Sunday, July 6, 2025

Mosiah 12:26-30 -- On Teaching the Wicked Priests

"I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the ways of the Lord! For if ye understand these things ye have not taught them; therefore, ye have perverted the ways of the Lord.
Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?
And they said: We teach the law of Moses.
And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon riches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin, that the Lord has cause to send me to prophesy against this people, yea, even a great evil against this people?
Know ye not that I speak the truth? Yea, ye know that I speak the truth; and you ought to tremble before God."
Mosiah 12:26-30


This is the prophet Abinadi, speaking to the wicked priests of king Noah, pointing out here the hypocrisy of the priests teaching a law which they did not obey. Later in the chapter he starts teaching them the ten commandments, the most basic part of that which they claimed to teach.

One of the cool things here is that Alma is one of these priests, and he, alone among all the rest, believes what is being said, and later tries to defend Abinadi and becomes converted to the Lord in truth, making a huge impact on the church at the time, and on Nephite history. God was working his miracles even here, urging his prophet to teach the gospel even in the midst of those who were actively mocking him, and who should already have known these things. But this sermon before he was put to death ends up making a vast difference.

Today, let's remember that we can't always see the wisdom and intentions of God, but he always has a plan, and a reason for what he asks of us. Let's be brave enough to do as God asks, even when it might seem like there is no point. God is working in the background, weaving our contributions into the whole in exactly the right way.

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