Mosiah 12–13 Book of Mormon history shows the people repeating a righteousness/pride/wickedness/bondage/repentance cycle over and over. These chapters in Mosiah record the Nephites ripe in iniquity with another wicked king, Noah. He led the people to sin. Nevertheless, the Lord loves His people and sends His prophets to warn and call them to repentance. The prophet, Abinadi admonished the King and the people to repent. Later, he returned to tell them that because they had not repented, they would suffer, be brought into bondage, and finally destroyed Mosiah 12:1–8. Instead of repenting and reforming, the people respond to his message with anger and defensiveness Mosiah 12:9–16. Because all people have in them the light of Christ, however dim, that tells them right from wrong, they defended themselves and Noah.
During Abanidi's cross examination, one of the priests asked him a question about a passage from Isaiah Mosiah 12:20–24. The priests couldn't understand the scriptures, because they had not applied their hearts to understanding Mosiah 12:25–27. Applying one's hearts to understanding, includes reading, studying, prayer, pondering, and listening for the teachings of the Holy Ghost D&C 8:2–3.
Abinadi admonished the priests’ that they taught the law of Moses but did not live it Mosiah 12:28–37.) Abinidi was able to teach his message, because he was sent on this errand from God. The power of God was with him to allow him to deliver his message of the Atonement of Jesus Christ Mosiah 13:1–9. Because the priests' did not know, understand, or teach them, Abinadi read the Ten Commandments to Noah and his priests during his sermon Mosiah 13:11.)When we memorize and live the commandments, we have them “written in [our] hearts.” This in turn affects our efforts to obey them. If we don't know something, we can't obey it.
Abinadi also told the king and priests, “Salvation doth not come by the law alone” Mosiah 13:28). Salvation comes by living the commandments, the Atonement (which requires faith, repentance, baptism, and accepting the Holy Ghost), and resurrection Mosiah 13:14, 28, 32–35; Articles of Faith 1:3.
The purpose of the law of Moses was to prepare the people to accept the Messiah Mosiah 13:29–33. The sacrifices of the law of Moses were a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of the Savior and were given to help the people look to Christ.
