38 And now, my son, I
have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or
director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a
compass; and the Lord prepared it.
39 And behold, there
cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold,
it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in
the wilderness.
40 And it did work for
them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe
that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go,
behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other
miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.
41 Nevertheless,
because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them
marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and
diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in
their journey;
42 Therefore, they
tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were
afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.
43 And now, my son, I
would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for
as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things
were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are
spiritual.
44 For behold, it is
as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight
course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this
compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.
45 And now I say, is
there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring
our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of
Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a
far better land of promise.
46 O my son, do not
let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our
fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might
live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may
live forever.
47 And now, my son,
see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and
live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.
(Alma 37:38-47)
Alma tells Helaman about the “ball or director.” “And it
came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent
door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of
curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two
spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness”
(1 Nephi 16:10).
We learn from Alma the is called the “Liahona.” Liahona
means “compass.” It was prepared by the Lord.
“The Book of Mormon record associates the word Liahona with
deliverance and survival, tying its meaning directly to a physical object—a
ball— and to its essential function—a director (see Mosiah 1:16; Alma 37:38,
45). The elements forming the term Liahona become clear when they are analyzed
in light of the customs and the rules of the Hebrew grammar in existence at the
time of Lehi in 600 BC. The skillful formation of this word also sheds light on
the linguistic world of the Nephite civilization, mainly a descendant of
Hebrew. It also demonstrates that Joseph Smith, with his extremely limited
language skills, could not have dreamed up such a name. The explanation of the
etymology of the name Liahona adds another link to the pieces of evidence from
other past explanations of names that Joseph Smith could not have known from
just reading the Bible.”[1]
“[I]t is important to note Nephi’s observation that it was
only through the faith, diligence, and heed they gave to the compass that it
worked…
“Nephi’s conclusion was not lost on Alma 500 years later
when he reminded his own son about the importance of the Liahona. He explained
to Helaman that the Lord prepared this compass to show their fathers the course
they should travel in the wilderness, but because that miraculous device worked
by small means, their fathers were slothful and forgot to exercise their faith
and diligence. As a result, this marvelous device ceased to work, and they did
not progress in their journey or travel a straight course but tarried in the
wilderness and were afflicted because of their negligence.”[2]
The workmanship was so curious, no one could have made it.
It was prepared, by the Lord, to guide Lehi’s party as they journeyed through
the wilderness.
It worked for Lehi’s party based on their faith. “And it
came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that
they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give
unto them” (1 Nephi 16:28).
Their faith caused the pointers to show they the way they
should go.
The Lord used small means to work miracles. “And there was
also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did
give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and
changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave
unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great
things” (1 Nephi 16:29).
This led Lehi’s party to become slothful and failed to
exercise their faith. “Set in order your houses; keep slothfulness and
uncleanness far from you” (D&C 90:18).
“He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand” (D&C
107:100).
The result was the Liahona ceased to work and they didn’t
make any progress in the wilderness.
They lingered in the wilderness. They could not travel a
direct course. The experience hunger and thirst because of their lack of faith.
“[T]he words of Christ can be a personal Liahona for each of
us, showing us the way. Let us not be slothful because of the easiness of the
way. Let us in faith take the words of Christ into our minds and into our
hearts as they are recorded in sacred scripture and as they are uttered by
living prophets, seers, and revelators. Let us with faith and diligence feast
upon the words of Christ, for the words of Christ will be our spiritual Liahona
telling us all things what we should do.”[3]
It is easy to give heed to Christ’s words. They will point
us in a straight course to eternal life. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and
a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
As the Liahona worked when they were faithful, so shall the
words of Christ carry us on to a land of promise.
“The Book of Mormon is our testimonial Liahona. This voice
from the dust guides us to know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and
that his Church has been restored.”[4]
Because the way is easy, Alma tells Helaman he should not be
slothful. “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say” (Luke
6:46).
“And he loveth those who will have him to be their God.
Behold, he loved our fathers, and he covenanted with them, yea, even Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob; and he remembered the covenants which he had made; wherefore,
he did bring them out of the land of Egypt.
“And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod;
for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them
because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after
they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor
which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the
way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished” (1 Nephi
17:40-41).
“O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy
One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow,
but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the
Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other
way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his
name” (2 Nephi 9:41).
“For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth
unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find
it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me…
“Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the
deaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they receive me not,
neither do they abide in my law” (D&C 132:22, 25).
Alma refers to the brazen serpent lifted up by Moses. The
Lord prepared a way for them. If they would look, they would live.
“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole,
and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the
serpent of brass, he lived” (Numbers 21:9).
“And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod;
for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them
because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after
they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor
which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the
way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished” (1 Nephi 17:41).
“But, behold, ye not only deny my words, but ye also deny
all the words which have been spoken by our fathers, and also the words which
were spoken by this man, Moses, who had such great power given unto him, yea,
the words which he hath spoken concerning the coming of the Messiah.
“Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should
come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall
he be lifted up who should come.
“And as many as should look upon that serpent should live,
even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a
contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal” (Helaman
8:13-15).
A way is also prepared for us. If we look, we will live
forever.
Alma ends his words, charging Helaman to take care of the
sacred things. He is to look to God and live.
He was told to go declare the word to this people.
[1] Liahona:
“The Direction of the Lord”: An Etymological Explanation, Jonathan Curci, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 16/2
(2007): 61.
[2] Compass
of the Lord, Elder Lowell M. Snow, October 2005 General Conference.
[3] The
Words of Christ—Our Spiritual Liahona, Elder W. Rolfe Kerr, April 2004 General
Conference.
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