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Book of Mormon Commentary
Mosiah Chapter 8
ABINADI EXPLAINS THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW OF MOSES, VER. 1-12
Mos 8:4 I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the Law of Moses as yet; but I say unto
you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the Law of Moses.
8:4 After quoting the Ten Commandments, Abinadi again inquired, "Have re taught this people that they
should observe to do all these things?" (8:1; 7:99). He did not wait for them to answer, but denied that
they so taught. "It is expedient that ye should keep the law of, Moses as yet" (4). The phrase ''as yet" is
quite significant as here used. (See comment on II N. 11:45; Jb. 3:6; 5:9) "Salvation doth not come by
the law alone” (Mos. 8:5); for without the atonement all "must unavoidably perish." It was a "very strict
law: for they were a stiff-necked people” (Mos. 8:6; see also comment on Mos. 1:113). By observing its
"performances and... ordinances... from day to day" they would keep in remembrance "God, and their
duty towards him" (Mos. 8:7).
Mos 8:11 For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and
that God should redeem his people, yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the
world began?
8:11 The two citations commonly attributed to Moses on this subject are:
a. "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah... until Shiloh come" (Gen. 49:10). The word "sceptre" refers
to a staff or the wand of a ruler. "Shiloh" has been thought to refer to Christ, the Messiah (but some
consider it as referring to the city of Shiloh). The Revised Standard Version gives this passage: "The
scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between the feet, until he comes to whom it
belongs; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples."
b. “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like onto thee, and will put my words in his
mouth; and he shall speak them all that I shall command him” (Deut. 18:18; see also 18:15). This
passage is repeated in Acts 3:18, 22, from the mouth of the apostle Peter. He declares it refers to Christ.
THE MESSIAH TO VISIT THE EARTH, VER. 13-37
Mos 8:13 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?
8:13 Abinadi cites from Isaiah (Isaiah 53:1-12) - versification and chapter designations have clearly
been designed to replicate the standard Biblical chapters and verses. Unlike the usage to which Nephi
and Jacob put Isaiah, Abinadi actually does give a commentary on these verses.
Abinadi gives the short verbal introduction "Yea, even doth not Isaiah say." (Mos. 8:15) This serves as
the same function as the phrase common in English: "And I quote."
Mos 8:28 And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall
come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people;
8:28 The plan of redemption was formulated "from the beginning." The scriptures tell us of a council in
heaven which considered a plan offered by an "angel of God, who was in authority" called "Lucifer, a
son of the morning." He was thrust down (from the presence of God and the Son (D. and C. 76:3 i-k).