2 Nephi 9:49-51

Note:  I am  using the layout for this set of scriptures that is found in The Book of Mormon:  A Reader's Edition, pgs.  88-89.

49  Behold, my soul abhorreth sin,

          and my heart delighteth in righteousness; 

          and I will praise the holy name of my God.
50  Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, 

          come ye to the waters; 

       and he that hath no money, 

           come buy and eat; 

       yea, come buy wine and milk 

           without money and without price.
51  Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, 

           nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.  

       Hearken diligently unto me, 

           and remember the words which I have spoken; 

       and come unto the Holy One of Israel, 

           and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted,

       and let your soul delight in fatness.

2 Nephi 9:49-51 (Emphasis mine)

Jacob is wrapping up his sermon for the day (see v54).  What matters to Jacob?  He tells us (v49):

• He abhors sin; (By using "abhor", Jacob is making sure we understand just how much he hates sin.)
• He delights in righteousness;
• He will praise God.

11  And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel.  And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Ezra 3:11 (Emphasis mine)

He used strong and powerful words in calling his people to repentance; nevertheless, he wanted them to know what is important to him.

Then he uses the powerful example of thirsting (needing God), calling them to come to the waters.  We've all been thirsty.  We know the feeling.  We've also had the experience of being exceptionally thirsty.  We've gone to get that drink.  Do you remember how you felt getting that drink; especially if it was a cold glass of water.  Remember how refreshing that was.

Now think of sin.  We all sin.  We fall short.  In spite of all our shortcomings and failings in this life, we have a way to obtain forgiveness.  We can "quench our thirst" for God by living His commandments, following His words, and placing our eternal trust and faith in Him.  This will be far more refreshing than that glass of water we had when we were so thirsty.

1  AS the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

 Psalms 42:1-2 (Emphasis mine)

1  O GOD, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

  Psalms 63:1 (Emphasis mine)

6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

 Matthew 5:6 (Emphasis mine)

37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John 7:37-38 (Emphasis mine)

7  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8  (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

9  Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?  for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11  The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 4:7-14 (Emphasis mine)

In the April 2007 General Conference, Elder Gary J. Coleman said:

"I first read the Book of Mormon at the age of 21. I then asked God if it was true. The truth of it was manifested unto me by the comforting power of the Holy Ghost.  I know that the Book of Mormon is a second testament of Jesus Christ. I join my testimony with the prophets of this sacred book to declare that “we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ.”  I am deeply grateful for every word that He has spoken and for every word He continues to speak as He quenches our thirst with living water." (Emphasis mine)

In the October 2003 General Conference, Elder William W. Parmley said:

Jesus both taught and exemplified many personal qualities which we should consider as we try to follow Him. These qualities include love, meekness, humility, compassion, thirsting after righteousness, being prayerful, merciful, and pure in heart." (Emphasis mine)

He goes on to tell them to remember his words; he calls upon them to come unto Christ and feast on his words; to feast to the point of becoming fat on the words of God.

Think of a time you've had a wonderful meal.  Remember the feeling of physical satisfaction to not only have your hunger satisfied, but to no longer be hungry; to be comfortablly full.  Jacob tells us to go beyond that, to become fat on the word of God.  A wonderful and spiritually satisfying challenge!

25  The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Proverbs 13:25 (Emphasis mine)