From King Noah’s writings, posted by his son Lemhi.
I had Abinadi remanded to prison these three days as I counseled with my priests. I caused that Abinadi be brought before me where I declared we had found accusation against him and he was found worthy of death.
Abinadi was worthy of death because he said that God himself should come down among the children of men. Being a merciful king I proclaimed Abinadi be put to death unless he would recall all the words which he had spoken evil concerning me and my people.
I had given him a chance for life. Abinadi refused saying, “I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands. I will even suffer death, and I will not recall my words, and they will stand as a testimony against you. And if you slay me you will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day.”
His words surprised me, and his boldness in the face of death even frightened me. Had my priests not lifted their voices against him, reminding me that he had reviled the king, in my mercy I may have released Abinadi.
So, I had him taken and bound and had his skin scourged with faggots even to death. As the flames began to scorch him he continued to prophesy against us.
The words did not cease, he continued saying:
“As you have done unto me, so shall thy seed cause that many will suffer the pains that I do suffer, even the pains of death by fire; and this because they believe in the salvation of the Lord their God. You will be afflicted with all manner of diseases because of your iniquities. You will be smitten on every hand, and will be driven and scattered to and fro, even as a wild flock is driven by wild and ferocious beasts. In that day you will be hunted, and you will be taken by the hand of your enemies, and then you will suffer, as I suffer, the pains of death by fire.”
“Thus God executes vengeance upon those that destroy his people. O God, receive my soul.”
What kind of man was this? He condemns me and my people, we condemn him, he flees, he returns and condemns more, we give him a chance to live, he refuses, we condemn to death and he says he let us take him as a testimony against us and even as he dies, he continues his condemnation against us. The man truly is mad, so mad that he claimed he could seal the truth of his words by his death. Only one problem, we are not a wicked people, what he proclaimed is not truth and we certainly will not receive the many judgements of God as he testified. You will see if what he declares is true or not.
Book of Mormon | Mosiah 17:5-20
