Abinadi's Testimony of the Resurrection

In Abinadi’s relatively short set of teachings to the people of King Noah, he spent a considerable amount of time discussing the resurrection and the power of death given to the Savior.  He questioned the priests of Noah: “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).  He also testified to them, “And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men—Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death” (Mosiah 15:8-9).  As Abinadi was approaching death himself, left Noah and his priest a powerful witness that through the resurrection he would be raised up again. 

               Abinadi’s words to Noah and his priests focused on the Savior’s power over death as he prepared for his own death at their hands.  He declared, “But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead” (Mosiah 15:20).  He testified of how the Savior takes away the sting of the grave: “And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.  But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ” (Mosiah 16:7-8).  He also bore witness that prophets would come forth in the first resurrection: “And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection” (Mosiah 15:22).  He may have not been thinking about himself as a prophet at that time, but he was surely included in that list of prophets who would be raised up in the first resurrection.  His message to them seemed to be this: “You can kill me, but it will have no lasting power because I will be raised up by the Savior in the resurrection.”  He taught them that they would come forth as well in the resurrection and have to account for their actions: “Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God.”  He left us a powerful testimony of the Savior’s ability to give us all everlasting life: “He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death” (Mosiah 16:9-10).  Abinadi’s testimony, a man on the verge of giving his own life for Christ, comes down through the centuries bearing witness that through Christ we will all rise again.