The Compass

As Alma is giving counsel to his son Helaman, he reminds him of when Lehi and his family were traveling in the wilderness with the liahona. The liahona was a compass that was given unto them from the Lord that worked according to their faith. If they had faith in God, the spindles on the liahona would point them in the direction they needed to go. Alma tells Helaman that the liahona is comparable to the words of Christ.

Alma 37

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.

Just as the liahona led Lehi and his family from Jerusalem into the promised land, the words of Christ can lead us into our own lands of promise. In order to be led by the words of Christ, we need to listen to them, know them and live them. I know that as we do this the Lord will lead us from a vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise. I know that the Lord loves us and wants us to be happy.