Alma 37

The Liahona was the brass "compass" that Lehi found at his tent door one morning early in their travel in the wilderness. It wasn't a compass that we would recognize. A magnetic compass always points one direction -- it aligns with the earth's magnetic field and points north. The Liahona pointed the way they should travel as long as they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God and following the direction of the prophet Lehi and the writing which appeared from time to time on the Liahona itself. When they were disobedient or neglectful, the Liahona did not work for them.


Alma's great analogy in this discourse to his son Helaman follows:


  43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a ^ashadow; 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 ^aword 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 ^atype 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 ^aslothful because of the ^beasiness of the ^cway; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would ^dlook they might ^elive; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

The holy scriptures are our compass -- our guide to eternal life. If we look at the map and follow it, we will find our way to peace in this life and eternal life with God.