Read Along: Abinidi and King Noah
by Diane Tringali
 

NARRATOR: “And it came to pass that after the space of two years that Abinadi came among them in disguise, that they knew him not, and began to prophesy among them saying……

ABINADI: “Thus has the Lord commanded me, saying-Abinadi, go and prophesy unto this my people, for they have hardened their hearts against my words; they have repented not of their evil doings; therefore, I will visit them in my anger…I will smite this people with sore afflictions, yea with famine, and with pestilence, and I will cause that they shall howl all the day long. I will send hail among them, and it shall smite them; and insects shall pester their land and devour their grain. All this will I do because of their iniquities and abominations.

NARRATOR: And it came to pass that they were angry with him; and they took him and carried him bound before the king.

THE KINGS GUARDS: “behold we have brought a man before thee who has prophesied evil concerning thy people, and saith that God will destroy them. Oh king what great evil hast thou done, or what great sins have this people committed, that we should be condemned of God or judged by this man? Behold, here is the man, we deliver him into they hands; thou mayest do with him as seemeth thee good.”

NARRATOR: “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. And it came to pass that they said unto the king:

KING NOAH’S PRIESTS: “Bring him hither that we may question him.”

KING NOAH’S GUARDS: (They bring Abinadi to the king)

KING NOAH’S PRIESTS: “What meaneth the words which are written…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…The Lord hath made bare is holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God?

ABINADI: “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? 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. Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding: therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?

KING NOAH'S PRIESTS: "We teach the law of Moses."

ABINADI: “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 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? And what know ye concerning the law of Moses? Doth salvation come by the law of Moses? What say ye?

ONE OF KING NOAH’S PRIESTS: “Salvation did come by the law of Moses.”

ABINADI: I Know if ye keep the commandments of God ye shall be saved; Thou shalt have no other God before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…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.

KING NOAH: “Away with this fellow, and slay him; for what have we to do with him, for he is mad.

KING NOAH’S GUARDS: (Attempt to take Abinadi away)

ABINADI: “Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time. I must fulfill the commandments wherewith God has commanded me; and because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me.

NARRATOR: Now it came to pass after Abinadi had spoken these words that the people of king Noah durst not lay their hands on him, for the Spirit of the Lord was upon him; and his face shone with exceeding luster, even as Moses’ did while in the mount of Sinai, while speaking with the Lord. He spake with power and authority from God.

ABINADI: “Ye see that ye have not power to slay me, therefore I finish my message. I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts; Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet…Have ye taught this people that they should observe to do all these things, to keep these commandments?

"Salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, they must unavoidably perish, not withstanding the law of Moses. There could not be any man saved except it were through the redemption of God.” Did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began-have they not spoken more or less concerning these things? Doth not Isaiah say; He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…BUT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS BRUSIED FOR OUR INIQUITIES…AND WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him…When thou make his soul and offering for sin he shall see his seed…God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord…There is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.”

NARRATOR: When Abinadi had finished these sayings, the king commanded the priests should take him and cause that he should be put to death. But there was one among them whose name was Alma. He believed the words which Abinadi had spoken, for he knew concerning the iniquity which Abinadi had testified against them.

ALMA: (saying to the king) "Be not angry with Abinadi and suffer that he might depart in peace."

NARRATOR: King Noah 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. But he fled from before them and hid himself that they might not slay him. B He being concealed for many days did write all the words which Abinadi had spoken.

THE KING’S GUARDS (surround Abinadi and take him and cast him into prision.)

NARRATOR: After three days the king caused that Abinadi should again be brought before him.

THE KING’S GUARDS: (Go to prison and bring Abinadi before the king.)

KING NOAH: “Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death. 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.”

ABINADI: “I Say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken for they are true. 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.”

NARRATOR: And now king Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for he feared that the judgments of God would come upon him. But the priests lifted up their voices against him…therefore the king was stirred up in anger against him, and he delivered him up that he might be slain. And when the flames began to scorch him, he cried unto them saying…

ABINADI: “Ye shall be afflicted with all manner of diseases because of your iniquities. Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every hand…ye shall be hunted, and shall be taken by the hand of your enemies, and then ye shall suffer, as I suffer the pains of death by fire. Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy his people. O God receive my soul.”

NARRATOR: 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.