Book of Mormon |
Annotations |
Chapter 17
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1 And now it came to pass that when Abinadi had finished
these sayings, that the king commanded that the priests should take him and
cause that he should be put to death.
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2 But there was one among them whose name was Alma, he
also being a descendant of Nephi. And he was a young man, and he believed
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.
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About 450 years after the Lehites left Jerusalem, Alma is
cited as a descendant of Nephi.
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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.
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4 But he fled from before them and hid himself that they
found him not. And he being concealed for many days did write all the words
which Abinadi had spoken.
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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.
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6 And after three days, having counseled with his priests,
he caused that he should again be brought before him.
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7 And he said unto him: Abinadi, we have found an
accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death.
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8 For thou hast said that God 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.
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Notice the reason Abinadi is being put to death—for what
seems to be an explicitly Trinitarian declaration.
Some defend some seemingly Trinitarian Book of Mormon references as not
contradicting current Mormon godhead doctrine (see The Doctrine of God the Father in the Book of Mormon),
but in context of doctrine taught in the “Lectures on Faith” how sound is
this defense?
From the “Lectures on Faith” that used to be in the Doctrine and Covenants
until the 1921 edition:
“The Father being a personage of spirit, glory, and power,
possessing all perfection and fulness. The Son, who was in the bosom of the
Father, is a personage of tabernacle . . . He is called the Son because of
the flesh . . . He, possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is
the Holy Spirit that bears record of the Father and the Son.”
“Questions and Answers for Lecture 5
3. Q—How many personages are there in the Godhead?
A—Two: the Father and Son (Lecture 5: 1).
13. Q—Do the Father and the Son possess the same mind?
A—They do . . .
14. Q—What is this mind?
A—The Holy Spirit”
(Lecture 5).
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9 Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not
recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for
they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself
that I have fallen into your hands.
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10 Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not
recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye
slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony
against you at the last day.
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11 And now king Noah was about to release him, for he
feared his word; for he feared that the judgments of God would come upon him.
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12 But the priests lifted up their voices against him, and
began to accuse him, saying: He has reviled the king. Therefore the king was
stirred up in anger against him, and he delivered him up that he might be
slain.
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13 And it came to pass that they took him and bound him,
and scourged his skin with faggots, yea, even unto death.
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14 And now when the flames began to scorch him, he cried
unto them, saying:
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15 Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come
to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer the pains that I do
suffer, even the pains of death by fire; and this because they believe in the
salvation of the Lord their God.
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16 And it will come to pass that ye shall be afflicted
with all manner of diseases because of your iniquities.
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17 Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every hand, and shall
be driven and scattered to and fro, even as a wild flock is driven by wild
and ferocious beasts.
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18 And in that day ye shall be hunted, and ye shall be
taken by the hand of your enemies, and then ye shall suffer, as I suffer, the
pains of death by fire.
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19 Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy
his people. O God, receive my soul.
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20 And now, when Abinadi had said these words, he fell,
having suffered death by fire; yea, having been put to death because he would
not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his
death.
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