KnoWhy #449 - What Does the Abish Story Signal About the Resurrection? (Alma 19:29)

When Abish, the Lamanite servant, took the queen by the hand and raised her up, they event may have been symbolic of death and resurrection. Alma 18–19 mentions on eight separate occasions that the royal family appeared to be dead. Thus, it seems reasonably to suppose that King Lamoni, his wife, and members of his court, are being depicted here as being figuratively dead. When Abish raises them up from the ground, she plays a role in raising them from this symbolic death. Throughout the ancient Near East, women play a role in resurrection mythology, which strengthens this idea. There are suggestions of this from Mesoamerica as well.