"...and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God" (Alma 37:37)

Today, I sit pondering about water. What a gift and blessing water is for us. And it comes right to our house and we can drink it! This is taken for granted, forgetting the process and how many people made it possible for me to have this water run to our home. Just a little perspective on a few of those people. There are the people who originally found the source of the water, and the people who piped the water, and the people who filtered the water, and the people who made the filter. And the people who piped the water to my house (that's a lot of pipe!), and the people who built my house who put in the pipe. And the people who made the faucet and the people who put in the faucet. And to not leave out the people who made all that pipe or even the people who originally invented pipe and therefore made it possible for us to have running water, that I can drink straight from the tap.

There are two quick points from this thought. The first quick point is water and all that it goes through so that we might be able to drink, right from the tap. It's like we are drinking it from the original source. Spiritually speaking, Christ is the original source. When I am really thirsty, I can just go turn on the tap and the water comes out. And Christ is the same way! He said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37). Let any man, woman or child, come and drink! He has laid the "pipe", He has made the faucet for us to receive the "living water" (see John 4:10). Christ is real. He has the power to do all things, and strengthen us. But first, we must turn on the faucet and drink the water.

The second point: gratitude. As I have pondered all that I have been given, and all that goes into making it possible for me to receive it, I am humbled by all that I have been given! It makes so much sense why we are given this counsel: "...and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God" (Alma 37:37). And another way of saying it: "...always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive" (Alma 7: 23).  Just receiving water alone is a miracle. But I think the miracle is complete when we receive it with a grateful heart.

Drinking clean water, even the Living Water, strengthens me, and blesses my life in ways I have taken for granted. I am coming to find that gratitude is really a way of living. It is a way of being aware of what I have and giving thanks for all things, even being able to drink straight from the tap. When I live in gratitude and give thanks in all things, I am changed, I am happier and I have greater peace. This I testify.

(This short video put things into perspective for me - enjoy! And remember, you are LOVED!)

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost" (3 Nephi 12:6)

I have a basil plant that is hydroponic. It needs water in order to get its nourishment. I have to make sure it gets water every day. While my husband and I were out of town for 6 days I asked one of our children to make sure it got water daily. Well, he forgot. Since we have been back the plant hasn't been the same. Some of the stems have gotten hard and it takes a very long time for it to soak up water. It is like its heart has hardened and won't allow it to let the nutrition from the water get to the leaves. Most of the leaves are light green now, and not the rich green they once were.

As I read my scriptures today I thought of this plant and I thought of how we, in our lives, choose whether or not we soak up the Living Water, the Savior (see Jeremiah 17:13) whether or not we "thirst after righteousness" (Matt 5:6). Sometimes, I think it is as simple as remembering to water the plant. The water being the nourishment that the Savoir offers us, the plant being us. But sometimes when we have forgotten to drink, we get dehydrated and become hardened. What to do then?

Unlike my basil plant, we don't have to give up. There is an answer. The answer is: "...repent (which means " a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined (Bible Dictionary)), and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts" (Jacob 6:5). Don't become like my basil plant which stem had become hardened and takes really long time to soak up nutrients. "Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die?" (Jacob 6:6) Don't let your spirit die, not even a tiny bit. Every day is a chance to be reborn in Christ. Every day is a chance to drink of the waters of life, to remember Christ.

All too often we "quench" ourselves of the very nutrients that will strengthen and help us, "the words which have been spoken concerning Christ...and...the good word of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost...and [then we] make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which [has] been laid for [us]" (Jacob 6:8). These are the very things we should be "drinking in" to sustain us spiritually and to help us "always remember Him" (Moroni 4:3; D&C 20:77; Moroni 5:2; D&C 20:79;  Mosiah 5:12). Sometimes I don't think we mean to make a mock of the great plan of redemption, but we do when we forget about Him. Sometimes we just get busy and, well, lazy and forget to water the plant. And that's when we "quench the Holy Spirit" (Jacob 6:8).

The Apostle Paul said it simply: "Quench not the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Instead, water the plant, feed your spirit. Christ said: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost"(3 Nephi 12:6). Choose to drink deeply on a daily basis. Christ is the fountain of living waters (John 4:11-14). He will help us grow and become trees of life (see Proverbs 11:30). It is our choice, and what a blessing He will lead the way. Remember Christ. This I testify is the best drink you will ever have in your life!