Mosiah 13

Jehovah, Lawgiver

Jehovah — the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Jesus Christ

And again: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generations of them that hate me; Mosiah 13:13–14

The Lord of Sinai speaks in the first person, promising mercy to those who love Him and keep His commandments. That Lord is Jehovah, the premortal Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• quotes Exodus 20:5-6 — The Sinai source.
• alluded to by John 14:15 — Jesus: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

The Name of the Lord

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Mosiah 13:15

The name that must be kept sacred is the Lord's, Jehovah's. Latter-day Saints covenant to take upon themselves the name of that same Lord, Jesus Christ, and to honor it.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• quotes Exodus 20:7 — The Sinai source.

The Lord as Creator

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Mosiah 13:19

The Lord who made heaven and earth is Jehovah. Scripture teaches that the Father created all things through the Son, so Jesus Christ is the Creator named here.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• quotes Exodus 20:11 — The Sinai source.
• interpreted by Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ is called "the Creator of all things from the beginning."
• interpreted by John 1:3 — "All things were made by him."

The Law Fulfilled in Christ

And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses. Mosiah 13:27

Abinadi foretells a day when the law of Moses would end. That happened when Jesus Christ fulfilled it through His Atonement, as He announced to the Nephites.

• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 9:17 — "In me is the law of Moses fulfilled."
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 15:4-5 — "The law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me."

The Atonement

And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses. Mosiah 13:28

Keeping rules alone cannot save anyone. God Himself, Jesus Christ, would make an Atonement for His people's sins, and without it everyone would be lost.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alluded to by Alma 34:9 — Amulek: without an atonement "all mankind must unavoidably perish."
• the same event in 2 Nephi 2:5-7 — Lehi: no flesh is justified by the law; redemption comes through the Holy Messiah.

The Law of Moses as Types of Christ

Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him. Mosiah 13:30–31

Abinadi says outright that all the rites of the law of Moses were types, symbols pointing ahead. In context the thing to come is the Redeemer: the sacrifices, feasts and ordinances pictured Christ and His Atonement.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Mosiah 16:14 — Abinadi: teach that the law "is a shadow of those things which are to come."
• interpreted by Alma 34:14 — The law points to "that great and last sacrifice," the Son of God.
• the same event in 2 Nephi 11:4 — All things given of God are "the typifying of him."

The Redemption of God

And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there could not any man be saved except it were through the redemption of God. Mosiah 13:32

Many in Israel missed the point of the law: no one is saved except through God's redemption. Abinadi goes on to show that this Redeemer is God come down in the flesh, Jesus Christ.

• interpreted by Mosiah 16:15 — "Redemption cometh through Christ the Lord."

The Messiah

Messiah — the Anointed One

For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things? Mosiah 13:33

Abinadi names the Messiah and says Moses and every prophet since the world began testified of His coming to redeem His people. The law's own lawgiver pointed past the law to Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Deuteronomy 18:15 — Moses foretells a Prophet like him whom Israel must hear.
• the same title in Jacob 7:11 — No prophet has prophesied without speaking of this Christ.
• the same event in Mosiah 15:11-13 — The holy prophets who testified of Him are His seed.

God Come Down in the Form of Man

Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth? Mosiah 13:34

The prophets foretold that God Himself would be born into mortality and work mighty miracles. This is the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, and it is the very teaching Noah later condemns Abinadi to death for (Mosiah 17:8).

How we know: a footnote points to Him

• interpreted by Mosiah 15:1-4 — Abinadi explains how God comes down as both Father and Son.
• fulfilled by John 1:14 — "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."
• quoted by Mosiah 17:8 — Noah cites this teaching as the charge against Abinadi.

Resurrection and Suffering of the Messiah

Yea, and have they not said also that he should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself, should be oppressed and afflicted? Mosiah 13:35

The same God who comes down would make resurrection possible for everyone and would also suffer oppression. This leads straight into Abinadi's reading of Isaiah 53 in the next chapter.

• alludes to Isaiah 53:7 — "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted."
• the same event in Mosiah 14:7 — Abinadi reads the Isaiah passage in full.
• fulfilled by Matthew 27:52-53 — Saints rose from their graves after His resurrection.