What Abinadi taught

Noah's priests argued that they were righteous, and as proof, they quoted Isaiah's "how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet" passage (Mosiah 12). I think the point they were trying to make was that they believed themselves to be happy and rich and successful, so therefore they believed God must approve of them.

Abinadi was there to set them straight. As I pointed out in my previous post, he taught them that the system of worship they claimed to subscribe to was not going to save them. Only faith in the true God of Israel, un distracted by idols and false worship, could save them. 

And in Mosiah 13:35, Abinadi explains what a truly righteous and divinely approved person's life looks like from the outside: OPPRESSED AND AFFLICTED. What follows is an explanation of what and how we should worship, instead of the Law of Moses/ LDS Church. The Law/Church has its uses, but it is not the objective, nor the gatekeeper. Only Christ holds that position. Teaching or behaving as if anyone else or any institution holds that authority is idolatry, as Abinadi explains.

An alternate interpretation of Mosiah 13:27-32; 16:13-15

Nephi taught that we should liken the scriptures to ourselves. One way I do this is when I come across something that clearly doesn't apply to me (like the Law of Moses), I look for modern-day equivalents in my life, or parallel or similar tendencies, and then I reread the passage of scripture, substituting what I have been inspired to feel does apply to me. Like so:

And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep your membership in the Church as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when the it shall no more be expedient to keep your membership in the Church. And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the Church alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding their membership in the Church.

"Every word that proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God"

Recently I've been wondering what's next for me--spiritually, anyway. What is it that holds me back in my relationship with God? The answer came to me several days ago, although with my memory, I couldn't tell you exactly when or where: I need to do better at keeping all the commandments I've been given so far. It makes sense--why would God give me more if I haven't internalized what I've already been given? D&C 98:11 came to mind, "that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God."