Alma specifically declares that the Liahona is a “shadow.” That word is often linked with “type,” as in “type and shadow.” The meaning is that it is a symbol, or a type, of something else. In this case, the physical artifact becomes a model for the spiritual relationship one has with the God to whom one is to pray and whose commandments are to be kept (the subject of verses 38–42 above).
The lesson is that the Liahona could guide their fathers to food, or the correct path, but that it required faith to make it work, and it required faith to look to the Liahona to learn what the correct path might be. Thus, “it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss.”
In Lehi’s dream, the guide for the path was the iron rod. It led to the joy of the fruit of the tree of life. Alma does not use that imagery, but rather uses the Liahona to serve that same function. Perhaps the Liahona was among the sacred records that had been entrusted to Helaman, and therefore it was something that may have been there in the room with them. That is conjecture. Regardless, the message was the same. There has been prepared for humanity both the way to life eternal, and the guide that will help point us while on the way.
This ends a chapter in the 1830 edition.