An ancient family was given a mysterious and miraculous device that helped them navigate their way through the desert in the vicinity of the Red Sea, and then across the open ocean between the Arabian peninsula and the American continent.
This device, something like a compass, was also called by them a ball or director: the Liahona.
The first account of the Liahona describes:
"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.
And it came to pass that we did gather together whatsoever things we should carry into the wilderness, and all the remainder of our provisions which the Lord had given unto us; and we did take seed of every kind that we might carry into the wilderness."
1 Nephi 16: 10-11
Wait, what? Does it seem something is missing? Don't you feel like having used the phrase, "And the one..." demands the concluding explanation, "And the other...?"
He tells us the first spindle points the way to go, and then abruptly moves on with the story.
Hold on! What does that other spindle do?
Spoiler: I don't know what it does. I bring this up as an example for teaching a powerful lesson:
We know enough.
We have been given enough guidance to know which way to go. We don't need to know every detail of every step along the way.
Earlier in the story of this family, we read of Nephi and his brothers being tasked with returning to Jerusalem to retrieve a copy of the scriptures from Laban, a wicked and powerful leader who keeps them in his personal treasury.
The words of Nephi in that instance are most instructive:
"And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."
His next phrase is the kicker.
"Nevertheless I went forth..." (1 Nephi 4: 6-7, emphasis added)
After telling us about being led by the Spirit, and not knowing what to do, notice that Nephi doesn't say, "Therefore I did sit upon the ground and demand of the Lord to be shown a sign of His mighty power and to be given a revelation containing all that would come to pass, that I might go forth with confidence to accomplish the thing which He had commanded me."
Nephi went forth.
He didn't need to know everything. He knew he needed to get the book. In this instance, all he needed to know in addition was "The book is in Laban's possession. Laban's house is that way."
As he moved forward, a series of events unfolded that allowed Nephi to get the book from Laban. It all happened because he was willing to do all he could with what he knew, trusting that more knowledge would be waiting for him along the way as he used his faith to simply keep going.
Walk By Faith
When I was a boy, my father would make paths through the woods of our farm, always leading to some adventurous destination. When a new trail was being cut, I knew it by the small flags tied to branches of trees which followed the intended path through the thick foliage. My father would wisely place these little beacons so that when I stood near one, the next one along the path would be visible in the distance. If I wanted to see the one after that, it would come into view as I made my way to the one just in front of me.
So it is with life, and walking by faith.
Our Heavenly Father, in His perfect wisdom, has carefully placed little markers along our path through life. Though every event and decision we will face may not be known to us now, the inspiration we need to make our way is always waiting for us, if we will move forward with faith and pick it up as we go along. The help and guidance we need really is there. The only question is, “Will we go and find it, or will we sit down and let it remain hidden from us?”
Many of my greatest joys have come as I have simply kept moving, trusting in what I did know in order to find things that previously I did not know. The Holy Ghost has come to be my most trusted friend as I have made my way. May we choose to be led by Him. May we listen to His whispers. May we keep moving, for the destination we seek is truly glorious beyond all description.
The first spindle in the Liahona pointed the way they should go. That was enough for them, and it is enough for us to know now. What do you know that is enough? I bet you know plenty. Resist Satan's temptations to believe that you don't know enough, and that not knowing everything means the things you do know are invalid.
Don't get hung up on the things you don't know. You know enough. Keep going.
"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
2 Nephi 31: 19-20
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119: 105
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See also:
The Candle of the Lord, by Boyd K. Packer
You Know Enough, by Neil L. Andersen
“Lord, I Believe,” by Jeffrey R. Holland
Daily Restoration, by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Come, Join with Us, by Dieter F. Uchtdorf