CHAPTER 16
God redeems men from their lost and fallen state—Those who are carnal remain as though there was no redemption—Christ brings to pass a resurrection to endless life or to endless damnation. About 148 B.C.
1
And now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: The time shall come when all shall see the
asalvation of the Lord; when
bevery nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall
cconfess before God that his
djudgments are just.
2 And then shall the
awicked be
bcast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and
cweep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not
dhearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not.
3 For they are
acarnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did
bbeguile our first parents, which was the
ccause of their fall; which was the cause of
dall mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish,
eknowing evil from good,
fsubjecting themselves to the devil.
4 Thus all mankind were
alost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.
5 But remember that he that persists in his own
acarnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the
bdevil hath all power over him. Therefore he is as though there was no
credemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the
ddevil an enemy to God.
6 And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come
aas though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.
7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no
asting, there could have been no resurrection.
8 But there is a
aresurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of
bdeath is swallowed up in Christ.
9 He is the
alight and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.
10 Even this mortal shall put on
aimmortality, and this
bcorruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to
cstand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil—
11 If they be good, to the resurrection of
aendless life and
bhappiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of
cendless damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation—
12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would
anot; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.
13 And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?
14 Therefore, if ye teach the
alaw of Moses, also teach that it is a
bshadow of those things which are to come—
15 Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very aEternal Father. Amen.
CHAPTER 17
Alma believes and writes the words of Abinadi—Abinadi suffers death by fire—He prophesies disease and death by fire upon his murderers. About 148 B.C.
1
And now it came to pass that when Abinadi had finished these sayings, that the king commanded that the
apriests should take him and cause that he should be put to
bdeath.
2 But there was one among them whose name was
aAlma, he also being a descendant of Nephi. And he was a young man, and he
bbelieved the words which Abinadi had spoken, for he knew concerning the iniquity which Abinadi had testified against them; therefore he began to plead with the king that he would not be angry with Abinadi, but suffer that he might depart in peace.
3 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.
4 But he fled from before them and
ahid himself that they found him not. And he being concealed for many days did
bwrite all the words which Abinadi had spoken.
5 And it came to pass that the king caused that his guards should surround Abinadi and take him; and they bound him and cast him into prison.
6 And after three days, having counseled with his
apriests, he caused that he should again be brought before him.
7 And he said unto him: Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death.
8 For thou hast said that aGod himself should come down among the children of men; and now, for this cause thou shalt be put to death unless thou wilt recall all the words which thou hast spoken evil concerning me and my people. I found this wonderful quote for today's reading. It's kind of long so I'll pass on making my own commentary and let it speak for itself. (I know you don't have all day to read this blog! ;) )“A Man Named Alma”
“One of the wicked priests of King Noah is a man named Alma, who is a descendant of Nephi. When first introduced in the Book of Mormon, Alma is a young man in the process of being converted by Abinadi. (Mosiah 17:2.) Much of the religious history of the Nephite nation for the next three hundred years is concerned with this man and his descendants. Alma not only begins a religious revival among his own people, but later he is given power by King Mosiah to establish churches throughout all the land of Zarahemla. (See Mosiah 25:19.)
“Still later we read that Alma’s son (also called Alma) succeeds his father as the religious leader of the people and also becomes the first chief judge over the Nephite nation. Other descendants of Alma the elder who become great religious leaders of the Nephites include his grandson (Helaman); great-grandson (Helaman, the son of Helaman); great-great-grandson (Nephi, the son of Helaman who is the son of Helaman); and great-great-great-grandson (Nephi the second, who is also the chief disciple of the resurrected Jesus Christ). Abinadi may have felt that he had failed as a missionary; so far as the record indicates, his only convert was Alma. However, as mentioned above, the missionary efforts of Abinadi affected the religious life of the Nephites for hundreds of years” (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p. 187).
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