Lessons for Our Day from the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ - 2024
Lesson No. Five

The Other Liahonas in Our Lives

The Liahona was a marvelous device prepared by the Lord to direct Lehi and his family as they traveled to the promised land – It was “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 wither we should go into the wilderness.” Significantly, it kept Lehi’s family “in the most fertile parts of the wilderness…” (1 Nephi 16:10, 14).

Alma compared the Liahona to the word of Christ, which will point us in a straight course to eternal bliss (see Alma 37:38, 44) – The various “Liahonas” that we have been given, guide us in our mortal journey to eternal life, and they provide the most joy as we travel the road of mortality. These other “Liahonas” include the following:

- Holy Spirit

- Latter day prophets and apostles

- The Temple and the ordinances and covenants found therein

- Scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon

- Patriarchal blessings

Like the original Liahona, theses other “Liahonas” work “according to the faith (mental power) and diligence (physical action) and heed (obedience) which we give unto them” (1 Nephi 16:28).

These other “Liahonas” may seem small and simple to the world, but “by small means the Lord can bring about great things” (Ibid, 29) – The Book of Mormon is a perfect example of this principal. From a worldly point of view, at best, the Book of Mormon is only a 531-page book, and it is only one book among the millions of books that have been written. However, from the Lord’s point of view it is the primary instrument He has prepared to gather Israel in the latter days, which, as President Russell M. Nelson has explained, “is the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth” (New Era, Worldwide Youth Devotional, August 2018).

Each of these other “Liahonas” teach the word of Christ, and they have the following things in common:

- These other “Liahonas” work according to our faith in God – “And [the Liahona] 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” (Alma 37:40).

- For these other “Liahonas” to work properly we must be diligent in keeping the commandments of God – If we are slothful, and forget to exercise our faith and diligence, then those marvelous works cease. Then we will not progress In our journey through mortality to eternal life. (See Ibid, 41)

- If we are not faithful and diligent we will terry and wander in a wilderness in mortality, and not travel in a direct course to eternal life – We will be afflicted because of transgressions. (See Ibid, 42)

- The principals governing these other “Liahonas” apply both spiritually and temporally – If we are not faithful and diligent in learning the word of Christ and in keeping the commandments of God it will, sooner or later, seriously harm us both spiritually and temporally. (See Ibid 43)

- These other “Liahonas” teach that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the easy way – “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” (Ibid, 44). Furthermore, Jesus implored, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Many people learn by sad experience that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 42:10). And like Paul learned, “it is hard to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5).

- Each of these other “Liahonas” are a type and a pattern – “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” (Alma 37:45).

My Testimony, using the words of Alma, of the eternal importance of these other “Liahonas”– “O [my children and grandchildren], 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” (Ibid, 46).

Released on February 4th, 2024.