Abinadi’s Message to Noah and his Priests

The Law of Moses

Mosiah 13:11

Abinadi condemns Noah’s court, and reads the remainder of God’s commandments to them.

And now I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts; I perceive that ye have studied and taught iniquity the most part of your lives.

Mosiah 13:12-24

Remember the ten commandments.

And now, ye remember that I said unto you:

Mosiah 13:25–26

Have you taught the commandments to the people? If you had, the Lord would not have sent me.

And it came to pass that after Abinadi had made an end of these sayings that he said unto them:

Have ye taught this people that they should observe to do all these things for to keep these commandments? I say unto you:

“Nay; for if ye had, the Lord would not have caused me to come forth and to prophesy evil concerning this people.”

Mosiah 13:27

The Law of Moses must be kept for now, but there will come a time when it will no longer be needed.

And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses.

Mosiah 13:28

Salvation does not come by the law alone: atonement is essential.

And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses.

Mosiah 13:29

The law was given because of the stubbornness of the people.

And now I say unto you that it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God;

Mosiah 13:30–31

The law was comprised of types of things to come.

Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him. But behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to come.

Mosiah 13:32

The law was misunderstood; the people did not realize that salvation comes only through divine redemption.

And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there could not any man be saved except it were through the redemption of God.