“He Alma Did Write All the Words Which Abinadi Had Spoken”

Alan C. Miner

According to Robert Matthews, although Alma1 wrote all of Abinadi's words, that does not necessarily mean that Mormon included all of them in the abridged account given to us in the book of Mosiah. There are at least four clues that we do not have a complete transcript of Abinadi's debates with the priests, nor a full account of his teachings. For example, in Mosiah 7:26-28, Limhi speaks of Abinadi's death and explains for what (seven) teachings he was slain (Mosiah 7:27). The teachings of Abinadi that we have cover each of these seven items except numbers three and four. Other clues discussed are found in Mosiah 12:8, Mosiah 12:18-19, and Mormon 1:19. [Robert Matthews, "Abinadi: The Prophet and Martyr," in The Book of Mormon: Mosiah, Salvation Only through Christ, p. 104]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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