Abinadom, a Nephite historian, was the son of Chemish and the father of Amaleki. His contributions to the Nephite record are found in the Book of Omni. Abinadom’s brief account appears in a period known for its succinct historical entries, primarily covering genealogy and the transferal of records (Omni 1:10-11). During his lifetime, Abinadom witnessed much war and contention between the Nephites and the Lamanites, and he actively participated in these conflicts, stating that he personally had slain many Lamanites with his sword in defense of his brethren (Omni 1:10).
Unlike some of his predecessors, Abinadom recorded no revelations or prophecies, and he affirmed the sufficiency of the records already written, indicating a time when open revelation might have been less prevalent among the Nephites (Omni 1:11). Despite the brevity of his writings, they are part of the larger narrative that links generations of Nephite record keepers leading up to the reign of King Benjamin. Abinadom’s tenure as a keeper of the plates is a link between past and future; it marks a continuation of Nephite traditions and spiritual legacy as the records were handed down from father to son, ultimately to King Benjamin through Amaleki, Abinadom’s son (Omni 1:12).