Alma 37: 38-47

It's the first day back to work for me yesterday and then we had our Family Home Evening where we read a chapter of the Book of Mormon and shared our thoughts together at the Goodson's last night. That should not be an excuse for my inability to do  my personal study and write this blog but for now I'll allow myself that since I'm adjusting to regular working schedule. I did wake up early but preparing food to bring with me to work takes so much time. I guess I need to wake up half an hour earlier--that will be 3:30AM so I could do my scripture study first thing in the morning everyday. I will try doing that tomorrow. Today is a holiday though and I've been getting to bed late (for the past few days) and feeling sleepy at work yesterday. So I decided to take some naps today. There were other things which are making me feel sleepy as well. I do hope I will have more energy when I get back to work tomorrow. I'll try to be back earlier from Annie's tonight. We've been having dinner and games there lately (every Sunday evening for the past two months and during holidays) and we're having leftover dinners tonight.

In verses 38-44 we read: "38 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

 39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

 40 And it 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.

41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, 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 not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

 43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; 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 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."

The Institute Manual gave this explanation: "Over the years several General Authorities have described different means in which the Lord continues to guide us in our journey of life, like a Liahona.

Elder W. Rolfe Kerr of the Seventy compared the words of Christ to the Liahona: “So we see, brethren
and sisters, that the words of Christ can be a personal Liahona for each of us, showing us the way. Let us not be slothful because of the easiness of the way. Let us in faith take the words of Christ into our minds and into our hearts as they are recorded in sacred scripture and as they are uttered by living prophets, seers, and revelators. Let us with faith and diligence feast upon the words of Christ, for the words of Christ will be our spiritual Liahona telling us all things what we should do” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2004, 38; or Ensign, May 2004, 37).

President Thomas S. Monson compared the Liahona to an individual’s patriarchal blessing: “The same Lord who provided a Liahona for Lehi provides for you and for me today a rare and valuable gift to give direction to our lives. . . . The gift to which I refer is known as a patriarchal blessing” (Live the Good Life [1988], 36).

President Spencer W. Kimball compared the Liahona to the light of Christ, or our conscience: “Wouldn’t you like to have that kind of a ball . . . ? “. . . The Lord gave to . . . every person, a conscience which tells him everytime he starts to go on the wrong path. . . . “. . . Every child is given it” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1976, 117; or Ensign, Nov. 1976, 79).

Elder David A. Bednar compared the Liahona to the gift of the Holy Ghost: “As we each press forward along the pathway of life, we receive direction from the Holy Ghost just as Lehi was directed through the Liahona. . . . “The Holy Ghost operates in our lives precisely as the Liahona did for Lehi and his family, according to our faith and diligence and heed. . . . “And the Holy Ghost provides for us today the means whereby we can receive, ‘by small and simple things’ (Alma 37:6), increased understanding about the ways of the Lord. . . . “The Spirit of the Lord can be our guide and will bless us with direction, instruction, and spiritual protection during our mortal journey” (in Conference Report, Apr.
2006, 31; or Ensign, May 2006, 30–31).

I came home late from Annie's last night so I wasn't able to continue this blog. I'm glad we got a lot of free time at work today because we're just preparing to start teaching and the students will start coming on Friday. So we got today and tomorrow to prepare. And since I did a lot of preparation already I really don't have a lot to prepare anymore. So, here am I..Glad I got this time at work to write this blog. I slept through my alarm this morning so...will just do my blog for today when I get  home tonight. I already read the chapter while I'm on the bus on my way to work today. I'm grateful that I got some time to adjust to going back to work. I'm grateful for the Holy Ghost who is directing me in the things that I do. I will strive to be more sensitive to its promptings. It did help me when I was preparing to visit the Milligans this past weekend. I am able to prepare something which I would need.