Alma 37:43

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.

My son, I want you to understand that these things are not without a lesson. Just as our fathers were lazy to pay attention to this compass (these things were physical), they did not do well. It is the same with things that are spiritual.

My son, I want you to understand that these things are symbolic. Just as our ancestors were lazy about paying attention to this compass—and these were physical things—they didn’t thrive. It’s the same with spiritual things.