1 Nephi 21: 10

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

Surely this verse has reference to spiritual things more than physical hunger and thirst, along with other discomforts. After all, who has not experienced some of these discomforts in this life? Rather, in reference to verse nine, the Lord’s sheep who feed in His pastures shall not hunger or thirst for the word of God. Christ quoted a scripture found in Deuteronomy when He faced one of Satan’s temptations. He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4: 4; also see Deuteronomy 8: 3). So this is the hunger and thirst that will be avoided by following the Lord.

As for the heat nor sun smiting them, I am reminded of the Savior’s parable of the sower. In this parable some seeds “fell upon stony places where they had not much earth,” so “when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away” (Matthew 13: 5–6 (3–8)). If the stony ground is compared to the heart, or the willingness to accept the gospel, or lack thereof, then we can see how that stony heart can be softened. The problem with the stony ground was not that the seeds didn’t spring up, but that there was no depth to the soil, so the plant grew no roots, making it so they withered in the heat of the sun. Likewise, there are people who readily accept the Gospel, but they don’t keep feasting on the pastures of the word of God. This kind of feasting helps to prepare the soil of the heart, or in other words, adds to the understanding and conviction of the sheep, giving a depth of “soil” so the roots can take hold and grow deep. In that way the heat of opposition does not smite the sheep. “Smitten,” or “smite” is a very strong word. None of the definitions of this word imply that you can withstand or even survive being smitten. So those with depth of understanding and conviction for the Gospel may feel the heat of opposition, but it will not smite them. Why? Because “he that hath mercy on them (Christ) shall lead them, even by the spring of [living] water shall he guide them.” That is the benefit of being willing to be guided. You can avoid spiritual wildernesses, stay nourished by walking where there is water abundantly available, and have strength to withstand the heat of opposition when it comes, as it surely will.