My EC and I returned home from an extended road-trip yesterday. (That’s why I have been M.I.A. – and I am so sorry- not really) As we were flying down the freeway at the precise speed limit, my wife was reading an email and chatting on her iPhone. I was listening to music that was streaming from my phone via bluetooth to the car’s sound system. I was also tracking the weather satellite and the trip directions on my phone. The technology that we were utilizing was ridiculously cool, if you stop and think about it.
I brought up the idea of how great it would be if you could go back in time and give the LDS pioneer companies a dozen fully functioning iPhones back in the mid-1800s. They could check the weather, communicate with each other, check directions and look at maps, log their progress. The technology that we use every day would have made a huge difference in their lives.
A few weeks ago we were sitting around the kitchen table after Sunday dinner, discussing the Liahona. For a quick memory refresher, read Nephi’s description in 1 Nephi, 16: 10, 16, 28 & 29
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.
SPECULATION ALERT! This is a warning that the following is just some thoughts about the Liahona, and some ideas that came up at the dinner table discussion. You have been warned. None of us really know very much about the Liahona, and talking about it raises more questions than it does answers.
a) What a cool piece of ancient technology! Remember, this was several hundred years before the Chinese invented the first compass. Dual spindles to show the way? Why two? This would be as amazing to Lehi as an iPhone would be to the pioneers.
b) The spindles only worked according to the faith and diligence of the people using it. I am so glad my technology does not demand that of me. AT&T drops enough of my calls already.
c) I think the most fascinating thing about the Liahona is that it had text fields where writing would appear. Nephi said that it had a written display that was plain to be read, and changed from time to time. Writing? Status updates? Dare we say celestial “tweets”?
d) I wonder if the status updates ever said things like “Untie your brother and knock it off.”
e) Nephi and Lehi never refer to it as “The Liahona“. They call it the ball or compass. It wasn’t until much later that Alma describes it as “Liahona” – not “The Liahona” (See Alma’s discussion about Liahona below)
f) I would like to think that Liahona is securely stored in a vault somewhere in SLC, but maybe I’ve just seen Raiders of the Lost Ark too many times. (I warned you about the speculation)
And one of the big topics of discussion around the table:
g) Where did it come from? Alma suggests that it was too complex for any man to have made it. (Alma 37:39) Nephi and Alma both refer to it as curious workmanship. But someone made it. Here is where we discussed two possibilities:
a) The Lord had somebody make it per his specs, and leave it at Lehi’s tent. (This would be a fascinating side story in its own right) Possible? Why not? If the Lord could reveal to Nephi how to build a ship, I imagine he could instruct someone to construct a Liahona. (Honey? What are you working on, and why is it taking so long? I’m not sure dear, but it’s really complicated, and I have to get it done and leave it by some guy’s tent in the desert before tomorrow morning.)
or
b) It was made and delivered by heavenly beings/messengers. If Alma is correct, and it wasn’t something man could have made, it would have to be heavenly in origin. As we discussed this possibility, I asked my sons if they could think of any other time in scripture or modern time where the Lord has delivered a completed piece of technology to man. We talked about the stones with the brother of Jared, we talked about manna in the wilderness, but we were hard pressed to think of a situation to compare to the finding of the Liahona. Ideas?
SPECULATION OVER!
It really doesn’t matter where the Liahona came from, or where it went. It doesn’t even matter how it worked. It does matter that it DID work. Most importantly, it got Lehi and his family where they needed to go, and left us with an enduring metaphor to teach important gospel principles.
Rather than expound on what lessons of the Liahona are to me, I figure I will let Alma do it. He saw the beauty of the Liahona as an way to teach the gospel to his son Helaman. (Alma 37:38-45)
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.
Good article… I think we forget that the ancients before the flood weren’t cavemen (like the evolutionists believe) and could accomplish tech that we don’t understand. I mean explain to me how they created giants and built a lot of stones and structures that can’t be explained? We have accomplished so much in so little time and still can’t duplicate many of those things. Perhaps there are those that think it best not to reveal such things unless they can profit by it. Perhaps the great deceiver likes for us to doubt our greatness as children of God. Perhaps one day we understand it all… But if we miss the mark and forget the lessons taught and live them… It won’t matter.
I think the Urim and Thummim compare much to the Liahona. They worked by the power of god & by faith. Joseph would sometimes have trouble receiving a translation and would have to take a break to repent so he could be properly pure. The Liahona is a unique thing though. I wondered if Joseph had it- why wasn’t he using it? Why didn’t he draw a picture of it or something? The geek-out factor on something like that has got to be off the charts. Do you think maybe it stopped working after it’s mission was complete? Oh conjecture. It’s funny to think of the magic 8 balls of the 80’s when trying to picture the ball of curious workmanship.
Yes, I think of anything else, the Liahona suggests time warp or alien technology. I think the only thing that compares is the urim and thummim. They worked by faith & sometimes they wouldn’t work when Joseph needed more internal purity to access the translation.
MMM, thank you so much for sharing all of those thoughts! I need to print out a copy of this post and stick it in my scripture journal, then go read about the Lehi colony receiving the Liahona – which just happens to be this Sunday’s lesson for my class.
Hey that was pretty cool i also just wrote about the Liahona it is on this blog site
http://lookandlive777.blogspot.com/2012/02/liahona.html
my father, now on the other side of the veil had a list of scriptures, mostly from the OT, that he thought hinted at interplanetary visits. I need to find that list.
Interesting post, and food for thought. Here are some additional thoughts. Liahona worked by the faith and diligence which they gave to it. Have you ever felt a greater energy or a witness of the Spirit that strengthens your faith? What energy is this? Could this energy be used to power a device of a specific technical sensitivity?
Arthur C. Clark, science fiction author, said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
Alma 33:19 reminds us of the brasen serpent raised in the wilderness. Simply by looking at it, bitten Israelites were healed. How? Again, the power of faith.
The ancients knew many secrets. Those closest to the Patriarchs held a remnant of the knowledge given to Adam, Enoch and Noah. Divine technology still casts a shadow today.
One last quote, “The true work of art is but a shadow of the Divine perfection.”
According to your screen shot, you’re about to drop another call (having just a single bar). Better get writing more of these wonderful posts MMM. Perhaps you’ll get more bars!
I only ever check the enlightening box at the end of your posts because they always are. Thank you for the daily dose of enlightenment!
I have also wondered about the technology of this device. It is certainly possible that it was as simple as a compass or more complicated than a modern GPS.
There is a in description JS-H 1:43of Moroni ascending into a “conduit” that is also interesting.
Does God have technology far superior to what man is capable of or is his power so great that it surpasses technology all together? (Both?) He could have given the brother of Jared a flashlight or taught him to make some kind of lights. Instead he touched a stone and made it glow.
I would love to see what the Liahona really looked like! And how it worked.
Just an interesting side note: Read Ether 2:23 (about the brother of Jared) and look at the footnote for windows. Look up the scripture in that footnote. Again look at the footnote for window.
I think it is safe to say the brother of Jared studied his scriptures or at least knew the story of Noah and the ark enough that he was able to find his answer and take it back to the Lord.
Recalculating
I don’t know if this link will work. It’s all over facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2685892708458&set=p.2685892708458&type=1&theater
great timing for me. teaching that story and others to the 16 year olds this Sunday! Thanks!
Loved this post. Very inspiring.
I’ve thought about this as well. I have no problem with the idea that 21st century technology was used in the creation of Liahona or in other miracles. An LCD screen makes a lot of sense if the text were to change periodically. It could even have a solar battery. My EC and I have joked a lot about smart phones being like “white stones,” see D&C 130:10-11. Black berry, white stone. Hmmm.
This is a good post and incorporates some of my favorite scripture, too.
Well done.
=)
Absolutely LOVE this post! Thank you! 🙂
Enjoyed your thoughts immensely. Two additions:
1. I’m amazed at the irony of the suggestion that by “small and simple means” great things come to pass. I see that as evidence of God’s ability to use his understated humor. There’s nothing small and simple about the ball of curious workmanship.
2. If you had more faith, maybe AT&T would drop fewer of your calls… 😉
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I taught that lesson in Gospel Doctrine last Sunday and it came up that it sounded like a GPS-like device. It is amazing to me the progress we have made with technology in such a short time–yet there are still improvements to be made! Thank you for a thought-provoking post and thank you Shantel for the added insight–very interesting!
You are right. It doesnt matter- but its fun to think about. I study Biblical Hebrew at the University of Minnesota. I can tell you a few things: Liahona is a name- not a noun. Which is super interesting. Second- we dont even know if its a Hebrew word, or an egyption (I cant spell-and I got over being self-concious about it years ago- its why I have editors) word, or a word given to Joseph at the time of translation.
This is what Hugh Nibley has to say about it- and that man pretty much rules- so here you go:
And many people have dealt with the word Liahona. We had a teacher from Hebrew University here for a few years; in fact he bought a house in Provo. He was so fond of it he wanted to come and visit often. His name was [Jonathan] Shunary. He never joined the Church, but the first thing that fascinated him was this name Liahona. He traced it back to the queen bee, the leader of bees swarming in the desert. When bees swarm, that’s Liahona. I took it from a different one. Yah is, of course, God Jehovah. Liyah means the possessive, “To God is the guidance,” hona (Liyahhona). That’s just a guess; don’t put it down. But it’s a pretty good guess anyway.
I loved this post. I too have thought about iphones for the pioneers, but am reminded of so many lessons that would be lost.
entertaint! hahaha! Love it!!
Good reminder to use our technology to teach our children the gospel…not distract and entertaint them! That was a typo, but I’m keeping it in there.
Oh! And great job adding the text by Alma…it was such a great way to end the post!
This was SUCH a good post!! Very thought provoking, indeed! We’ve also joked that an iPhone would have been awesome for those traveling in the wilderness and the pioneers. I often marvel at the technologies that we have in our current day and what blessing they are to us. Great post!!