Chapter 16

This chapter ends with the statement by Abinadi that “…redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father,” reemphasizing the point that Jesus Christ acts in the role of our Father, the head of our spiritual salvation and resurrection.  We have three fathers: God the Father who is father of our spirits, Jesus Christ, the father of our spiritual rebirth, and our mortal father. 

Chapter 15

The doctrine of Christ being our father disturbs some folks who prefer to think of him as our brother.  Yes, God the Father is our father in heaven.  Jesus is his son.  But Jesus becomes our adoptive father when we are reborn and receive the ordinance of baptism.  We take upon us the name of Jesus Christ.  Thereafter, we belong to a new family, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Christ at the head.  He is also our father because he was sent by the Father and has been given the authority to act for God the Father.  He is also the father of this earth because he created it.

Chapter 14

Continuing his teaching of Christ’s mission, Abinadi quotes the book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-three:  “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…Surely he has born our griefs, and carried our sorrows…he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Trust Jesus.  Salvation comes only through him.  Love Jesus.  He loves us.

Chapter 13

“I say unto you that 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, that they must unavoidably perish…Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?  Yea, and have they not said also that he should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself, should be oppressed and afflicted?” Thus Abinadi declared the truth of Jesus Christ’s mission to his people.

Chapter 12

Abinadi is a type of Christ.  He testifies boldly concerning the sins and hypocrisy of the leaders knowing full well the consequence would be death.  Yet, courageously he pursued his mission, as did the Savior.  Having the courage to live one’s faith is a central purpose for this life.

Chapter 11

The prophet, Abinadi, is called upon by the Lord to confront the wickedness of King Noah who ruled next when his father Zeniff died.  A courageous and forthright prophet, Abinadi calls King Noah to repentance for his idolatrous and adulterous behavior.  He also predicts that King Noah’s people will be brought into bondage by the Lamanites unless they humble themselves and repent.

Our prophets today constantly call us to repentance.  We need a daily habit of scripture study and prayer to thwart the evil that is everywhere in this modern world.  We can’t quit.  We’ve got to move forward and endure to the end exercising faith in Christ.

Chapter 10

Perhaps Zeniff’s biggest mistake was ignoring the fact that the prophet Mosiah had led them out of the land of Nephi for a reason.  The Lamanites were a wicked and idolatrous people.  Even though Zeniff felt he had superior knowledge of the situation because of his spying, he went back to the land of Nephi without any mention of the prophet’s blessing.  He was ignoring the wisdom of his leaders.  Sometimes we ignore the advice of our parents or leaders because we think we know better.  We snuggle up to sin with the thought that we possess the ability to not let it affect us. In Zeniff’s case, his decision eventually led to war and loss of life for his followers.   

Chapter 9

Zeniff was a spy for the Nephites.  The intelligence he had obtained was tempered by his inner desire not to go to war with the Lamanites.  This opinion differed sharply with his superior officer who wanted to take an army against the Lamanites.  A civil war broke out and many lost their lives.  Zeniff was rescued and returned to Zarahemla.  But the story only begins there.  Zeniff was driven within by a desire to go back to the “homeland” of Nephi.  I picture it being mountainous, full of lakes and rivers, beautiful to the eye and heart- warming.  Whatever was driving him, he called it “over-zealousness.”   

I have been pondering whether or not I have been likewise over-zealous about something in my life.  I got that way on my mission, sometimes missing the mark because I wanted to be almost truer than true.  I acted that way when I was a student sometimes putting study above the need to sleep and eat. 

Nevertheless, I think pushing myself zealously toward a goal has often been in my best interest.  And I think Zeniff was not being sinful in his desire to return to his beloved mountains. 

But we must be cautious about overdoing something.  And we must be wise in our priorities.

The Tabahonzo Miracle

The Tabahonzo Miracle

By Walt Stone

Elder Kim and I were walking on the second farm road in Shiprock, New Mexico.  Our pickup was back at our apartment.  A big black dog came charging towards us, barking. 

“Don’t worry,” said Elder Kim. “He’s friendly.”

The dog jumped up on Elder Kim, stretching his length to five or six feet.  Like I said, this was a big dog.  Not too far behind the dog came a little, old Navajo man dressed in jeans, a rough coat with a sheep’s wool collar and a greasy flattened ball cap with the logo warn out.  He had on his work clothes.  His boots were scuffed and well worn.

“Ya’at’eeh ashiikeh,” he said in Navajo.  “Hello boys.”

“Hi Brother Tabahonzo; this is my new companion, Elder Stone.”

“Oo’ ya’at’eeh Elder Tse; Yes, hello Elder Stone,” he replied with a little grin.  We exchanged handshakes in the soft-gripped manner of this very polite people. Good thing Elder Kim had taught me not to grab to tightly.

Elder Kim then went on to tell Eugene Tabahonzo, a 70ish Navajo man, that I had taken the place of Elder Novak who had been transferred and that I was from northern Utah.  They met Eugene a few times when they were out trackting on the several farm roads west of Shiprock. But they had not yet been to his home.  The homes in the area were able to take advantage of the San Juan River, allowing them to irrigate their small gardens and farms.  The Tabahonzos grew a few vegetables, squash, watermelons, and corn in their modest garden.  Elder Kim and Elder Novak had not succeeded in being asked to come into his home which was a frame home with the stucco painted turquoise with white trim; nicer than most.  They had exchanged only a few words of greeting.

But today, Eugene seemed to want to talk, almost as if he had sought us out.  He told us about his family.  Most of his children were raised but he had a teenage daughter, Eugenia, at home and some of the older children were relying heavily upon Eugene and his wife to provide child care and most of their meals.  Eugene was concerned for his family.  How would they do after he was gone? How would his dear wife manage?  What chance did Eugenia have to make a life for herself without her aging parents becoming a burden?

The subject of religion came up.  Brother Tabahonzo said that it would “take a miracle” for him to ever join a church.  “I am an atheist,” he said.  Elder Kim reached into his backpack and produced a soft-bound, blue Book of Mormon.  “This is your miracle,” he said.

Brother Tabahonzo chuckled.  “You think so?  The Book of Mormon…hmmm…I’ve seen one of these before…hmmm….oh yes, I remember, when I was a young boy, a cowboy at the ranch where I worked gave me his beat up copy.  He had told me to read it.  I never got around to it at the time. That was 50 or 60 years ago.  Maybe today is the day I give it a try!” We chatted about a few more things before making an appointment to come back and see him.

The big black dog greeted us again when we returned in a few days.  It was later in the evening after dinner time.  Brother Tabahonzo came to the door giving us a quick “Ya’at’eeh” but instead of inviting us in, he ushered us to a small trailer home adjacent to the main house.  He said it was his “office,” but then confessed that his wife and daughter were not happy about him meeting with the missionaries. 

“My wife is pretty mad at me,” he said, “we will have to meet out here for a while.”  That little while went on for several weeks.  Soon, Eugenia began coming to the trailer, although she remained out of sight in the kitchen.  Eugene had read the entire Book of Mormon after just a few days.  He was very literate and wanted more.  We gave him the Doctrine and Covenants and gave him a steady dose of the discussions.  He prayed about what he was reading and learning and found his “miracle” really was the Book of Mormon.  We challenged him to baptism and things seemed to be progressing towards that end.

But then he announced one day that he could not see us anymore.  “My wife will leave me if I join the church…she can’t understand what I’m doing…our family seems to be falling apart…my children are on their mom’s side, there’s been lots of troubl.”   Elder Kim and I sat stunned for several minutes in the living room of his trailer.  Eugene was crying softly.  Elder Kim and I mixed our tears with his.  

Then a miracle happened.  Elder raised his head and said, “Brother Tabahonzo, I don’t think all of your family is against you.  Would it be alright if we asked Eugenia to join us?  I know she has been listening to us the past weeks.”  Brother Tabahonzo nodded.

“Eugenia, would you come in please,” Elder Kim said politely. No answer came. “Eugenia, your dad would like you to come out here for a minute.”  Eugenia came around the door of the kitchen and peered into the room.  She was crying too!  “Dad, don’t worry about Mom.  She won’t leave you.  She loves you.  I love you.  I will talk to her,” said Eugenia.

“Eugenia, how do you feel about the things we have been teaching your father?” Elder Kim asked.

More tears came from Eugenia as she looked at us and said, “I know it’s true!  Dad, I want to be baptized too!

As Elder Kim and I walked to our pick-up truck that night, accompanied part way by the big black dog, we felt the love of the Savior and our Heavenly Father.  In about a week we went back.  This time we were invited into the main house.  We met Sister Tabahonzo and she greeted us warmly, calling us “shiyaazh, my sons.”  Within a few weeks a baptismal service was held for Eugene, his wife, and Eugenia.  The entire family attended.  It was truly a “marvelous work and wonder.”

Chapter 8

Verse 20 has an interesting typo.  Can you find it?  This chapter helped me reflect upon the role that the prophets have played in my life.  President McKay was larger than life.  He was the prophet of my childhood.  He was stately, white haired, handsome.  He emphasized families.

President Joseph Fielding Smith was a doctrinal giant, but I don’t remember too much about him from my childhood.

President Harold B. Lee was prophet when I was called on my mission.  I was privileged to be with him in the Salt Lake Temple when he talked to us and answered any questions we had.

President Spencer W. Kimball impacted me on my mission after the passing of President Lee.  When he gave his landmark talk “Go Ye Into All the World” I was watching and listening in a chapel in Page, Arizona.  I loved his talks. Because of his throat cancer and surgeries, he had a very memorable speaking voice.  He told us to “lengthen our stride” and just “do it.”  He received the revelation allowing the priesthood to be given to all worthy males.

President Ezra Taft Benson emphasized the Book of Mormon going to all the world.  And he taught us that pride (enmity) is the universal sin that can be overcome only by humbling ourselves.

President Howard W. Hunter was president for a short time.  We saw him in Tucson when he came for a regional conference.  He emphasized the temple.

President Gordon B. Hinckley was the president of my married adulthood.  He taught us to be friends to all people regardless of their faith.  He was interviewed after 9-11 happened and comforted the world.  He brought the church out of obscurity.

President Thomas S. Monson is the prophet that is teaching us through his favorite method, stories, that we must be directed by the Holy Ghost in all things.

These great Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ have had an enormous effect for good upon me and the direction of my life.

Chapter 7

The story of Zeniff going back to the land of Nephi-Lehi, his son Noah’s wicked reign, and Noah’s son, Limhi’s bondage to the Lamanites, provides the backdrop for this wonderful admonition from Limhi to his people after they have been found by a group from Zarahemla led by Ammon:  “But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.”  We can liken this to ourselves.  When we are in bondage due to sin, we can escape by turning to the Lord and repenting of our sins.  The arrival of Ammon gives King Limhi hope.  Our missionaries provide this hope to the world by bringing the message of Hope in Christ.

Chapter 6

King Benjamin lived three more years after his famous sermon before he passed away.  Mosiah, his son, reigned in his stead.  King Benjamin’s righteous leadership was highlighted by his humility and self-reliance.  He loved the Savior and had a covenant relationship with him.  He placed his people under this Christian covering.  The covering we call covenants puts us under the protection of Christ if we will keep his commandments in our hearts as well as our actions.