I have been struck by how much of the message which Samuel the Lamanite and Abinadi both deliver have previously been the subject of Nephi’s prophecies.  Almost every bit of Samuel the Lamanite and Abinadi’s messages are first included within Nephi’s message.  It is possible that both of these later Book of Mormon prophets were “restoring” to new generations the message originally taught by Nephi which had fallen into neglect.

The entire message of Joseph Smith was to restore what had been here before and become lost.  The work of scholar Margaret Barker suggests that Jesus Christ was restoring First Temple theology and earlier lost traditions.  

If the gospel was originally preached to Adam (and I think it was) then every prophet from that day until now has simply been restoring what was once here. Prophets fight the law of entropy.  Mankind keep losing truths and prophets keep bringing them back.  

One of the great “signs” that there is a true prophet on the earth is the restoration by them of truths which have fallen into disuse or neglect.  True prophets are at war with entropy and decay.