Nephi 9:50-51 talks about buying, prices, and worth. The main point obviously does not
refer to the literal exchange of money for goods or services, although the concept can
apply to that type of exchange. The first sentence in vs. 50 calls to those who
"thirsteth", or basically have a need or want. The may author have used "thisteth"
because all mankind physically needs drink to survive; in the same manner, our spiritual
thists need to be quenched in order for us to survive in an eternal and spiritual sense.
The author calls to the destitute, or basically those people who aren't able to satisfy
their thirst due to lack of money. The author isn't saying the milk and honey offered
here is free-just that the price isn't in monetary form.
In vs. 51, the author talks about not spending money on things of no worth. Once again,
this reference's deepest meaning isn't its literal one. The "money" referred to here are
the things we do in our lives-how we spend our time, how we treat people, etc. On the
surface, this admonition seem rhetorical. Who would spend money on something with no
worth? That is the author's point. We need to be wary of what things we consider
valuable. It is human nature to see the short-term benefits of things and ignore the
long term costs, just as it's natural to see the short term costs and ignore the long
term benefits. In order to achieve true happiness in the eternal long run, we must at
times make seemingly unsavory sacrifices.
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