Mosiah Ch12

Abinadi preaches more and is taken prisoner, probably because he mentions the destruction of the people and death of King Noah. He is questioned by the priests that Noah appointed who try to trip him up and he teaches the Ten Commandments.

After the first time prophesying, Abinadi comes back 2 years later in disguise to prophesy again (v1). This is the second warning for the people to repent or be smitten and be considered useless, worthless, and valued as a garment in a hot furnace (v2-3). They will have heavy burdens, bondage, pestilence and even be utter destroyed (v4-8). The people were angry because of the harsh words of Abinadi and took him bound before the king to tell of all he has said against the people and king (v9-12).

The people have not been taught that they have done all these sins and ask why they should be judged so harshly by God (v13-16). The king gathers his priests to council while Abinadi sits in prison until they are ready to question him (v17-18). As they questioned and accused him, he was bold, withstood, and confounded them (v19). The rest of the chapter is some of their questions and Abinadi's answered.

The priests quote what they have been taught and ask what's the words mean (v20-24). Abinadi knows they are only pretending to teach such things and they are misunderstanding and perverting the way of The Lord because they lack faith (v25-26). When asked what they teach, the priests say they teach the laws of Moses, but then Abinadi asks why they do not practice what they preach (v27-29). He has spoken truth and astounded them, and then asks if salvation comes by the law of Moses, which the priests affirm (v30-32). 

This last part is the one that gets them. He starts to list off the first two commandments which they have already said they teach and believe is the way to salvation (v33-36). Then he calls them out on their hypocrisy of not living the law which therefore does not teach the people to obey them (v37). As a teacher, it is so very important to know the content of what I teach well enough that I can teach it many ways. If I've never followed the rules or procedures of solving an equation how can I teach it to anyone? 

This applies even more with teaching the gospel. Think about learning from someone who does not 100% believe in what they are teaching. Then think about if they taught you to follow the commandments and then you saw that they did not do it themselves. How important would you think the commandments are if the ones who are encouraging you to follow them in order to gain salvation aren't following them?