Gospel Doctrine Commentary
Lesson No. Seventeen

Consequences of Our Response to Prophetic Warnings

Introduction - The response to Abinadi prophetic warnings had significant consequences for the Nephites for several generations.  There were three groups of people who had differing responses to Abinadi’s call to repentance.  These same three responses are found among people today, and in this there are very important lessons for latter day saints. 

Abinadi's call to repentance and three different responses (Mosiah 11 - 24).

  • The people of Limhi rejected Abinadi’s call to repentance (Mosiah 11: 20-27; 12: 1-16). They were smitten and in bondage for 20 years (Mosiah 21: 1-12).
    • They were compelled to be humble because of their afflictions (Mosiah 21 : 12-16)
    • Because of their iniquities the Lord was slow to hear their cries (Mosiah 21:15)
    • They were delivered when they follow the council of inspired leaders (Mosiah 22).
  • King Noah and his priests fought against the work of the Lord (Mosiah 17).  King Noah suffered death by fire (Mosiah 19: 9-19). Noah's priests and their children, after years of turbulence, were hunted and destroyed (Alma 25: 1-12).  This was just as Abinadi prophesied.  (See Mosiah 17:14-20)  
  • The people of Alma repented and received the gospel (Mosiah 18).  They were blessed and prospered for 20 years (Mosiah 23:1-20).
    • These righteous people were temporarily enslaved when the Lord tried their patience and their faith (Mosiah 23:21; 24:11).
    • They put their trust in the Lord and they were strengthened and their burdens were made light (Mosiah 24:12-15).
    • The Lord directly intervened and delivered his people (Mosiah 24:16).

Lessons for the Latter Days

Abinadi before King Noah  -  Arnold Friberg

  1. People in the latter days who, like Noah and his priests, fight against God and his prophets will be taken captive by the devil, and they will be miserable (see 2 Nephi 2:27). The "devil won’t support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell” (Alma 30:60).  They will inherit the telestial kingdom after they have suffered for their sins.
  2. There are those in the latter days who are like the people of Limhi in that they do not harken to the prophets, and don’t repent until they are compelled to do so by their circumstances.  They can expect years of affliction and turmoil as they will be in bondage to their addictions and to the weakness of the flesh.  Hopefully their afflictions compel them to be humble and repent. If they repent they will inherit the celestial kingdom. Otherwise they will receive a lesser kingdom.
  3. Those in the latter days who, like the people Alma, harken to the prophets will be blessed, prospered, and strengthened.  They will be delivered in adversity and receive a celestial reward.
  4. It is important to harken to the council of God’s prophet immediately. Alma's people did not harken the first time Abinadi came among them and told them that if they did not repent they would be brought into bondage, but they did not repent at that time.  Two years later when Abinadi came again Alma and his people listened.  But Abinadi had told them on his first visit that if they did not repent they would be brought into bondage. The word of the Lord is certain, and because they did not repent when first commanded they were later brought into bondage for a time to test their patience and faith (Mosiah 23:21).
  5. When righteous people are delivered from their adversity they stand as witness of the goodness of the Lord, and they know of a surety that the Lord visits his people in their afflictions (Mosiah 24:14)
  6. The early Saints who left Nauvoo under the direction of Brigham Young had their patience and faith tried often by extreme hardship.  But they were always strengthened and delivered as the Lord promised.  These people usually remained true and faithful to the end, and they passed the legacy of following the prophet on to their descendants.  Those who did not follow Brigham Young west, but remained in Nauvoo without prophets were not blessed as they otherwise might have been, and their descendants are generally out of the Church.

Conclusion - One of the most important legacies we can pass on to our family and others whom we love is the example of following those who we sustain as prophets, and to do it immediately without hesitation.  If we do this we will be blessed and prospered.  We will be delivered in adversity, and great will be our rejoicings (Mosiah 23:19-24).