# Mosiah 17

*Paraphrase*

When Abinadi finished speaking, the king ordered his priests to seize him and put him to death.

### Alma Believes

But one of the priests, a young man named Alma—a descendant of Nephi—believed what Abinadi had said. He knew the prophet was right about their corruption. So he pleaded with the king to let Abinadi go in peace. This only made the king angrier. He threw Alma out and sent his servants to kill him. But Alma escaped and went into hiding. For many days, while concealed, he wrote down everything Abinadi had taught.

The king ordered his guards to surround Abinadi. They arrested him, bound him, and threw him in prison. Three days later, after consulting with his priests, the king had Abinadi brought before him again.

### The King’s Ultimatum

He said to him, “Abinadi, we’ve found you guilty. You deserve to die. You said that God himself would come down among the people. For this, you’ll be executed—unless you take back everything you’ve said against me and my people.”

Abinadi answered, “I won’t take back a word I’ve spoken about your people. Everything I said is true. And to prove it, I let myself fall into your hands. I’ll suffer death before I take back my words. They’ll stand as a witness against you. If you kill me, you’ll be shedding innocent blood, and that too will stand as a witness against you on the last day.”

King Noah was about to let him go. He feared Abinadi’s words—feared that God’s judgment would fall on him. But the priests shouted him down, accusing Abinadi of insulting the king. This stirred Noah’s anger again, and he handed Abinadi over to be killed.

### Death by Fire

They seized him, tied him up, and burned him alive with bundles of wood. As the flames began to scorch his skin, he cried out:

### Abinadi’s Final Prophecy

“Just as you’ve done to me, so your children will one day make many others suffer this same death by fire—because they believe in the salvation of the Lord their God. You’ll be struck down with every kind of disease because of your wickedness. You’ll be attacked from every side, driven and scattered like a wild herd chased by ferocious beasts. In that day you’ll be hunted down and captured by your enemies. Then you’ll suffer what I’m suffering now—death by fire. This is how God brings justice on those who destroy his people. O God, receive my soul.” With those words, Abinadi collapsed and died in the flames. He was executed because he refused to deny God’s commands. He sealed the truth of his message with his life.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/mosiah/17)*
