When members of the Church speak of the “first resurrection,” they are referring to the resurrection of the righteous which occurs at the Second Coming. Abinadi is not referring to this “first resurrection.” He is speaking of those prophets and saints who lived and died from the days of Adam to the resurrection of Christ. He explains that they shall come forth in the first resurrection, but he is referring to those saints who were resurrected with Christ, And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many (Matt 27:52-53). The Nephite prophets and saints were also part of this “first resurrection,” I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so? And his disciples answered him and said; Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all fulfilled (3 Nephi 23:9-10). Alma explains that there is a division in the “first resurrection.” Those who die before the resurrection of Christ were to be resurrected with Christ. Those who die after the resurrection of Christ will be resurrected at the Second Coming. This is the meaning of the following passage, their resurrection cometh to pass before the resurrection of those who die after the resurrection of Christ (Alma 40:19).
What then should be our definition of “the first resurrection”? The first resurrection is the resurrection of life (Jn 5:29). It began with Christ himself. It includes all those who were resurrected with him after his First Coming. It includes all the prophets who have since been resurrected in order to fulfill special angelic functions (i.e. Peter, James, and Moroni). It includes all those who are resurrected at the Second Coming of Christ. Therefore the first resurrection covers a very long time period.
James E. Talmage
“Two general resurrections are mentioned in the scriptures, and these may be specified as first and final, or as the resurrection of the just and the resurrection of the unjust. The first was inaugurated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ; immediately following which many of the saints came forth from their graves. A continuation of this, the resurrection of the just, has been in operation since, and will be greatly extended, or brought to pass in a general way, in connection with the coming of Christ in His glory. The final resurrection will be deferred until the end of the thousand years of peace, and will be in connection with the last judgment.” (Reynolds and Sjodahl, Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 2, p. 174)
Bruce R. McConkie
“To those who lived before the resurrection of Christ, the day of his coming forth from the dead was known as the first resurrection. Abinadi and Alma, for instance, so considered it. (Mosiah 15:21-25; Alma 40.) To those who have lived since that day, the first resurrection is yet future and will take place at the time of the Second Coming. (D. & C. 88:96-102.) We have no knowledge that the resurrection is going on now or that any persons have been resurrected since the day in which Christ came forth excepting Peter, James, and Moroni, all of whom had special labors to perform in this day which necessitated tangible resurrected bodies.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 639)