness?  They know he speaks the truth. He knows that they know they are committing offenses before God.  What they are doing is not done through a lack of understanding.  They are most certainly aware that, even though they claim to teach the Law of Moses. they  know they aren't.  Abinadi catches them in their lies and sins.

Abinadi continues.

31  ... And what know ye concerning the law of Moses? Doth salvation come by the law of Moses?  What say ye?
32  And they answered and said that salvation did come by the law of Moses.
33  But now Abinadi said unto them: I know if ye keep the commandments of God ye shall be saved; yea, if ye keep the commandments which the Lord delivered unto Moses in the mount of Sinai, saying:
34  I am the Lord thy God, who hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
35  Thou shalt have no other God before me.
36  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing in heaven above, or things which are in the earth beneath.
37  Now Abinadi said unto them, Have ye done all this?  I say unto you, Nay, ye have not.  And have ye taught this people that they should do all these things?  I say unto you, Nay, ye have not.

Mosiah 12:31-37 (Emphasis mine)

Does salvation come through the Law of Moses, Abinadi asks.  The priests agree.

Abinadi testifies to them that salvation comes through the commandments handed to Moses at Mt. Sinai.  Then he asks the priests if they have taught the people this.  No, they haven't.  They haven't taught the people the things necessary for salvation.

What they are doing is paying lip service to the word of God.  Yeah, I believe,  Yeah, the people should know it, but who cares?  Life's too good to worry about teaching the people.

We see that, in their initial confrontation, Abinadi is not going let them off the hook.  He has been called of God to call the people to repent and return to righteous living.  No one, especially a group of false priests, will stop him from proclaiming the word of God.

16 ¶ And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19  And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
20  And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the atop of the mount; and Moses went up.

Exodus 19:16-20 (Emphasis mine)

1  AND God spake all these words, saying,
2  I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
12  ¶ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13  Thou shalt not kill.
14  Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15  Thou shalt not steal.
16  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. 

Exodus 20:1-4; 7-8, 12-17 (Emphasis mine)

13  Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:
14  And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

Nehemiah 9:13-14 (Emphasis mine)

In the April 1992 issue of the Ensign, Robert J. Matthews wrote a great article about Abinadi.  Describing Abinadi, he wrote:

"The prophet Abinadi holds a singular place in the Book of Mormon. He was the first to die as a martyr, and his doctrinal teachings clarify the purpose of the law of Moses, identify the Redeemer, and declare facts about the doctrine of resurrection not previously mentioned in the book. He was capable of exquisite language sparked with fiery metaphor, yet was plainspoken to the point of bluntness." (Emphasis mine)

The June 2000 issue of the Liahona has an article by Clyde J. Williams.  He says about Abinadi:

"The ministry of Abinadi illustrates the importance of timeliness in heeding prophetic warnings. When Abinadi first warned the Nephites in the land of Lehi-Nephi, no one responded to his warning to repent or be placed in bondage (see Mosiah 11:21). Consequently, when Abinadi returned two years later, the severity of his warning increased. He now prophesied that the Nephites would be brought into bondage and that, if they still did not repent, they would be destroyed (see Mosiah 12:2, 8)." (Emphasis mine)

Abinadi's teachings help us better understand the gospel and brings us closer to the Lord.  He is also a powerful example of standing up for righteousness that we can follow today.