Abinadi

Pronunciation: uh-BIN-uh-dye

His Place Among the High Priests

Abinadi is fifteenth in the order of the 24 High Priest Communities. He is brother to the Moon. His Watcher is Emethiel, “Truth of God,” who teaches maturity.

What He Established

Abinadi established the relationship between the Father and the Son — that Messiah would not receive a fullness at first, but would grow grace upon grace until He received the fullness of the power and glory of the Great God in heaven. Never was there a man who more clearly knew that Messiah was God.

What He Named the Lord

Abinadi named Messiah “God the Father.”

His Life

Abinadi’s name means “the father of pleasant living.” His wife, Nethiniah, means “one given unto God.” They dwelt among the Eerkodeshoi with their three children, and Abinadi was a healer, gathering sap and herbs for the sick and wounded.

His Baptism and Vision

Bathing in a forest pool, the Lord spoke to him and asked by what means he cleansed himself. Abinadi answered, “By the Light that is in the water,” and the Lord replied, “I am the Light and the Life that is in all things in the earth.” Overcome by the Spirit, Abinadi was baptized there, and in a dream that followed, Messiah opened to him the plan of salvation.

Preaching Against the Wicked King

Returning from delivering herbs to the city, Abinadi found a new sorcerer-king ruling in wickedness. He preached repentance and was sought by the king, but not found. Compelled at last, he went before the king to declare the truth.

His Death and Legacy

The Lord revealed to Nethiniah in the night that her husband would give his life as the element of righteousness, to establish that Messiah would be God Himself. Alma, moved with compassion, believed Abinadi’s words and fled with his people to the waters of Meorihah, which Alma named Mormon. Abinadi’s son later became a teacher, cared for his mother, and received her family’s ancient record.

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