Question

Dear Gramps,

I have heard the following question asked twice in the last few years, most recently today. I am not convinced there is a definitive answer, but I thought I would ask your opinion. Here is the question: In 1 Nephi 16:10 the Liahona is described as having two spindles; “and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness.” What did the second spindle do? Thanks for your time.

David

Answer

Dear David,

the “two spindles” are mentioned only twice in the Book of Mormon. The second entry is found in Alma 37:40

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.

In this passage, the word spindles occurs in the plural, and the function as stated in the passage is to point the way that they should go. We are also told that there were instructions that were written on the ball from time to time, e.g. 1 Ne 16:26,

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.

It could have been that those things may have been written on one or both of the spindles.

Gramps