The prophet Lehi, at God’s command, left behind his wealth and comfortable life and took his family and fled Jerusalem after his life was endangered by the wicked. Finally, God told them it was time to head into the wilderness, to unknown territories. The next morning, as they prepared to pack up their tents and go, Lehi found, just outside the door of his tent, an unusual object.
“10 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)
By following the spindle, the family was able to know which route God wished them to follow. Even more unexpectedly, from time to time words appeared, counseling or admonishing the family. However, there were limitations to its abilities: It only worked when the family was obeying the commandments and living well.
A later prophet, named Alma, explained the workings of this compass to his son Helaman:
40 And it did work for them according to their afaith 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 asmall means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were bslothful, 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 anot travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions. (Alma 37)
Alma explained that this practical and yet spiritual tool represented the gospel in our own lives. When Lehi and his family paid attention to the compass, and lived the gospel, they prospered and traveled safely along their journey. When they did not, they were lost and their progress stopped. Often they suffered.
In the same way, today, those who choose to pay attention to the compass (the word of God) and keep the commandments, they have a compass to guide them through the many trials of life. While obeying the commandments doesn’t prevent hardship, it does ensure you will safely reach your destination—a return to our Father in Heaven.
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. (Alma 37)
It is impossible to hear God’s spirit guiding and directing us if we are living unrighteously or “on vacation” from the Gospel. Only when we’re trying to do what we should are we able to take advantage of the Holy Ghost, and the safe passage God promises us.
The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.
