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Book of Mormon Commentary
ABINADI CONDEMNED TO DEATH, VER. 1-27
Mosiah Chapter 9
Mos 9:5 But the king was more wroth, and caused that Alma should be cast out from among them, and
sent his servants after him, that they might slay him.
9:5 When Abinadi finished his message, the king commanded his priests to kill him (1). However, one
of them, whose name was Alma, believed in the prophet's message and interceded with King Noah in
Abinadi's behalf (4). Alma fled and hid himself for many days. During this time he "did write all the
words which Abinadi had spoken" (7).
Abinadi was imprisoned for three days and then brought before the king and his priests (9). He was
asked to "recall all the words which thou hast spoken evil concerning me and my people" (12). Abinadi
refused, "for they are true... And if ye slay me, ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a
testimony against you at the last day" (16). This strategy was to relieve Noah of some of the
responsibility for Abinadi's death in the eyes of his own people.
Mos 9:17 And now King Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for he feared that the
judgments of God would come upon him.
9:17 The king was burdened with a consciousness of his sins and the fear of divine judgment. The evil
priesthood, a Frankenstein monster of the king's creation, cried out, "He has reviled the king" (18). This
gave Noah the courage he needed to burn Abinadi to death. In the agony of death, Abinadi predicted,
that the king would suffer a similar fate. But before this time, he would suffer “all manner of diseases”
(22) and be smitten and hunted (23, 24)
ALMA BAPTIZES BELIEVERS IN WATERS OF MORMON, Ver. 28-50
Mos 9:28 And now it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants of King Noah, repented
of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of
Abinadi;
9:28 This young "man was a descendant of Nephi. The fact that he copied the message of Abinadi and
risked his life to intercede for the prophet shows that he was a man of character and had sincerely
repented. He preached the doctrines of the resurrection, and of the redemption "which was to be brought
to pass through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ... and ascension into heaven” (29). He
had to be secretive about his teachings, for he was a marked man; therefore, he taught “privately” those
who would listen (31).
Alma hid in “a thicket of small trees” which was near “the waters of Mormon” (38). The believers
gathered here to hear him preach repentance, redemption, and faith on the Lord. As a result of his
ministry, the people were “desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people." They
were willing to bear each other's burdens, to mourn with the sad, to comfort those in need, and to
witness of God (39, 40). Therefore Alma invited them to be "baptized in the name of the Lord" (41).
They responded by clapping "their hands for joy, and exclaimed, This is the desire of our hearts" (42).
Mos 9:43 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood
forth in the water, and cried, saying, O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this
work with holiness of heart.