Alma spells out his meaning: Faith is a small thing but leads to miracles. When the fathers were unfaithful, not only did the miracles stop, but they did not “prosper.” For Alma, faith underlies both prospering and miracles. Faith is dynamic. It requires action. It requires that one not only believe in the Messiah, but obey him. Christ is the compass to guide our actions. No one reaches his destination by believing in a compass, only by following its direction.