Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 20:21

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 20:21
"For are not the words of Abinadi fulfilled, which he prophesied against us—and all this because we would not hearken unto the words of the Lord, and turn from our iniquities?"

I pondered on how important it was for the people of Limhi to recognize the prophesies of Abinadi were being fulfilled. It softened their hearts and began to humble them. They still were in bondage to the Lamanites, but they knew who to turn to for deliverance. The latter day signs and tribulations we go through are slowly opening the eyes of people. There is purpose in tribulation.

Day 3435

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 19:7-8, 11

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 19:7-8, 11
"And now the king cried out in the anguish of his soul, saying: Gideon, spare me, for the Lamanites are upon us, and they will destroy us; yea, they will destroy my people.
And now the king was not so much concerned about his people as he was about his own life; nevertheless, Gideon did spare his life.
Now it came to pass that the king commanded them that all the men should leave their wives and their children, and flee before the Lamanites."

I pondered on how the example of a wicked leader is shown us with king Noah. When first introduced to him we are told he did not keep the commandments of God, and walked in the desire of his own heart. He was morally bankrupt, spending time with his wives and concubines. He was vain, and spoke flattering words. He was a wine-bibber. He built many elegant and spacious buildings and covered them in gold and other precious things. He also encouraged his people to sin. He removed priests consecrated by his father and setup new ones lifted up in the pride of their hearts. They became idolatrous. King Noah's heart was so hardened he would not listen to a prophet and instead killed him.

This chapter shows how he only cared about preserving his life and not his people. He cared nothing about the women and children and commanded the men to leave and flee without them. Some men, like his son Limhi, loved their wives and children and would not abandon them to the Lamanites. The love of family preserved all of their lives. However, the men that at first fled with king Noah and his priests became angry when commanded not to return to their families. In that anger they fulfilled Abinadi's prophesy and king Noah suffered death by fire. Sadly, justice did not come to the priests because they had escaped. There are many important lessons from watching a king Limhi. It's best that they are never supported to begin with.

"For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!
And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much blood. "
(Mosiah 29:17, 21)

Day 3434

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 17:7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 17:7-8
"And he said unto him: 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."

It took king Noah and his priests three days to come up with a reason they should put Abinadi to death. I pondered on how the stated cause and how he could redeem himself didn't fit. The supposed great offense was because he said God would lower himself to come to earth. That wasn't what bothered them though. It was what he had said about their own wickedness and judgments to come. They were supposed priests, so they had to find something "religious" to make him seem worthy of death, but couldn't state the true cause they wanted to kill him. They were still trying to give the appearance of being priests. If the great offense had been what he said about God they would have had him recall those words. They really were hypocrites.

Day 3432

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 16:6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 16:6-7
"And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.
And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection."

These are the words of Abinadi spoke 182 years before Christ would rise from the dead. I pondered on what absolute faith it took to think of these events as already taking place. I can't even imagine seeing a future event as already happening. I can believe events that happened in the past that I was not witness too. I do believe Christ will come again and there will be a Millennial reign and final judgment. But I think of all those as future. It made me think of the prophet Lehi and how he spoke of the destruction of Jerusalem and obtaining a land of promise before those events happened too.

"And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her, saying: I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things of God in a vision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren.
But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness."
(1 Nephi 5:4-5)

Day 3431

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 12:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 12:1-2
"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: 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, yea, in my fierce anger will I visit them in their iniquities and abominations.
Yea, wo be unto this generation! And the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thy hand and prophesy, saying: Thus saith the Lord, it shall come to pass that this generation, because of their iniquities, shall be brought into bondage, and shall be smitten on the cheek; yea, and shall be driven by men, and shall be slain; and the vultures of the air, and the dogs, yea, and the wild beasts, shall devour their flesh."

I pondered on how the Lord gave king Noah and his people two years to repent. He sent Abinadi again to them to warn them. It would be in the current generation that they would be brought into bondage. Giving them time is being merciful, but eventually time runs out.

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
(Amos 3:7)

"The original Hebrew word used in the Bible for secret literally means “counsel,” so it has to do with the Lord’s plans or intentions."
(New Era, "Line upon Line Amos 3:7", March 2012)

Day 3427

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 34:29-30, 33

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 34:29-30, 33

"And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face."

When I read how Moses face shown after speaking with the Lord on mount Sinai for 40 days, and he had to wear a veil over his face afterwards, it makes me think of Abinadi in the Book of Mormon. After king Noah sought Abinadi's life the first time he prophesied, he was gone for two years. During that time frame Abinadi also spoke with the Lord and was told what would happen to the people if they did not repent, just like Moses did. When Abinadi reappears he is said to be in disguise, but when he spoke to them his face shone like Moses. I think his disguise was a simply veil like Moses that covered his face.

"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: 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, yea, in my fierce anger will I visit them in their iniquities and abominations."

(Mosiah 12:1)

"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."

(Mosiah 13:5)

This is not the only time people that spoke with the Lord faces shone.

"And it came to pass that he turned him about, and behold, he saw through the cloud of darkness the faces of Nephi and Lehi; and behold, they did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of angels. And he beheld that they did lift their eyes to heaven; and they were in the attitude as if talking or lifting their voices to some being whom they beheld."

(Helaman 5:36)

Day 2243

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 20:40

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 20:40
"And then shall they say: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings unto them of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!"

I enjoyed reading all the notes I had put in my scriptures in this chapter. This one I had found in the Book of Mormon Student Manual.

"Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that this wonderfully description phrase, "how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that publisheth peace", refers to those who spread the Lord's gospel , but that it more specifically refers to the Savior Himself: "These familiar passages, written first by Isaiah but spoken of an inspired by Jehovah himself, are often applied to anyone - especially missionaries - who bring the good tidings of the gospel and publish peace to the souls of men. There is nothing inappropriate about such an application, but it is important to realize - as the prophet Abinadi did - that in its purest form and original sense, this psalm of appreciation applies specifically to Christ. It is he and only he who ultimately brings the good tidings of salvation. Only through him is true, lasting peace published. To Zion, in both the old and new Jerusalems, it is Christ who declares, 'Thy God reigneth!' It is his feet upon the mountains of redemption that are beautiful'
(Jeffrey R. Holland, "Christ and the New Covenant" [1997], 286)

This made me want to find those passages Elder Holland mentions. In Mosiah 15:14-18 I found the reference to Abinadi's words and had an even deeper appreciation for how he knew the Savior. Even to the point he would share his testimony to those that would take his life for it. I made me ponder again the sacrifice the Lord has made for me. It is indeed beautiful.

Day 1957

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 11:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 11:5
"For he put down all the priests that had been consecrated by his father, and consecrated new ones in their stead, such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts."

I have often wondered if Abinadi was one of the priests of Zeniff that king Noah removed. For it says he "was a man among them". Abinadi shows he understands the role of the priest when he says...

"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?"
(Mosiah 12:25)

If only the king and his priests would have listened to Abinadi instead of trying to destroy him. It's just as important for us to listen to a prophet today as it was for them in the days of king Noah.

Day 1840