Mosiah 12:26 - 12:30

Mosiah 12:26 I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the ways of the Lord! For if ye understand these things ye have not taught them; therefore, ye have perverted the ways of the Lord.

He say that they should be ashamed of themselves. For they if they have understood the scriptures but have not taught the people, they are under condemnation as that is the job of the priest.

Mosiah 12:27 Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?

He says shame on them for not knowing the application of the scriptures or even teaching the people to live according to them. So Abinadi asked them what do they teach?

Mosiah 12:28 And they said: We teach the law of Moses.

They replied that they teach the law of Moses.

Mosiah 12:29 And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon riches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin, that the Lord has cause to send me to prophesy against this people, yea, even a great evil against this people?

Abinadi then asked them if they teach the law of Moses why are they not living it? He asked them if they were truly living the law of Moses how can they excuse themselves for spending all their line in high living. Spending their time violating the laws of morality and being example to the people so that they copy the priest and do the same. In fact conditions are so bad, that the Lord had to send a prophet to them to wake them up to their wicked condition to try to keep them from being destroyed.

Mosiah 12:30 Know ye not that I speak the truth? Yea, ye know that I speak the truth; and you ought to tremble before God.

What’s more they know that what Abinadi is accusing them of is true and that they are in big trouble.