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.