Abinadi and King Noah

Mosiah 11–17

When Zeniff died, his son, Noah, became the king of the group of Nephites who left Zarahemla. Unlike his father, King Noah was not a righteous man. He was selfish and prideful. He made the people pay heavy taxes—one-fifth of all they had. With the taxes, King Noah built a big palace of fine wood and decorated it with gold and silver and precious things. He married many wives and spent a lot of his time drinking wine.

The Lamanites began to attack King Noah’s people and their flocks, at first in small numbers and then with great force. King Noah sent his armies against the Lamanites, and they were able to drive them back for a time. Because of this small victory, King Noah and his priests boasted in their own strength “saying that their fifty could stand against thousands of the Lamanites” (Mosiah 11:19).

Abinadi, the prophet, came among King Noah’s people and told them to repent. He warned them that if they did not repent, the Lamanites would overpower them and take them into bondage. King Noah became angry when he heard what Abinadi prophesied. He commanded his servants to find Abinadi so he could slay him. But Abinadi went into hiding.

Two years later, Abinadi returned in disguise. Again, Abinadi prophesied that the Nephites would be brought into bondage if they did not repent. He also prophesied how King Noah would die—that he would burn as clothing in a fiery furnace (see Mosiah 12:10).

The people bound Abinadi and carried him before the king. King Noah put Abinadi in prison and commanded his priests to gather in council. King Noah and the priests decided to question Abinadi to try to trick him into saying something that would allow them to accuse him falsely. But Abinadi answered them boldly and withstood all their questions. He reviewed the Ten Commandments with them and told them to repent. The false priests became so angry that they stood to lay their hands on him. Filled with the Spirit of the Lord, Abinadi commanded them not to touch him until he was finished delivering his message. They backed away in fear, “for the Spirit of the Lord was upon him; and his face shone with exceeding luster” (Mosiah 13:5).

Abinadi continued to teach them about God’s commandments. He tried to teach King Noah and his priests about Jesus Christ. He explained that Jesus, the Son of God, would be born on the earth, that He would suffer and die for all people, and that He would break the bands of death and make it possible for everyone to live again. Abinadi finished by asking them to repent.

 

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Faggots

Faggots are bundles of sticks, sometimes tied together.

 

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King Noah became even more angry and ordered that Abinadi be killed. One of the king’s priests named Alma pleaded for Abinadi’s life. The king cast Alma out and put Abinadi back in prison. Three days later, after counseling with the other priests, King Noah ordered Abinadi to be put to death unless he would take back what he had said. Abinadi remained true to his testimony and prophesied that King Noah would one day suffer death by fire. They took Abinadi and bound him, beat him with faggots, and burned him. Abinadi suffered death by fire, offering his life as a testimony of Jesus Christ.

 

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King Noah and His Wicked Priests

King Noah was so selfish that his own people eventually turned on him and killed him by fire, fulfilling Abinadi’s prophecy (see Mosiah 19:20). His wicked priests escaped into the wilderness, leaving their wives and children behind. They eventually kidnapped twenty-four Lamanite women whom they made their new wives, causing a war between those who were once their own people and the Lamanites. They joined the Lamanites, and Amulon became their leader.

 

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