Mosiah 15

This is another extra special chapter in the Book of Mormon. It is obvious that like Nephi and Moses and the other prophets, Abinadi has seen by vision the birth, life and death of Christ. He gives a powerful testimony of Christ, his ministry, sacrifice, his power over sin and death, and how he is filled with mercy for those who follow him. He explains how Christ also has the title of Father. I think there are four reasons why Christ has the title of Father. One, he is in every way the same as his Father because he is spiritually and physically begotten by the Father. No other being is both physically and spiritually born of the Father. The second reason is, he is the Father of all creation being the creator of the universe including our earth and all life within it. Third, he is a Father by divine investiture of authority having all authority given to him of God. And fourth, he is a Father by reason of the spiritual and physical rebirth that takes place in each person because of the atonement and resurrection.

Abinadi now begins to explain the meaning of the scripture Noah's priests quoted thinking they were going to trick Abinadi into contradicting himself. But Abinadi interprets the passage in such a sublime and powerful way the priests must have been both embarrassed of their lack of knowledge and in awe of Abinadi's. As background, Abinadi tells them what Isaiah 53, that he has just quoted, and explains who the seed of Christ is. He says they are the ones who are his spiritual offspring. They are all those who have heard the words of the prophets (the prophets are also the seed of Christ) and believed their words and believed that redemption comes through Christ. These are his seed. These are the ones who will be redeemed. Then he says shows how this is what is meant by the scripture quoted by the priests, "How beautiful are the feet of those that publish peace." This refers to Christ and all those who testify of him because if it weren't for Christ, all mankind would perish for eternity upon their death. But because of Christ, all will be resurrected and those who are righteous will come forth in the first resurrection and gain eternal life in the celestial kingdom. Abinadi explains that there are three groups of people who will come forth in the first resurrection: those who are the seed of Christ who believed and kept the words of the prophets, the righteous who died in ignorance of Christ, and little children. Then he tells the priests they should be should be scared to death and shaking in their boots because anyone who knows the commandments and turns their back on Christ and lives wickedly as the priests do will face the demands of justice. Mercy will not be available to them and they will not be redeemed.

I am in awe of the power of Abinadi's courageous testimony. The power of his words must have set the priests back on their heels. It certainly affected one of them, the one being Alma.