It seems to be a truism that the more things change, the more they stay the same, as illustrated.

Abinadi finished speaking, and King Noah in fury gave the orders to take him and put him to death. But one of the King’s priests, Alma, stood and spoke in defense of Abinadi. This only made the King more angry, and he ordered Alma to be killed as well, but Alma fled and wrote all the words that Abinadi spoke.

Abinadi was then bound and cast into prison. Three days later, Abinadi was brought forth and made to stand before the King.

“Abinadi,” he announced, “we have found an accusation against thee and thou art worthy of death … and now, for this cause thou shalt be put to death unless thou wilt recall all the words which thou hast spoken evil concerning me and my people.”

Abinadi was being sentenced to death for his teachings, and if he did not recall those words he would surely die.

Well, Abinadi refused to recant saying, “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.”

Abinadi was offering his life as a witness to the truthfulness of what he had taught. His courage so daunted the cowardly King Noah that Noah was about to release him, but the priests “lifted up their voices against [Abinadi] and began to accuse him.”

The result: King Noah ordered him executed!

“They took him and bound him, and scourged his skin with faggots, yea, even unto death.”

To scourge means to whip or lash, and faggots are a bundle of sticks or branches. Literally, they whipped Abinadi to death with burning sticks. It would have been a slow, painful, and cruel way to die.

Abinadi’s last words ring like the peal of a bell down through the centuries: “O God, receive my soul.”

What could Abinadi have possibly taught that would warrant such a cruel punishment? What was the blasphemy of Abinadi that justified his murder?

The answer: He taught that God Himself would come down to this earth and become a mortal man, and that we mortal men look like God. In other words, God is an exalted perfected man, and that through the condescension of the Redeemer, men can become like Him and have eternal life.