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. [ALMA 37:44]
This verse is part of a much longer collection of verses included in [ALMA 37:38-47]. I wrote about (v37) back on (April 3, 2026 - “Valuable Counsel From Father to Child). I want to reinforce this counsel again this week with the Liahona. I am always amazed how something introduced back in (1 Nephi 16:10) is not only being reintroduced many years later, but reinforced through Alma’s testimony to his son Helaman. Meaning that the words of the prophets of old and modern-day prophets, including those from every collection of scriptures (yes, especially from the Bible and Book of Mormon), don’t just fit nicely on the shelf together, but they reinforce each other and therefore reinforce each of us. Which is why I’m choosing (v44) to focus on. Because the Sacred Scriptures really are written for each of us whoever, wherever and whenever we are! IF…we will give heed to them, they will be a true compass to lead us to Christ and back home, to “eternal bliss” forever.
The Lord’s Liahona
Beginning in (v38) of this chapter, Alma is telling his son Helaman about the miraculous and curious Liahona—the compass that Lehi found and which directed his family through the wilderness and across the sea to the Promised Land. Alma testifies that it was “prepared of the Lord” (v38) and that it was not an invention of man because “there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship (v39). Also, that it was not just some marvelous machine, but that it “did work for them according to their faith in God.” (v40) As Alma continues, he warns Helaman that when the Liahona was taken for granted, and its divine directions were disregarded through slothfulness, lack of faith and obedience, its inspired spindles stopped spinning. It’s “marvelous works” ceased and as a consequence “they did not travel a direct course [in the wilderness] and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.” (v41-43)
As we obtain and follow the words of Christ found in His Holy Scriptures, they will be as effective, directive and protective, as if we were holding the very Liahona Lehi did.
Invention Intention
Wouldn’t it be cool to have our own personal Liahona! I am a gadget guru and would love to be able to pick up this amazing and inspired invention and receive daily directions from it! I don’t think I’d ever want to put it down! I’d want to study it intently, praying in faith that it would provide the necessary guidance that I needed in that very moment for whatever I was facing in my life. Yes, I also understand that Alma is warning each of us that because the Liahona was a “small thing” it can be easy to take for granted, but how could anyone take something so amazing for granted? Yes, I jest, because I know exactly how. But that’s the point, to remind us and encourage us to not take our great blessings for granted in having the Scriptures!
We can hold and access (instantly) the entire Christian Canon—every single scripture every written—on our “small” phones and yet does that make us appreciate them more? Does it motivate us to read them more often and to live their teachings more faithfully and obediently?
Taking Godly Guidance for Granted
How? I think we each know how, especially when life gets too boring, or too busy. So does Alma. That’s why he’s warning his son to not take “the word of Christ” for granted. He’s counseling his son that it can be easy to disregard something because of its size, but that when we do read and give heed to them and use them to guide and guard our lives, the Scriptures are like having our very own Liahona. If Helaman had a handheld phone, Alma would be warning him not to get so distracted by other apps that he forgets, or forsakes the greatest app on his phone—the Scriptures.
This is why we have each been entrusted with these vital verses. They aren’t just nice stories. This isn’t just Alma counseling his son; this is our Father in Heaven counseling each of us to listen to His voice—that it’s as easy to do with the Sacred Scriptures (digital or physical) as it was for our forefathers to do with the physical liahona. We do have our own individual Liahonas—the Holy Scriptures! As you give heed to their inspired words, you will prosper and they will “point unto [you] a straight course to the promised land.