Nephi foresees a time when we come to a true form of worship. We will recognize Him. He was always willing to be recognized; but we were blind and rebellious. We have fled from Him for generations. In this future date, however, the change comes at last. Not to Him, but to us. And we become suitable companions for the Lord. Immediately as we do so, we find our new condition described in 2 Nephi 22:3: “Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Water, the basis for life—without which we would die in a very short time—is the metaphor for our “joy.” We get to quench our thirst. This is a thirst we apparently failed to recognize. Although we were on the verge of death, from the lack of a spiritual drink, we refused refreshment offered by Him.
In this future time, Nephi foresees we will find ourselves drinking from that well of salvation from which comes “joy.” As we receive from His Spirit, we get more. As Paul put it: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5: 22–23.) It was there for us all along. Only the hardness of our hearts had been keeping us from drinking it in. A day will finally come when our hearts soften, and we will take it in.