Abinadi

Etymology

According to Todd Parker, the name "Abinadi" (Mosiah 11:20) appears to be symbolic. In Hebrew, ab means "father," abi means "my father," and nadi is "present with you," so the name Abinadi may reflect his mission; it may mean something like "my father is present with you." In the Book of Mormon account, the alleged reason for killing him was because Abinadi claimed that God would come down and would be with man (see Mosiah 15:1-7). That was the charge of blasphemy they finally used to put him to death (Mosiah 17:8).

Praise

M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles praised Abinadi for courage and obedience: “Abinadi infuriated wicked King Noah with his courageous testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. Eventually this great missionary offered the ultimate sacrifice for his witness and faith but not before his pure testimony touched one believing heart. Alma, one of King Noah’s priests, ‘repented of his sins . . . , [accepted Jesus as the Christ,] and went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi’ (Mosiah 18:1). Many were converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ as a direct result of Abinadi’s powerfully borne testimony of the Savior, believed by one soul, Alma.”

While serving in the Seventy, Cree-L Kofford discussed Abinadi's influence: “What is there that is so special about Abinadi? Perhaps it was his total obedience as he went, presumably alone, among those whom he must have known would take his life, to deliver the word of the Lord and to cry repentance to the people. Perhaps it is the very fact that we know so little about him, or perhaps it was simply the way with which he faced the adversities which came into his life in such a straightforward, ‘square-to-the world’ way. Whatever the reason, Abinadi was and is special. His life, lived so long ago, still has the power to excite the mind and cause the pulse to pound.”

Comparison to King Benjamin

According to Todd Parker, there are many similarities between the speeches of King Benjamin and Abinadi.

1. God himself shall come down (Mosiah 3:5; 15:1).
2. He will work mighty miracles (Mosiah 3:5; 15:6).
3. He will suffer temptation (Mosiah 3:7; 15:5).
4. He will be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mosiah 3:7,8; 15:2,21).
5. He is the Father of heaven and earth (Mosiah 3:8; 15:4).
6. He will bring salvation (Mosiah 3:9; 15:1).
7. He will be scourged and crucified (Mosiah 3:9; 15:8).
8. He will overcome death (Mosiah 3:10; 15:8).
9. He will do these things that men can be judged (Mosiah 3:10; 15:9).
10. His atonement redeems those who have ignorantly sinned (Mosiah 3:11; 15:24).
11. Those who willfully rebel are not redeemed (Mosiah 3:12; 15:26).
12. All prophets declare this message (Mosiah 3:13; 16:6).
13. Prophets spoke as if he had already come (Mosiah 3:13; 16:6).
14. Because Israel was stiffnecked, a law was given them (Mosiah 3:14;13:29).
15. The law included types of things to come (Mosiah 3:15; 15:11).
16. Prophets spake concerning his coming (Mosiah 3:15; 15:11)..
17. Israel hardened their hearts against the prophets (Mosiah 3:15; 13:32).
18. Law of Moses is ineffectual without the atonement (Mosiah 3:15; 13:28).
19. The atonement provides eternal life for little children (Mosiah 3:16; 15:25).
20. Salvation is in Christ. There is no other way (Mosiah 3:17; 16:13).
21. The natural man is an enemy to God (Mosiah 3:19; 16:5).
22. The knowledge of a Savior shall spread to every nation (Mosiah 3:20; 15:28).
23. Receiving this message makes one accountable (Mosiah 3:22; 16:12).
24. Every man will be judged according to his works (Mosiah 3:24; 16:10).
25. Prophets' words stand as a testimony (Mosiah 3:24; 17:10).

Type of Christ

According to Jeffrey R. Holland, Abinadi is a type of Christ.