King Noah was a wicked man.  After his father died, he replaced the priest with wicked men like him.  They taxed the people heavily and used the peoples money to live the way they wanted.  They did not live the way God wanted them to.  Abinadi was a Prophet of God.  He came and warned the king and his priests they had better repent of God would destroy them.  They did not believe Abinadi, and were so angry that he would dare come tell them what they were doing was wrong, so they burned him in a fire.  Abinadi warned them and told them if they did not repent and listen they would be destroyed.  Abinadi's words came true.

God's prophets warn us and prophesy, if we repent and listen we will be blessed