Mosiah 13:6-7 -- On Power and Faith

"And he spake with power and authority from God; and he continued his words, saying:
Ye see that ye have not power to slay me, therefore I finish my message. Yea, and I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your iniquities."
Mosiah 13:6-7


This is an excerpt from the story of Abinadi, who is burned to death 4 chapters later. It's interesting here that God prevents them from laying hands on him, but allows him to be killed later. Why? For many reasons, but the one that strikes me today is the idea of power. Abinadi is talking to the King and his priests, and they have been abusing their power in some pretty severe ways. God shows them that he is the one with the power, and they can't do anything that he doesn't allow them to do.

Another reason of course is that Abinadi gained a very important convert here, as he teaches these priests the gospel. One of Noah's priests, Alma, listens and realizes the truth, and later writes down Abinadi's words and teaches them to others. I think that story is also a little bit about power. He thought he had some as a priest, but after realizing that power is empty as he seeks to save Abinadi and loses his own position, he comes to realize how much one person can do to change the world, when he has God's power behind him.

Later, God gives Noah and his priests a chance to change. They have heard the gospel, and God gives them their free agency ... their personal power ... back again, allowing them to choose what to do. They kill Abinadi, thus sealing their own fates, but I think God giving them that choice is important as well. Even when we realize that God is in charge, and he knows more than we do, we still have the choice to act against that... we're here to learn to choose for ourselves, and to accept both the mortal and immortal consequences of the choices that we make. Today, let's collaborate with God and learn to make good choices that help ourselves and others, rather than causing harm and condemning ourselves.