Along the many pleasant paths the thoughtful reader of the Book of Mormon will walk in his perusal of the Sacred Record, none will be more vividly seen, nor longer remembered, than when, in his journey, he encounters the Nephite servants of God declaring His holy word. In their own beautiful, but sometimes unhappy words, they proclaim the wonderful purposes of the Lord. The simplicity of their language, the straightness of the path to which they point, the sureness of the way, the oneness of the Gospel Plan, together, are a lamp to our feet, and a light in the darkness if, perchance, night overtakes us and we find ourselves "far from home."
There is a custom, presently formidable among a group of Bible commentators, to hide a truth beneath a canopy of apologies, pretexts, and excuses; there like a flower buried under a growth of rank grass, it may lie unnoticed, seen by only a few, and destined to delight still fewer.
God's truths thrive in the light.
A truth spoken in plainness is best understood. Whether the knowledge of it comes to us by experience, or through the voice of prophecy, words do not enhance its value; truth does not lose its force by a paucity of adverbs or adjectives; they often confuse its meaning. Around the most plain and precious truths man has built a wall of meaningless words, and like a theme he has borrowed from an old melody, he plays it, and replays it, improvising throughout. To the untrained ear it sounds like the original. But it is not. It is different. The difference is the distance between right and wrong, true and false, the real and the imitation.
Nearly four hundred years before the time of Abinadi, which was about the 450th year in the Nephite annals, Jacob, the son of Lehi, became the Presiding High Priest among the Saints who dwelt in the Land of Lehi-Nephi. He was a mighty teacher and preacher of righteousness. In the records kept by his brother, Nephi, upon the Smaller Plates, many of Jacob's teachings are included. Later, upon the death of Nephi, Jacob was raised to the holy office of Chief among the priests. He strongly called for moderation and self-restraint in the manner in which his people expressed the workings of the spirit of prophecy in their hearts. The spirit of prophecy is a sign that follows all true believers in Christ, and in this gift the Nephites of old were immeasurably blessed. Jacob said, "Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls." (2 Ne. 33:6) (See COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF MORMON, Vol.. I, p. 470, Ibid, p. 446)
To Abinadi we owe a debt of gratitude for stating in a few words some of the most marvelous truths contained in the doctrinal part of the Book of Mormon. His statements need no advocate to explain them, no interpreters to declare what they mean. They are quickly understood by all who have the spirit of prophecy.
The Prophet Abinadi said, "God himself...." Not an emissary sent down from the Courts of Glory with a divine commission to perform; not His ambassador to act in His stead. But God, himself, the Mighty King of Heaven, "shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem119 his people."