< Mosiah 13 >
v. 3 Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time.
Flames or Freedom
Abinadi vs Shadrack, Meeshack
Joseph & Hyrum vs Nephi & Lehi
Early Christians & Daniel
Why are some saved, why are some not? Mosiah 13:1-10, Mosiah 17:13-20
Why do you think God sometimes protects his prophets, and at other times, allows them to be killed? God honors agency, but sometimes he protects His prophets until their work is done. Once they have finished their work, they are at the mercy of their enemies.
“Some have supposed that Brother Joseph could not die; but this is a mistake. Having now accomplished (my work), I have not at present any lease of my life. I am as liable to die as other men.” - JS
“May I say for the Consolation of those who mourn, and for the comfort inn guidance of all of us, that no righteous man has ever taken before his time.” Joseph Fielding Smith - 4 Nov 1971
God will protect His servants until their work is done.
Flames or Freedom
Abinadi vs Shadrack, Meeshack
Joseph & Hyrum vs Nephi & Lehi
Early Christians & Daniel
Why are some saved, why are some not? Mosiah 13:1-10, Mosiah 17:13-20
Why do you think God sometimes protects his prophets, and at other times, allows them to be killed? God honors agency, but sometimes he protects His prophets until their work is done. Once they have finished their work, they are at the mercy of their enemies.
“Some have supposed that Brother Joseph could not die; but this is a mistake. Having now accomplished (my work), I have not at present any lease of my life. I am as liable to die as other men.” - JS
“May I say for the Consolation of those who mourn, and for the comfort inn guidance of all of us, that no righteous man has ever taken before his time.” Joseph Fielding Smith - 4 Nov 1971
God will protect His servants until their work is done.
v.5 ... and his face shone with exceeding luster, even as Moses' did while in the mount of Sinai, while speaking with the Lord.
Shiny Moses
Exodus 34:29-30 - the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
Priests are claiming to teach the law of Moses, but Abinadi embodies Moses. Not only does he teach the law, he teaches with divine authority, just like Moses. This happens just as he is teaching the Ten Commandments.
Shiny Moses
Exodus 34:29-30 - the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
Priests are claiming to teach the law of Moses, but Abinadi embodies Moses. Not only does he teach the law, he teaches with divine authority, just like Moses. This happens just as he is teaching the Ten Commandments.
v. 11 And now I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts; I perceive that ye have studied and taught iniquity the most part of your lives.
Write it in your heart
Repetition → Reflection → Internalization
Nothing becomes written in the heart instantly. It happens through consistent exposure and reflection.
Steps:
Write it in your heart
Repetition → Reflection → Internalization
Nothing becomes written in the heart instantly. It happens through consistent exposure and reflection.
Steps:
- Hear it
- Think about it
- Sit with it
- Return to it
- Repeat it
- Apply it
v. 15 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh this name in vain.
The Hebrew meaning is about “bearing” God’s name, not saying it (what we would call swearing, or being vulgar).
The commandment in Exodus 20:7 uses the Hebrew verb נָשָׂא (nasa): “You shall not bear the name of the LORD your God in vain.” It does not mean: Don’t say God’s name incorrectly.” “Don’t swear.” “Don’t use profanity.” It means: “Don’t carry God’s name in a worthless, empty, or false way.” It’s about identity, not vocabulary.
“Taking His name” = Covenant identity
Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is described as:
If you take the name of Christ, live like it matters.
The Hebrew meaning is about “bearing” God’s name, not saying it (what we would call swearing, or being vulgar).
The commandment in Exodus 20:7 uses the Hebrew verb נָשָׂא (nasa): “You shall not bear the name of the LORD your God in vain.” It does not mean: Don’t say God’s name incorrectly.” “Don’t swear.” “Don’t use profanity.” It means: “Don’t carry God’s name in a worthless, empty, or false way.” It’s about identity, not vocabulary.
“Taking His name” = Covenant identity
Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is described as:
- “a people called by My name” (2 Chron. 7:14)
- “those who bear My name” (Jer. 14:9)
- “My people” (Ex. 6:7)
If you take the name of Christ, live like it matters.
v. 23 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
The original meaning: giving false testimony in a legal or covenant setting. In Hebrew law, bearing false witness referred to: Lying in court or giving testimony that harms another person’s life, property, or reputation. Accusing someone falsely. Withholding truth when justice requires it
In ancient Israel, a false witness could literally:
So “bearing false witness” is not just lying — it is: a deliberate distortion of truth that harms another person’s life.
The original meaning: giving false testimony in a legal or covenant setting. In Hebrew law, bearing false witness referred to: Lying in court or giving testimony that harms another person’s life, property, or reputation. Accusing someone falsely. Withholding truth when justice requires it
In ancient Israel, a false witness could literally:
- get someone executed
- cause them to lose land
- destroy their standing in the community
- break the covenant fabric of the nation
So “bearing false witness” is not just lying — it is: a deliberate distortion of truth that harms another person’s life.
v. 33 For behold, did not Moses prophet unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began - have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?
Moses and the Messiah
Where did Moses prophesy of the Messiah?
Explicitly
Typologically (prophetic symbols)
Moses and the Messiah
Where did Moses prophesy of the Messiah?
Explicitly
- Deut. 18:15–19 — The Prophet like Moses
- Gen. 3:15 — Seed of the woman
- Gen. 22:18 — Seed of Abraham
- Num. 24:17 — Star out of Jacob
Typologically (prophetic symbols)
- Brazen serpent (Num. 21)
- Passover lamb (Ex. 12)
- Sacrificial system (Leviticus)
- Moses himself was a type of the Messiah