Liahona

A detail that were likely on the Lost 116 Pages based on statements by Joseph Smith and others:
  • The Liahona was used during some kind of exodus in the promised land (probably Mosiah leaving the land of Nephi) to guide their journey. The Liahona guided them to the Urim and Thummim. The prophet took the Urim and Thummim to the tabernacle (because they had a portable tabernacle with them) to inquire as to what these things were, and the Lord asked the prophet what he had in his hands. He responded that he did not know and had come to inquire. The Lord told the prophet to put the Urim and Thummim to his face and cover it with an animal skin. When he did so, he could see the past, present, and future. The Liahona stopped functioning after this point.
38) 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.
39) 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.
40) 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.
41) 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;
42) Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.
43) 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.
44) 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.
45) 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.
Some evidence and speculation on what the Liahona looked like and what that second spindle was for.

Cross-References