How
Beautiful
Upon the
Mountains
Abinadi and King Noah
The King Noah Plan for Financial
Prosperity
Born into advantage, assume you deserve it
Keep the outward appearance of religion
Noah kept the Law of Moses
They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts
are far from me
Do everything “after the desires of (your) own heart”
What you want is the more important thing
The King Noah Plan for Financial
Prosperity
Build your fortune by impoverishing others
Raise taxes- to support what you deserve
Build monuments to your wealth (Idolatry)
Surround yourself with teachers who teach “flattering
words”
Anyone who opposes you is crazy (mad)
Spend most your time on the good things of life:
“Righteous living”, wine bibberation
Take complete credit for all your successes (celebrate!)
Endless Pattern
He sends Prophets
Lord Covenants with
His people
They sin
They prosper
Why?
Abinadi Sent
Preaches repentance
Has to hide
People’s eyes were “blinded”
Comes two years later
Preaches that destruction and bondage are
coming
Immediately arrested and taken to King Noah
“we are guiltless!”
“thou hast prospered in the land!”
Questioning by Noah’s Priests
They attack Abinadi
- with Isaiah!
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him
that bringeth good tidings; that publisheth peace;
that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth
salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth;
Isaiah available to Abinadi, compared with
the Savior’s version to the Nephites
Isaiah 52:
6 Therefore my people shall
know my name: therefore
they shall know in that day
that I am he that doth
speak: behold, it is I.
7 How beautiful (navu) upon
the mountains are the feet
of him that bringeth good
tidings…
3 Nephi/JST Version
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
that therefore my people
shall know my name: Yea,
in that day they shall
know…that I am he that
doth speak
And then shall they say: How
beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of
him that bringeth good
tidings unto them
Abinadi’s glowing response to capture
Other accounts of Prophets who have “shown” or “glowed”?
Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner (Kirtland, 1832)
The Prophet was speaking when "all at once his countenance
changed and he stood mute. He turned so white he seemed
perfectly transparent. Those who looked at him that night said he
looked like he had a searchlight within him, in every part of his
body. I never saw anything like it on earth. I could not take my
eyes away from him. He got so white that anyone who saw him
would have thought he was transparent. I remember I thought we
could almost see the bones through the flesh of his face. I shall
remember it and see it in my mind's eye as long as I remain upon
the earth."
Abinadi’s “Shining” Discourse
Quotes the Ten Commandments
Quotes Isaiah 53 (suffering servant)
Mosiah 15:10 And now I say unto you, who
shall declare his generation? Behold, I say
unto you, that when his soul has been made
an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And
now what say ye? And who shall be his
seed?
His Seed?
Verse 13
Yea, and are not the prophets, every
one that has opened his mouth to
prophesy… I say unto you they are
his seed
Verse 14
And these are they who have
published peace, who have brought
good tidings of good, who have
published salvation…
Verse 15
and O how beautiful upon the
mountains were their feet
18 And behold, I say unto you, this
is not all. For O how beautiful
upon the mountains are the feet
of him that bringeth good
tidings, that is the founder of
peace, yea, even the Lord, who
has redeemed his people; yea,
him who has granted salvation
unto his people;
19 For were it not for the
redemption which he hath made
for his people, which was
prepared from the foundation of
the world, I say unto you, were it
not for this, all mankind must
have perished.
Heather was born into an LDS family …. she was physically handicapped
and her spirit … housed in a body with great restrictions. … she was
confined to a wheelchair, …unable to speak, and could send messages only
with her eyes. A direct gaze with a widening of her eyes and a smile meant
yes. A blink meant no. In spite of her handicaps, however, one could feel her
vibrant spirit inside.
When old enough, Heather began to attend school…. One morning as
Heather and (her LDS) teacher visited. … the teacher learned that Heather
had attended Primary on Sunday. The teacher …sang for Heather the
Primary song "I Wonder When He Comes Again." The expression on
Heather’s face revealed the delight within her. When the song was finished,
the teacher could tell that Heather wanted her to continue. … the teacher
asked Heather if she had a favorite song. Heather’s direct gaze provided the
answer and offered a challenge.
… the teacher learned that Heather’s song was one she had heard in
Primary. She wasn’t sure which songbook it was in, but it was about Jesus.
The teacher then sang every possible song she could think of. Unfortunately
Heather’s favorite did not appear, and Heather was not about to quit. For
some reason, she needed to share her favorite song.
… On the following day, the teacher and student went through all of
the songs in the (primary) book, but to no avail. … Heather came to
school the next day with the new Church hymnbook tucked in her
wheelchair. The teacher positioned herself next to Heather and, page
by page, began making their way through the book singing the first
phrase of each song. Page after page Heather’s eyes would close in a
definite no.
Finally, halfway through the book, the teacher began to sing: "There is
sunshine in my soul today..." Immediately, the little girl brightened and
smiled. She looked directly at the teacher, and both began to laugh
and rejoice. Success! …
As the teacher sang the first verse and began the chorus, Heather
mustered all her effort and joined in with occasional sigh-like sounds.
After finishing the first verse and chorus, the teacher asked if she
wanted to hear the rest of the verses. Heather’s eyes opened wide
with a firm yes.
Again the teacher began:
There is music in my soul today,
A carol to my King,
And Jesus listening can hear
The songs I cannot sing...
The little girl’s reaction to the third and fourth lines was so strong
that the teacher stopped. As the reality and significance of the words
pressed on the teacher’s mind, she asked Heather if those lines were
what she liked about the song. Could Jesus, listening, hear the
songs she could not sing? Heather looked the teacher directly in the
eyes, and testimony was borne.
Feeling guided by the Spirit, the teacher asked, "Heather, does
Jesus talk to you in your mind and in your heart?" The child’s
look was penetrating. The teacher then asked, "Heather, what
does he say?" The teacher’s heart pounded as she saw the clear
look in Heather’s eyes as the little girl awaited the questions
which would allow her to share her insights.
The teacher then asked, "Does he say ‘Heather, I love you’?" Her
radiant eyes widened. The teacher paused and then said, "Does
he say ‘Heather, you’re special’?" Again, yes. Finally, after a
pause, the teacher asked, "Does he say, ‘Heather, be patient; I
have great things in store for you’?"
Heather’s head became erect, every fiber of her being seemed
electrified as her eyes penetrated the teacher’s soul. She knew
she was loved; she knew she was special; she knew she only
needed to be patient because great things were in store for her.
Heather knewAbinadi, burning at the stake knew-
Do we know?