Abinadi was a Nephite prophet who appeared around 150 BC, prominently known for his prophecies of repentance to the people of King Noah³. Abinadi’s ministry was marked by his fearless denunciation of the wickedness of the people and their king, as well as his detailed prophecies concerning the life and mission of Jesus Christ. He is prominent among the Nephite prophets for his martyrdom, as he was the first recorded Nephite to be put to death for his testimony (Mosiah 17:20).
Despite his peoples’ iniquity and the threat to his own life, Abinadi returned to the court of King Noah to deliver a message of impending doom should they fail to repent (Mosiah 12:1-8). Confronted by the king and his priests, he masterfully defended his teachings by quoting scripture, expounding upon the Ten Commandments, and speaking of the coming of Christ in detail not previously revealed in the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 12:19-37, Mosiah 13:12-24). He boldly testified that salvation comes not only through the law of Moses but through the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mosiah 13:27-28, 15:1-9). His teachings on the nature of Christ as both the Father and the Son were profound and pivotal to the doctrine found within the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 15:1-9).
Abinadi’s words transformed one listener in particular, Alma¹, who later became a pivotal religious leader among the Nephites (Mosiah 17:1-4). Despite the immediate danger he faced, Abinadi did not waver in his faith or his message. When faced with the ultimatum to recant or die, he chose to seal his testimony with his life, providing a clear witness of his unwavering dedication to his prophetic calling (Mosiah 17:9-10).
As prophesied by Abinadi, King Noah met his end in a manner eerily similar to that of the prophet’s, burned to death by his own people (Mosiah 19:20). Hence, Abinadi’s prophecies were not only profound teachings of Christ’s gospel but also direct predictors of the temporal judgment that would befall the unrepentant. His teachings were critical to Nephite scripture and served as an enduring testament to justice, repentance, and the fulfillment of God’s word.