Parched souls crave 'living waters'
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In his address at the April 1995 general conference, Elder Joseph B.
Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve quoted passages of John 4:1-15, which
tells of the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's
well. Jesus offered to provide living water, promising, "
Elder Wirthlin said, "The Savior's promise to that woman extends to all of our Heavenly Father's children. By living the gospel of Jesus Christ we develop within ourselves a living spring that will quench eternally our thirst for happiness, peace, and everlasting life. The Lord explains clearly in the Doctrine and Covenants that only faithful obedience can tap the well of living water that refreshes and enlivens our souls: 'But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.' " (D&C 63:23, italics added.)
Once the Samaritan woman understood Jesus' message, she hurried off and gathered those of her city who would listen to Jesus. The people "besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days." (John 4:40.)
"The scriptures tell us that many believed the Savior's teachings. As they listened, their initial curiosity matured into testimony. They declared, 'We have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.' " (John 4:42.)
Elder Wirthlin continued: "These latter days are a time of great spiritual thirst. Many in the world are searching, often intensely, for a source of refreshment that will quench their yearning for meaning and direction in their lives. They crave a cool, satisfying drink of insight and knowledge that will soothe their parched souls. Their spirits cry out for life-sustaining experiences of peace and calm to nourish and enliven their withering hearts.
"Indeed 'there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.' (D&C 123:12.) Let us work with all our heart, might, mind, and strength to show our thirsty brothers and sisters where they may find the living water of the gospel, that they may come to drink of the water that springs 'up unto everlasting life.'
"The Lord provides the living water that can quench the burning thirst of those whose lives are parched by a drought of truth. He expects us to supply to them the fulness of the gospel by giving them the scriptures and the words of the prophets and to bear personal testimony as to the truth of the restored gospel to alleviate their thirst. When they drink from the cup of gospel knowledge, their thirst is satisfied as they come to understand our Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness.
"As at Jacob's well, so today the Lord Jesus Christ is the only source
of living water. It will quench the thirst of those suffering from the
drought of divine truth that so afflicts the world. The words of the Lord
to ancient Israel spoken by the prophet Jeremiah describe the condition of
many of God's children in our own day: 'My people
"Too many of our Heavenly Father's children spend their precious lives carving out broken cisterns of worldly gain that cannot hold the living water that satisfies fully their natural thirst for everlasting truth."
