Stepping into the Full Light of the Gospel

Abinidi has spoken for several chapters in The Book of Mormon. Now he must close, knowing that his last words will be the ones most remembered before they put him to death. He has nothing to fear. He knows he will be executed and nothing he says (except denying the gospel, which he is unwilling to do) will stop that. What is the final thing he leaves Noah and his priests with?

Therefore, if ye teach the law of Moses, also teach that it is a shadow of those things which are to come― Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father. Amen. (Mosiah 16:14, 15)

Noah had supposedly been teaching his people the law of Moses, though he had twisted it to meet his own greedy and selfish needs. Abinidi's message was that as true as the Law of Moses was, it could not bring redemption. Abinidi's final words seem to say that if you are going to teach the law of Moses, teach the main point, which is that it is a shadow of those things which are to come and is fulfilled in the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is, true redemption comes through obedience to Jesus Christ. The Law merely points the way and acts as a schoolmaster to bring man to its fulness - the gospel and atonement of Christ. Noah and his priests had missed the whole point of the Law of Moses, and he needed to impress upon them what that point was.

It could also be noted that if there is a shadow, it means there must be sunshine to cause the shadow. That sunshine is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Abinidi does not tell Noah to abandon the Law of Moses. Rather, he encourages him to follow it and teach it, and to do so correctly. In addition, he is to realize that it is not what will bring salvation. The people must be taught that its purpose is to lead the people out of darkness and into the light of the gospel.

The same pattern is true today. As we teach people today, we ask them not to abandon the good things they have that are true from their long-held religious traditions. Rather, we teach them to keep what is true and right, and then to step a little further into the full light of the gospel. This is the final message we want to leave with people.