Instructions to Helaman as a Leader

And now, my son, remember the words
which I have spoken unto you;
trust not those secret plans unto this people,
but teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity.

Preach unto them repentance,
and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ;
teach them to humble themselves
and to be meek and lowly in heart.

Teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil,
with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Teach them to never be weary of good works,
but to be meek and lowly in heart.

For such shall find rest to their souls.

O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth;
yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.
yea, and cry unto God for all thy support;
yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord,
and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord;
yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord;
yea, let the affections of thy heart
be placed upon the Lord forever.

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings,
and he will direct thee for good;
yea, when thou liest down at night
lie down unto the Lord,
that he may watch over you in your sleep;
and when thou risest in the morning
let thy heart be full of thanks unto God;
and if ye do these things,
ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

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. 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.

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.

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;

Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

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.

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.

And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.