Mosiah 15 - 17

After the Priests of King Noah had asked many questions to cross Abinadi so that they would have something whereby they could accuse him, Abinadi -

"...answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions, yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand them in all their questions, and did confound them in all their words." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 12:19)

As the King -

"...heard these words, he said unto his priests: Away with this fellow, and slay him; for what have we to do with him, for he is mad.
2 And they stood forth and attempted to lay their hands on him; but he withstood them, and said unto them:
3 Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 13:1 - 3)

"...But I finish my message; and then it matters not whither I go, if it so be that I am saved." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 13:9)

The message was of such great importance that Abinadi later gave his life as a result of delivering the message. What was that message?

It was in response to Isaiah's quiry - "...who shall declare his generation?"

Abinadi delivers the message that Jesus Christ is both the Father and the Son. This may be somewhat confusing to some as they study the Book of Mormon. In this case, Abinadi is not saying that the Savior is God, the Eternal Father - even though it is referenced many times in scripture that they are One. In my mind, he is explaining that he is the Father in the sense that his atonement brings eternal life to all those who believe on his name. All those that believe on his name become the children of Christ.

King Benjamin taught -

"...because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:7)

This can be easily understood as we consider that he is called the Father of Heaven and Earth in that he brought about the creation of the heavens and the earth. We also have earthly fathers that we call - Father - in that they gave us our physical life here on earth.

Abinadi message begins -

"...I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.
2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son—
3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son—
4 And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:1 - 4)

And how do the men become his children, because -

"...God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men—
9 Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:8 - 9)

Then Abinadi asks -

"...who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?
11 Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.
12 For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed?" (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:10 - 12)

Because of the atonement of Christ and his breaking the bands of deaths, all will be resurrected.

"...But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:20)

Then Abinadi teaches of two times of resurrections -

"...here cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called.
22 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection.
23 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:21 - 23)

These are they who are his seed. For it is those that keep commandments and preach of Christ. Abinadi said -

13 Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are his seed.
14 And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet!
16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!
17 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever!
18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people;
(Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:13 - 18)

Paul taught the same -

6 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him..." (New Testament Romans 8:16 - 17)

And in conclusion of Abinadi's message he said -

"...Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father. Amen." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 16:15)