Mosiah 13

(Below is a list of questions and quotes that help me think about each verse as I read it. The numbers represent the verses in the chapter.)

The Lord protects His righteous servants until their mission is complete. No one can be saved except through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

1-10. How might this story give you courage when you face difficult tasks? How does the story of Abinadi help you to have courage in the callings you receive from the Lord?

"When we know who we are and what God expects of us - when his law [is] written in [our] hearts - we are spiritually protected." - Russell M Nelson, GC, April 1995

1. Why do you think that Noah considered Abinadi to be mad? Had he not decided that Abinadi was mad, would he have to have considered Abinadi's words more fully?

"Doers, said Jesus, will know that these doctrines are of God. (See John 7:17.) Therefore, do not be surprised when nondoers scoff. Do not be surprised, either, if these doctrines unsettle some." -Neal A Maxwell, GC, April 1986

2-4. What did Abinadi say that indicates that he had the favour of the Lord with him? How did his words instil fear into their hearts? 

4. Why did Abinadi feel that Noah and his priests called Abinadi mad? Why do the wicked seek to pass off the words of the righteous as madness? Have you ever had this happen in your life or in the life of someone you know? Does the label 'mad' or 'crazy' change the truthfulness of the words that Abinadi spoke? Have you ever been judged to be something you are not? Does the judgement of others change who you are? How much should you allow the judgements or approval of others to influence your life?

5. How did Noah and his priests feel as Abinadi rebuked them? Does your countenance reflect your convictions and faith in God? What lesson can you apply from this verse in your life? 

"Can one righteous young woman change the world? The answer is a resounding “yes!” You have the Holy Ghost as your guide, and He “will show … you all things … [you] should do.” It is the daily consistent things you do that will strengthen you to be a leader and an example—daily prayer, daily scripture study, daily obedience, daily service to others. As you do these things, you will grow closer to the Savior and become more and more like Him. Like Moses and Abinadi and other faithful leaders, your face will glow with the fire of your faith. “Have ye received his image in your countenances?” “Arise and shine forth.”" - Elaine S Dalton, GC, April 2005

6. How did Abinadi speak to Noah and his priests? Where did he get the power and authority to speak so pointedly to them?

7. What does the truth do to the hearts of those who are wicked and filled with selfish intent?

8. Why did Abinadi's words evoke feelings of surprise, amazement and anger in the king and his priests?

9. How highly did Abinadi value his life in God's hands? What divine mission was he aware of? How committed was he to doing and fulfilling the will of the Lord? How committed are you to fulfilling the will of the Lord in your own life? How much are you willing to sacrifice to do so? What did Abinadi sacrifice in order to deliver his testimony to the king and his priests?

10. What are types and shadows? How can finding types and shadows of Christ, his life, and his ministry strengthen your testimony of the gospel?

11-24. Why did Abinadi read the Ten Commandments to Noah and his priests? What does it mean to have the commandments “written in [your] heart”? How might having the commandments written in your heart affect your efforts to obey them? How might having the commandments written in your heart change who you are? Of all the commandments, which commandment is the most important one for you to obey?

"When we know who we are and what God expects of us—when his “law [is] written in [our] hearts”—we are spiritually protected. We become better people." - Russell M Nelson, GC, April 1995

"The most important of all the commandments of God is that one that you are having the most difficulty keeping today. If it is one of dishonesty, if it is one of unchastity, if it is one of falsifying, not telling the truth, today is the day for you to work on that until you have been able to conquer that weakness. Put that aright and then you start on the next one that is most difficult for you to keep. That’s the way to sanctify yourself by keeping the commandments of God." - Harold B Lee, Teachings of Harold B Lee, 82

14. What do the scriptures teach you about the mercy of the Lord? How does his extension of mercy to you show you that He loves you very much? How can you show the Lord that you love Him?

"Scriptures recorded in all dispensations teach that we show our love of God as we hearken to His commandments and obey them." - Russell M Nelson, GC, April 1991

15. How does the Lord feel about those who profane His name? 

16-19. How does your observance of the Sabbath day indicate the level of your spirituality and commitment to your Father in Heaven? What could you do in your life to more faithfully keep the Sabbath day holy?

"The divine mandate of Sabbath day observance in our day is now more of a manifestation of individual devotion and commitment rather than a requirement of civil law." - James E Faust, GC, October 1991

“The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day to which he is expected. To fail to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side.” - Spencer W Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, pp. 96–97

20. What promise is included with the commandment to honor your father and your mother?

"The Lord gave you a commandment with a promise: “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” It is the only one of the Ten Commandments with a promise. You may not have parents that are living. In some cases, you may not feel that your parents are worthy of the honor and respect of their children. You may not even have ever known them. But you owe them life. And in every case, even if your life is not lengthened, its quality will be improved simply by remembering your parents with honor." - Henry B Eyring, GC, October 2009

"If one dishonors the commandments of God, one dishonors mother, and if one dishonors mother, one dishonors the commandments of God." - Russell M Nelson, GC, April 1999

25-26. What blessings are yours if you keep the commandments?

27. What did King Noah and his priests claim brought salvation? 

28. How does salvation come?

"The Book of Mormon puts us right. It teaches that “salvation doth not come by the law alone” (Mosiah 13:28); that is, salvation does not come by keeping the commandments alone. “By the law no flesh is justified.” (2 Ne. 2:5.) Even those who serve God with their whole souls are unprofitable servants. (See Mosiah 2:21.) Man cannot earn his own salvation." - Dallin H Oaks, GC, October 1988

"Suppose we have the scriptures, the gospel, the priesthood, the Church, the ordinances, the organization, even the keys of the kingdom... and yet there is no atonement of Christ. What then? Can we be saved? Will all our good works save us? Will we be rewarded for all our rightesouness? Most assuredly we will not. We are not saved by works alone, no matter how good; we are saved because God sent his Son to shed his blood in Gethsemane and on Calvary that all through him might ransomed be. We are saved by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:20)" - Bruce R McConkie, Doctrines of the Restoration, 76

29-30. Why was the law of Moses given to the children of Israel? Why did they need a daily remembrance of the Atonement? What daily remembrances do you have of the Atonement? How does this affect your life and the choices that you make? What did Abinadi say would happen with the law of Moses in the future?
31-35. What was the Lord trying to teach the children of Israel through the ordinances and sacrifices of the law of Moses? Why was the law by itself not enough to save anyone? (See Romans 3:20. 23; 2 Nephi 2:5-7)

"After all our obedience and good works, we cannot be saved from the effect of our sins without the grace extended by the atonement of Jesus Christ." - Dallin H Oaks, GC, October 1988

33. How many prophets have taught about Jesus Christ and His Atonement?

35. According to these verses, who will be resurrected? What are the characteristics of a resurrected body? What great event will occur after our resurrection?