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Could Abinadi Have Been a Young Adult?

Could Abinadi Have Been a Young Adult?

Last updated on: July 20, 2026 at 7:50 am by Delisa Hargrove

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Could Abinadi Have Been a Young Adult? 2026-07-20T07:50:14-10:00 Delisa Hargrove

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I think I’ve mentioned how I’ve been deconstructing my scriptural assumptions. I realized that many of my assumptions come from images created by others that depict their versions of scriptural scenes. And while I appreciate the artists’ efforts, I realize that they’re creating through their frame of reference, and I’m not convinced they’re always accurate.

One day, while sitting in an endowment session pondering a gospel question I had, an unusual scene came to mind in response.

I saw this Gospel Art Kit image of Abinadi standing in chains before King Noah:

Suddenly, the image appeared to be torn in half:

I used Gemini AI trying to recreate the torn image in my mind

Looking at me in the space between the torn portions of the picture was a young Abinadi. Whoa! The impact was instantaneous and shifted his whole story for me.

Suddenly, instead of seeing an old man who had lived a full life and been asked to sacrifice his remaining years in the Lord’s service, I saw a 20s/30s-year-old man full of life with years ahead of him willing to sacrifice himself in the Lord’s service.

Could Abinadi actually be young?

When framework-shifting thoughts like this come, I mentally scan the scriptures. It didn’t take long for young adults serving as prophets and leaders to come to mind.

In his 15th year, Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. As a young adult, while crying repentance, Joseph restored the New Testament church in the latter days.

Nephi began his record by saying he was “exceeding young…and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold, he did visit me….”

Mormon recorded that he, “being 15 years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus. And I did endeavor to preach unto this people….” In his sixteenth year, Mormon commanded the Nephite army.

I also had to pause and wonder why this was a framework-shifting thought? Nowhere in Abinadi’s story is his age given. He is simply described as a “man among them whose name was Abinadi.” I’ve perceived he was old because of the artwork—because of another human’s perception of Abinadi. But the Book of Mormon’s heroes actually tend to be young adults.

Abinadi means My Father Has Judged

A cool tidbit is found in Abinadi’s name.

Now when king Noah had heard of the words which Abinadi had spoken unto the people, he was also wroth; and he said: Who is Abinadi, that I and my people should be judged of him, or who is the Lord, that shall bring upon my people such great affliction?

Abinadi means:

Abinadi appears as a compound name in ancient scriptural contexts, potentially blending elements meaning ‘my father has judged‘ or ‘father of judgment,’ drawing from Semitic linguistic patterns where ‘abi’ signifies ‘my father’ and ‘nadi’ relates to judgment or witness.

Abi. My father.

I love that so much.

O God, Receive My Soul

I so appreciate Abinadi’s boldness and courage. He truly exemplifies loving God with might, mind, and strength.

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Abinadi’s last words were filled with prophecies, later fulfilled, and, finally,

O God, receive my soul.

And Mormon’s interjection:

And now, when Abinadi had said these words, he fell, having suffered death by fire; yea, having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death.

It didn’t matter to the record how old Abinadi was. He proved true and faithful. Maybe Mormon wanted to make Abinadi relatable to all of us—so that all of us could somehow harness the strength of Abinadi’s faith and conversion. All I know is that as I read through the story with Abinadi as a young man, so many of the story’s details stuck out to me in new ways. My mental image shifted. The message became more urgent, his death more tragic. I saw more clearly.

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