Mosiah 7

Manna

Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God, in that God who was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and also, that God who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and caused that they should walk through the Red Sea on dry ground, and fed them with manna that they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did he do for them. Mosiah 7:19

Manna, the bread from heaven that kept Israel alive in the wilderness, is a type of Christ, the Bread of Life who gives eternal life. Limhi mentions it as proof that God can deliver His people.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• typified by John 6:31-35 — Jesus contrasts the manna with Himself, the true bread from heaven.
• the same event in Exodus 16:15 — The giving of the manna.

Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Jehovah — the eternal I AM, the premortal Christ

Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God, in that God who was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and also, that God who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and caused that they should walk through the Red Sea on dry ground, and fed them with manna that they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did he do for them. Mosiah 7:19–20

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who led Israel out of Egypt and led Lehi out of Jerusalem, is Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ. Nephi says plainly that this same God of Abraham would give Himself into the hands of wicked men to be lifted up.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by 1 Nephi 19:10 — 'The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself... as a man, into the hands of wicked men.'
• the same title in Exodus 3:6 — 'I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:14 — The risen Christ: 'I am the God of Israel.'

The coming of Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

And a prophet of the Lord have they slain; yea, a chosen man of God, who told them of their wickedness and abominations, and prophesied of many things which are to come, yea, even the coming of Christ. Mosiah 7:26

Limhi recalls that Abinadi prophesied the coming of Christ and was killed for it. The prophet was a witness who spoke for Christ before His birth.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in Mosiah 15:1 — Abinadi's prophecy that 'God himself shall come down among the children of men.'
• the same event in Mosiah 17:20 — Abinadi suffers death by fire, sealing the truth of his words.

Christ, the Father of all things

Father of all things — Creator and Father of heaven and earth

And because he said unto them that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that God should come down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth— Mosiah 7:27

Abinadi taught that Christ is God and the Father of all things, meaning He is the Creator of the world and the Father of all who are spiritually reborn. This does not erase the distinction between Christ and Heavenly Father; it describes Christ's roles.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ, 'the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things.'
• interpreted by Mosiah 15:2-4 — Abinadi explains how the Son is called both the Father and the Son.
• the same title in Isaiah 9:6 — 'The everlasting Father.'

God come down in flesh

And because he said unto them that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that God should come down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth— Mosiah 7:27

Abinadi prophesied that God, meaning Christ, would come down, take a body of flesh and blood, and walk the earth. The body He would take is in the same image in which man was first created.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Mosiah 13:34 — 'God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man.'
• the same title in Ether 3:15-16 — The premortal Christ: man was created after the body of His spirit, and He would appear in the flesh.
• alludes to Genesis 1:27 — Man created in the image of God.
• fulfilled by John 1:14 — The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

Jehovah speaking

For behold, the Lord hath said: I will not succor my people in the day of their transgression; but I will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a stumbling block before them. Mosiah 7:29–31

Limhi quotes the Lord's warnings to His covenant people. The Lord who speaks as 'my people's' covenant God is Jehovah, the premortal Christ; His promises of judgment have come true in their bondage (verse 32).

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Hosea 8:7 — 'They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.'
• alludes to Mosiah 12:6 — Abinadi, speaking for the Lord, warned that the people would be smitten with the east wind.