Abinadi returns two years later with the same dismal prophecies. King Noah imprisons him, then assembles his priests to question the prisoner. They ask him to explain a passage from the book of Isaiah. He responds by rebuking them for failing to apply their hearts and for failing to obey the commandments they teach.
Chapter Outline
- Abinadi returns and prophesies (v. 1-8)
- He is arrested and imprisoned (v. 9-17)
- King Noah’s priests ask Abinadi to explain Isaiah 52:7-10 (v. 18-24)
- Abinadi rebukes them and begins to review the law of Moses (v. 25-37)
My Takeaways
- We need to avoid self-justification, and we need to be open to advice that is difficult to hear.
- Gaining knowledge and wisdom requires effort. We have to apply our hearts.
- Before you correct or contradict someone, look for common ground, and build from there.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Abinadi prophesies – Mosiah 12:1-8
“Thus Saith the Lord” – Mosiah 11:20, 25, Mosiah 12:2
King Noah received two sets of messages. One set came from Abinadi, a prophet of God. The other set came from his own priests, whom he had chosen. Here are some of the messages he heard: Topic Abinadi The priests of King Noah The behavior of King Noah and his people “Thus saith the Lord—Wo…
❖ Abinadi is arrested – Mosiah 12:9-17
What Great Evil Hast Thou Done? – Mosiah 12:13-16
13 And now, O king, what great evil hast thou done, or what great sins have thy people committed, that we should be condemned of God or judged of this man? 14 And now, O king, behold, we are guiltless, and thou, O king, hast not sinned; therefore, this man has lied concerning you, and…
❖ The priests ask Abinadi to explain a scripture – Mosiah 12:18-24
What Does It Mean to “Publish Peace?”
To publish something is to make it generally known, to make it public (Webster’s Dictionary 1828). Isaiah described the joy people feel when a messenger with good news comes running over the mountains: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of…
❖ Abinadi rebukes the priests – Mosiah 12:25-37
Ye Have Not Applied Your Hearts to Understanding – Mosiah 12:27
27 Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise…. (Mosiah 12:27) After prophesying that the people of King Noah would be punished for their sins, Abinadi was arrested and brought before Noah’s priests for questioning. During the interrogation, one of the priests quoted a passage from Isaiah—Isaiah 52:7-10—and asked…
What Does It Mean to “Keep” God’s Commandments?
The Hebrew verb shamar (שָׁמַר) means to keep, to guard, or to preserve. Here are the first few appearances of that word in the Bible: God commanded Adam and Eve to cultivate the Garden of Eden and to “keep” it (Genesis 2:15). When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden, God placed cherubim and…
Ye Know that I Speak the Truth – Mosiah 12:30
30 Know ye not that I speak the truth? Yea, ye know that I speak the truth; and you ought to tremble before God.(Mosiah 12:30) It’s easy to understand why Noah preferred the words of his people to the words of Abinadi. It’s much more pleasant to hear, “What great evil hast thou done?” and,…
Doth Salvation Come by the Law of Moses? – Mosiah 12:31-33
31 And it shall come to pass that ye shall be smitten for your iniquities, for ye have said that ye teach the law of Moses. And what know ye concerning the law of Moses? Doth salvation come by the law of Moses? What say ye? 32 And they answered and said that salvation did…
Old Testament Foundations
“Be Not Afraid of Their Words”
How would you like to receive a calling like this: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God…. Ezekiel…
All the Ends of the Earth
Based on: Psalm 98 Core message: The entire world benefits from the Savior’s light, even non-believers. We all have reason to rejoice. Related Book of Mormon passages: Mosiah 12:24, Mosiah 15:18-31
An Understanding Heart
After Solomon became king of Israel, God invited him to ask for a blessing (1 Kings 3:5, 2 Chronicles 1:7). Solomon could have requested so many things, including longevity, increased wealth, victory in battle, or a good reputation among leaders of other nations. But he didn’t request any of these. He framed his simple request…
Church History Connections
“With the Voice Together Shall They Sing”
The Book of Mormon opens with music. In the opening scene, Lehi sees in a vision: God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God. 1 Nephi 1:8 The prophet Isaiah associated singing with expressions of joy and gratitude. For example: “Sing, O heavens;…
All Posts Referencing Mosiah 12
- Applying Our Hearts to Understanding Exodus 21-23 (4/23/2026)
- Abinadi and the Ten Commandments (4/22/2026)
- Abinadi, Authority, and the Image of God (1/15/2026)
- Contents of the Brass Plates (1/3/2026)
- A Proclamation (10/31/2025)
- Noah, Babylon, and the Slipperiness of Political Power (1/25/2025)
- Good Tidings of Great Joy (12/24/2024)
- Types and Shadows (5/18/2024)
- Hearing Hard Truths (5/17/2024)
- Despised (5/16/2024)
- Limhi’s Psalm (5/10/2024)
- Testimony of Jesus = Spirit of Prophecy (12/30/2023)
- The Promise and the Law (9/27/2023)
- Flee Fornication (8/27/2023)
- “Be Not Afraid of Their Words” (10/25/2022)
- All the Ends of the Earth (8/19/2022)
- An Understanding Heart (6/23/2022)
- Moses (3/22/2022)
- The Living Christ and the Book of Mormon (12/26/2021)
- Confounded (6/29/2021)
- “With the Voice Together Shall They Sing” (3/13/2021)
- “Thus Saith the Lord” – Mosiah 11:20, 25, Mosiah 12:2 (5/7/2020)
- How Can I Apply My Heart to Understanding? (Mosiah 12:27) (5/6/2020)
- What Is the Role of Music in the Gospel? (12/17/2019)
- What Is Wisdom? (12/13/2019)
- How Can I Be a Both a Defender of Truth and a Peacemaker? (10/19/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Bear One Another’s Burdens? (9/28/2019)
- What Does It Mean to “Publish Peace?” (9/26/2019)
- How Can I “Use Boldess, but Not Overbearance?” (9/12/2019)
- Why Did the Nephites Keep the Law of Moses? (8/11/2019)
- What Is Zion? (7/31/2019)
- What Does It Mean to “Keep” God’s Commandments? (7/1/2019)
- What Are Secret Combinations? (6/25/2019)
- What Should I Do When I Feel Guilty? (6/24/2019)
- Which of Isaiah’s Writings Are Quoted in the Book of Mormon? (5/31/2019)
- Why Is Isaiah Quoted So Much in the Book of Mormon? (5/27/2019)
- How Does God Communicate with Us? (4/16/2019)
- Ye Have Not Applied Your Hearts to Understanding – Mosiah 12:27 (7/3/2018)
- Doth Salvation Come by the Law of Moses? – Mosiah 12:31-33 (1/28/2018)
- What Great Evil Hast Thou Done? – Mosiah 12:13-16 (10/25/2017)
- What Say Ye? – Mosiah 12:31-33 (7/20/2016)
- Ye Know that I Speak the Truth – Mosiah 12:30 (5/1/2015)
- Mosiah 12:27 Ye Have Not Applied Your Hearts to Understanding (10/16/2014)