King Noah rules in wickedness—He revels in riotous living with his wives and concubines—Abinadi prophesies that the people will be taken into bondage—His life is sought by King Noah. About 160–150 B.C.
1 And
now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of
his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not
walk in the ways of his father. What is Noah’s “story”? Why did he rebel against his father’s teachings?
2 For
behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after
the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and aconcubines. And he did bcause his people to commit sin, and do that which was cabominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit dwhoredoms and eall manner of wickedness. How it grieves the hearts of parents when their children do not learn from their teachings and good examples and do not choose to follow God. Apparently the “desires” of his own heart were about sex. The Law of Chastity is a Terrestrial law. No wonder people struggle with it here on this telestial planet. How did Noah “cause” his people to commit sin?
3 And he laid a atax of one fifth part of all they possessed, a fifth part of their gold and of their silver, and a fifth part of their bziff,
and of their copper, and of their brass and their iron; and a fifth
part of their fatlings; and also a fifth part of all their grain. A fifth is 20%. I think our taxes are that high, at least...if you add gas tax, property tax, sales tax, income tax, it is probably higher than that! Interesting that he taxes them and then the Lamanites come in and tax them 50%. Serves them right...
4 And all this did he take to asupport himself, and his wives and his bconcubines; and also his priests, and their wives and their concubines; thus he had changed the affairs of the kingdom. One wicked leader can cause so much to change! Our new “president” is single-handedly changing the affairs of our land (although he is definitely not doing it alone!)
5 For he put down all the priests that had been consecrated by his father, and consecrated new aones in their stead, such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Satan does, and he can only counterfeit truth, so if he’s doing it, he’s counterfeiting what God’s side is/should be doing it.
6 Yea,
and thus they were supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry,
and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which king Noah had put upon his
people; thus did the people labor exceedingly to support iniquity. The people went along with all this change and taxation and wickedness in their leaders? One way to read this is “thus did the people work really hard to pay their taxes and all those taxes were used to support wickedness.” Another way to read it is, “and thus the people willingly worked hard to support iniquity because they agreed with it and wanted to promote it. I want to believe its’ the first, but it says the people all partook of these same sins, so it may well be the latter. Why would they support having their taxes support these wicked leaders? Because they didn’t want to hear what they were doing themselves was wrong. It’s happening today. The whole Democratic platform is supporting agendas that those people want declared “normal” and they want preferential treatment for their sinful desires.
7 Yea,
and they also became idolatrous, because they were deceived by the vain
and flattering words of the king and priests; for they did speak
flattering things unto them. What were these flattering words? How about a counterfeit of God’s words - “you get to choose” is twisted to mean “whatever you choose is right and should have no consequence”; “God created our bodies” is twisted to “So...you should enjoy them to their fullest capacity”. etc...\
8 And
it came to pass that king Noah built many elegant and spacious
buildings; God has elegant and spacious temples. Why? Is it our symbol of worship to give God the finest of what is His anyway? Is it to set those buildings apart from all our homes and businesses? Is it for us to have our desires pointed to wanting to dwell with God in his abundance? What is Satan’s counterfeit? He has man build elegant and spacious buildings as a monument to themselves with a false sense of their ownership. They don’t understand that they may enjoy it here for a moment, but not for eternity and he ornamented them with fine work of wood, and of all
manner of aprecious things, of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of brass, and of ziff, and of copper;
9 And
he also built him a spacious palace, and a throne in the midst thereof,
all of which was of fine wood and was ornamented with gold and silver
and with precious things.
10 And he also caused Did he have slaves? that his workmen should work all manner of fine work within the walls of the atemple, of fine wood, and of copper, and of brass. Notice his palace had gold and silver and the temple fine wood and copper and brass. This is quite a statement right there! Mormon makes a point of sharing the details of this for our benefit. What are you seeing?
11 And the seats which were set apart for the ahigh priests,
which were above all the other seats, he did ornament with pure gold;
and he caused a breastwork to be built before them, that they might rest
their bodies and their arms upon while they should speak lying and vain
words to his people. This is a warning to us in our day. Beware of LYING and vain words from the government. Do you hear this? They LIE to serve THEMSELVES. Don’t be so gullible!
12 And it came to pass that he built a atower near the temple; Is he counterfeiting being a “watchman on a tower”? Is he only “near” the temple because God is showing the people he has no real authority? yea, a very high tower, even so high that he could stand upon the top thereof and overlook the land of bShilom, and also the land of cShemlon, which was possessed by the Lamanites; and he could even look over all the land round about.
13 And
it came to pass that he caused many buildings to be built in the land
Shilom; and he caused a great tower to be built on the ahill north of the land Shilom, which had been a resort for the children of Nephi at the time they bfled out of the land; This is when Mosiah fled with some people and the found the land of Zarahemla and thus he did do with the riches which he obtained by the taxation of his people. Notice Noah had no wealth from his own works. He “took from the poor to make himself rich”.
14 And it came to pass that he placed his heart upon his riches, and he spent his time in ariotous living with his wives and his concubines; and so did also his priests spend their time with harlots. What is wrong with these women who agree to be used by these men in this way? At this point, Noah would certainly argue that "wickedness was happiness"...
15 And it came to pass that he planted vineyards round about in the land; and he built wine-presses, and made awine in abundance; and therefore he became a wine-bibber, and also his people. Alcohol is a big factor in keeping this all going. You have to be drunk to dull your sense and your conscience all the time and you need to keep your people drunk too.
16 And
it came to pass that the Lamanites began to come in upon his people,
upon small numbers, and to slay them in their fields, and while they
were tending their flocks.
17 And king Noah sent guards round about the land to keep them off;
but he did not send a sufficient number, and the Lamanites came upon
them and killed them, and drove many of their flocks out of the land;
thus the Lamanites began to destroy them, and to exercise their hatred
upon them. This is a reminder that these wicked people are Nephites. They have a righteous heritage but they have left it completely.
18 And
it came to pass that king Noah sent his armies against them, and they
were driven back, or they drove them back for a time; therefore, they
returned rejoicing in their spoil. This is Satan’s counterfeit. He’s “pretending” to support these people and propping themselves up as being superior, and not needing God to fight their battles.
19 And now, because of this great victory they were lifted up in the pride of their hearts; they did aboast
in their own strength, saying that their fifty could stand against
thousands of the Lamanites; and thus they did boast, and did delight in
blood, and the shedding of the blood of their brethren, and this because
of the wickedness of their king and priests. While this king and these priests gloried in their power and control and laziness, they will also have to answer for all the wickedness done in their name. Oh how they will weep and wail and mourn!
20 And it came to pass that there was a man among them This is the first we hear of Abinadi whose name was aAbinadi;
and he went forth among them, and began to prophesy, saying: Behold,
thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me, saying, Go forth,
and say unto this people, thus saith the Lord—Wo be unto this people,
for I have seen their abominations, and their wickedness, and their
whoredoms; and except they repent I will bvisit them in mine anger. God raised up a prophet to speak for Him. We have a prophet. When will God open his mouth to warn the world of their wickedness? I just want to hear him say, “thus smith the Lord”...Maybe God will "raise up" another prophet to preach repentance to the world; not to replace the President of the Church... just another prophet, like Lehi was a prophet alongside Jeremiah and others.
21 And
except they repent and turn to the Lord their God, behold, I will
deliver them into the hands of their enemies; yea, and they shall be
brought into abondage; and they shall be afflicted by the hand of their enemies. These people were quite deep in their iniquity, but God is still giving them a chance to turn back. The warning for us? If we don’t turn back we’ll be attacked by Russia/China/Isis (our enemies) and we’ll go into bondage and suffer much at their hands. I think Isaiah prophesies this happens
22 And it shall come to pass that they shall aknow that I am the Lord their God, and am a bjealous God, visiting the iniquities of my people. When will God bare his arm and show US that HE is the Lord our God? When will we be warned that judgment is coming because of our iniquities? Remember, this warning is not to the Lamanites to repent, but to the Nephites. Will the warning in our day be to the Latter Day Saints as well?
23 And
it shall come to pass that except this people repent and turn unto the
Lord their God, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall adeliver them, except it be the Lord the Almighty God. Once you are in bondage because of sin, only God can deliver you. Repent...or get comfortable in chains.
24 Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall acry unto me I will be bslow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies. We have plenty of examples where God runs to us and blesses us with mercy immediately when we turn to Him. But this is teaching that if we are only turning because we are suffering and not because we are really sorry, THEN he will be slow to hear us and we’ll continue to suffer until our sorrow is genuine.
25 And except they repent in asackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the Lord their God, I will not bhear their prayers, neither will I deliver them out of their afflictions; and thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me. Remember these were Nephites who knew of God and His loving mercies and deliverance of even their own recent fathers under Zeniff, their king's own father. It wasn't that long ago. They were accountable.
26 Now
it came to pass that when Abinadi had spoken these words unto them they
were wroth with him, and sought to take away his life; but the Lord adelivered him out of their hands. I want to trust that God will always deliver those who are faithful to Him out of the hands of the enemy unless it is their mission to die a martyr.
27 Now when king Noah had heard of the words which Abinadi had spoken unto the people, he was also wroth; and he said: aWho is Abinadi, that I and my people should be judged of him, or bwho is the Lord, that shall bring upon my people such great affliction? And who are YOU, Noah? He is really feeling invincible right now. Look how much he’s gotten away with? Look how much power he has over the people and even the Lamanites? Look at all his wealth, and buildings, and women...all he has desired he’s received. Who is it that thinks they can stop him? If there is a God, why didn’t he stop him earlier, he thinks... and what could a simple man with no power or money possibly do to hurt him? Those in power today must be feeling the same power and arrogance.
28 I command you to bring Abinadi hither, that I may slay him, for he has said these things that he might astir up my people to anger one with another, and to raise contentions among my people; therefore I will slay him. Of course he accuses him of the only thing he ever does himself! Was Abinadi having influence on some people that they were starting to contend with others?
29 Now the eyes of the people were ablinded; therefore they bhardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi,
and they sought from that time forward to take him. And king Noah
hardened his heart against the word of the Lord, and he did not repent
of his evil doings. Even though king Noah had a hard heart God still tried to reclaim it. Warning: Corrupt leaders can BLIND you and that blindness can HARDEN your heart against those who speak truth. You know this is happening if you feel the “justified” need to silence those who are speaking out against you.
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