How Beautiful Upon the Mountains

1
How Beautiful Upon the Mountains

• Abinadi and King Noah

2
The King Noah Plan for Financial Prosperity

• Born into advantage, assume you deserve it
• Keep the outward appearance of religion
• Noah kept the Law of Moses
• They draw near to me with their lips, but their
  hearts are far from me
• Do everything after the desires of (your) own
  heart
• What you want is the more important thing

3
The King Noah Plan for Financial Prosperity

• Build your fortune by impoverishing others
• Raise taxes- to support what you deserve
• Build monuments to your wealth (Idolatry)
• Surround yourself with teachers who teach
  flattering words
• Anyone who opposes you is crazy (mad)
• Spend most your time on the good things of life
• Righteous living, wine bibberation
• Take complete credit for all your successes
  (celebrate!)

4
Endless Pattern
Why?
5
Abinadi Sent

• Preaches repentance
• Has to hide
• Peoples eyes were blinded
• Comes two years later
• Preaches that destruction and bondage are coming
• Immediately arrested and taken to King Noah
• we are guiltless!
• thou hast prospered in the land!

6
Questioning by Noahs Priests

• They attack Abinadi
• - with Isaiah!
• How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of
  him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth
  peace that bringeth good tidings of good that
  publisheth salvation that saith unto Zion, Thy
  God reigneth

7
Isaiah available to Abinadi, compared with the
Saviors version to the Nephites

• Isaiah 52
• 6 Therefore my people shall know my name
  therefore they shall know in that day that I am
  he that doth speak behold, it is I.
• 7 How beautiful (navu) upon the mountains are
  the feet of him that bringeth good tidings

• 3 Nephi/JST Version
• Verily, verily, I say unto you, that therefore my
  people shall know my name Yea, in that day they
  shall knowthat I am he that doth speak
• And then shall they say How beautiful upon the
  mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good
  tidings unto them

8
Abinadis glowing response to capture

• Other accounts of Prophets who have shown or
  glowed?
• Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner (Kirtland, 1832)
• The Prophet was speaking when "all at once his
  countenance changed and he stood mute. He turned
  so white he seemed perfectly transparent. Those
  who looked at him that night said he looked like
  he had a searchlight within him, in every part of
  his body. I never saw anything like it on earth.
  I could not take my eyes away from him. He got so
  white that anyone who saw him would have thought
  he was transparent. I remember I thought we could
  almost see the bones through the flesh of his
  face. I shall remember it and see it in my mind's
  eye as long as I remain upon the earth."

9
Abinadis Shining Discourse

• Quotes the Ten Commandments
• Quotes Isaiah 53 (suffering servant)
• Mosiah 1510 And now I say unto you, 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?

10
His Seed?

• Verse 13
• Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that
  has opened his mouth to prophesy I say unto you
  they are his seed
• Verse 14
• And these are they who have published peace, who
  have brought good tidings of good, who have
  published salvation
• Verse 15
• and O how beautiful upon the mountains were
  their feet

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• 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
• 19 For were it not for the redemption which he
  hath made for his people, which was prepared from
  the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were
  it not for this, all mankind must have perished.

12
Heather was born into an LDS family . she was
physically handicapped and her spirit housed in
a body with great restrictions. she was
confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak, and
could send messages only with her eyes. A direct
gaze with a widening of her eyes and a smile
meant yes. A blink meant no. In spite of her
handicaps, however, one could feel her vibrant
spirit inside. When old enough, Heather began to
attend school. One morning as Heather and (her
LDS) teacher visited. the teacher learned that
Heather had attended Primary on Sunday. The
teacher sang for Heather the Primary song "I
Wonder When He Comes Again." The expression on
Heathers face revealed the delight within her.
When the song was finished, the teacher could
tell that Heather wanted her to continue. the
teacher asked Heather if she had a favorite song.
Heathers direct gaze provided the answer and
offered a challenge. the teacher learned that
Heathers song was one she had heard in Primary.
She wasnt sure which songbook it was in, but it
was about Jesus. The teacher then sang every
possible song she could think of. Unfortunately
Heathers favorite did not appear, and Heather
was not about to quit. For some reason, she
needed to share her favorite song.
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On the following day, the teacher and student
went through all of the songs in the (primary)
book, but to no avail. Heather came to school
the next day with the new Church hymnbook tucked
in her wheelchair. The teacher positioned herself
next to Heather and, page by page, began making
their way through the book singing the first
phrase of each song. Page after page Heathers
eyes would close in a definite no. Finally,
halfway through the book, the teacher began to
sing "There is sunshine in my soul today..."
Immediately, the little girl brightened and
smiled. She looked directly at the teacher, and
both began to laugh and rejoice. Success! As
the teacher sang the first verse and began the
chorus, Heather mustered all her effort and
joined in with occasional sigh-like sounds. After
finishing the first verse and chorus, the teacher
asked if she wanted to hear the rest of the
verses. Heathers eyes opened wide with a firm
yes.
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Again the teacher began There is music in my
soul today,A carol to my King,And Jesus
listening can hearThe songs I cannot sing...
The little girls reaction to the third and
fourth lines was so strong that the teacher
stopped. As the reality and significance of the
words pressed on the teachers mind, she asked
Heather if those lines were what she liked about
the song. Could Jesus, listening, hear the songs
she could not sing? Heather looked the teacher
directly in the eyes, and testimony was borne.
15
Feeling guided by the Spirit, the teacher asked,
"Heather, does Jesus talk to you in your mind and
in your heart?" The childs look was penetrating.
The teacher then asked, "Heather, what does he
say?" The teachers heart pounded as she saw the
clear look in Heathers eyes as the little girl
awaited the questions which would allow her to
share her insights. The teacher then asked,
"Does he say Heather, I love you?" Her radiant
eyes widened. The teacher paused and then said,
"Does he say Heather, youre special?" Again,
yes. Finally, after a pause, the teacher asked,
"Does he say, Heather, be patient I have great
things in store for you?" Heathers head
became erect, every fiber of her being seemed
electrified as her eyes penetrated the teachers
soul. She knew she was loved she knew she was
special she knew she only needed to be patient
because great things were in store for her.
16

• Heather knew-
• Abinadi, burning at the stake knew-
• Do we know?