The Liahona as a Palantir (the Anor Stone)

Seven Palantiri, or Seeing-Stones, escaped with Elendil and those who fled with him from the destruction of Numenor in the 2nd Age.  As readers of Tolkien are aware, not all of them survived even to the events of the 3rd Age as recounted in the Lord of the Rings.  But some did survive, and my view is that some survived well into other ages (and stories) and were used by individuals in those times.

I propose that one of the Palantiri would actually later become known as the Liahona - the magical ball that led Lehi and his family to the Promised Land in the opening account of the Book of Mormon.

Lets get the first problem with this theory surfaced and dealt with first:  Nephi specifically states the Liahona is made of 'fine brass', which would seem to eliminate it being a stone.  But I am going to sidestep this one and say that Nephi is perhaps describing the appearance of the ball as being metallic.  They have the Brass Plates now in their possession, and those might have been the best point of comparison to be made.  This is a very curious ball that has shown up, and the materials it is comprised of very much resemble what those plates are made of.

I am not a metallurgist nor a stone/ minerals expert, but my understanding from what I have both read and seen, is that many types of stones, minerals, and crystals have a metallic luster, and many of these types of crystals and minerals contain metallic elements in their composition.  Here is a link for one such mineral or crystal:  Pyrite (or Fool's Gold, apparently)

Pyrite Mineral | Uses and Properties (geology.com)

I am not suggesting the Liahona was Pyrite, by the way.  I don't know what it was made of.  I am just using that as an example, since the description in the link above starts right off by calling Pyrite a 'brass-yellow mineral".

So, it looked metallic like brass, and described as 'fine' which I take to perhaps mean very polished and smooth.

This surfaces our second major problem, however, and it comes from Tolkien's description of the Palantiri.  They are all described as being a dark black, which obviously doesn't work well with a fine brass-like complexion.  I will sidestep this problem also by suggesting that the accounts might be wrong in stating that all Palantiri were dark black in color.  Tolkien was careful to note that the lore of the stones had been lost, and much of what was written about them was conjecture.   It could be that some Palantiri differed from others in their appearance.  My belief for various reasons is that the Liahona was specifically the Anor Stone - Anor meaning "Sun" - and a brass appearance seems much more consistent with the name than a dark black sphere.

Further, the Anor Stone had been kept secret and locked away by Gondor's Stewards for some time, and it was likely a very limited pool of witnesses or credible set of records verifying that stone's appearance.  The Orthanc stone, on the other hand, was seen by quite a few in the events of LOTR, and if I imagine a stone to be black and described by those who saw it as such, that one would be it.  Maybe it was just assumed that the other stones which had not been seen resembled this one that had been.

Aside from the problems (which I have left a way around for now at least to my own satisfaction), the Liahona as a Palantir makes sense on the whole.  Its 'curious workmanship' and the fact that writing appears on the surface of the ball and changes from time to time is more easily explained by these writings being images projected to the ball vs trying to imagine (as many Mormons have) brass/ metal literally being re-engraved through some magical means.  The capabilities of the Palantir more cleanly and easily explain this.

Similarly, I think the pointers that they describe as being in the ball are also projections or an image being cast to the Liahona.  This would also help explain the writing on the pointers themselves, it seems in addition to writing that appeared on the ball itself.  

Nephi describes one pointer as telling them the way they should go.  I think the second pointer (which goes unexplained by Nephi) was for the benefit of whomever is communicating the information and directions to the Anor Stone / Liahona.  The second pointer points back to the sender (or perhaps some other fixed point) so they know the relative position and orientation of Lehi's party and are thus able position the first pointer to get them where they needed to go that hour, day, etc.  A speculative thought, perhaps, but I haven't heard any better explanation for the existence of this second pointer, so why not.  

Lastly, Nephi explained that the Anor Stone / Liahona worked according to the "faith and diligence and heed" given to it.  Alma also reinforced that the Liahona worked by "Faith".  Similarly (at least to my mind) it was said that the Palantiri worked based on the will of the user, with only those of strong will and mind being able to use them effectively or for long.  Use of the Palantari was apparently exhausting, which may be why Nephi mentions diligence as being required.  Also, without being governed by a strong mind, the stones were said to be wayard, with haphazard visions, which may also speak to the heed Nephi also says was required.