This place of knowing is what people call their heart. It is what we are talking about when we say, "I know it in my heart."
Of course, this isn't the physical heart that beats and pumps blood. This is what I think of as my spiritual heart, which, for me, feels like a ball of energy in the center of my chest. I can feel that ball of energy radiating within my chest and also radiating outside my chest, beyond the limits of my chest wall.
When I would talk with my wife, Anita, about this ball of energy I was using to receive insights, guidance and direction for my life, I would place my hand around that ball of energy and call it my Liahona, because it reminded me of a story in the Book of Mormon about a "ball, or director" that was called a "Liahona" (see Alma 37:38).
In that story, which takes place around 600 B.C., a prophet named Lehi was commanded by God to take his family from their home in Jerusalem and travel through the wilderness toward a "land of promise." Lehi's family was later joined on their journey by a man named Ishmael and his family.
Lehi's son, Nephi, wrote that his father arose one morning and went to his tent door, and "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" (1 Nephi 16:10).
Nephi described how they used the Liahona to guide them during the first part of their journey:
"And it came to pass that we did travel for the space of many days, slaying food by the way, with our bows and our arrows and our stones and our slings.
"And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.
"And after we had traveled for the space of many days, we did pitch our tents for the space of a time, that we might again rest ourselves and obtain food for our families.
"And it came to pass that as I, Nephi, went forth to slay food, behold, I did break my bow, which was made of fine steel; and after I did break my bow, behold, my brethren were angry with me because of the loss of my bow, for we did obtain no food.
"And it came to pass that we did return without food to our families, and being much fatigued, because of their journeying, they did suffer much for the want of food.
"And it came to pass that [my older brothers] Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael did begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father began to murmur against the Lord his God; yea, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against the Lord.
"Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, having been afflicted with my brethren because of the loss of my bow, and their bows having lost their springs, it began to be exceedingly difficult, yea, insomuch that we could obtain no food.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did speak much unto my brethren, because they had hardened their hearts again, even unto complaining against the Lord their God.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones. And I said unto my father: Whither shall I go to obtain food?
"And it came to pass that he did inquire of the Lord, for they had humbled themselves because of my words; for I did say many things unto them in the energy of my soul.
"And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father; and he was truly chastened because of his murmuring against the Lord, insomuch that he was brought down into the depths of sorrow.
"And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto him: Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are written.
"And it came to pass that when my father beheld the things which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.
"And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.
"And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts, insomuch that I did obtain food for our families.
"And it came to pass that I did return to our tents, bearing the beasts which I had slain; and now when they beheld that I had obtained food, how great was their joy! And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord, and did give thanks unto him."
(1 Nephi 16:15-32.)
At that time of my life, I considered my heart—that ball of energy that was my place of knowing—to be my Liahona. I found that by following the directions I was receiving through my own "ball, or director," I, too, was being led "in the more fertile parts" of the wilderness of life through which I was traveling.
This was just the beginning of finding my own Liahona, as Lehi found his!
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