Living Waters

Dear David,

Last Sunday was one of the favorite days of my life. Surrounded by both Johnston and Thatcher family and friends on a sunny Spring day at the Thatcher family farm you chose to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You were baptized in the pond by your dad. The same place your dad was baptized by his father when he was eight. The same place that the Thatcher's have lived and farmed since 1903. 

The pond you were baptized is an artesian spring. Artesian springs are a natural phenomenon where water flows to the surface without the aid of a pump. It seems to defy gravity, but the pure water is actually forced out by pressure that has built up causing it to perfectly free flow to the surface level. It is very desirable drinking water (and I affirm the water at the farm is the best I have ever tasted) and coveted because it is rich in minerals but also because it is pre-filtered by mother nature. It is pure, alive, and very refreshing (55 degrees to be exact!)

Jesus preached of living waters and their ability to permanently fulfill a person. He said, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." Of course, Jesus was speaking spiritually and the water he spoke of was not a physical destination, like our special family pond, but was his gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to eternally quench our thirst for knowledge, peace, fellowship, happiness and meaning. It is life-sustaining and will soothe, refresh and enliven our thirsty spirits. 

I had these things floating in my mind when I was watching you be baptized and they have solidified for me there now. You remind me of those artesian waters, David. There is something in you that is different than in anyone I have met. You have a goodness about you that just bubbles up to the surface for all to see.  You are refreshing to be around because you are kind to the core, desire to and help others, and when people are spiritually parched around you, your easy presence helps sweeten their lives. Your understanding of God's plan for you is confident and uncomplicated. Being baptized was a natural expression of your faithfulness and never even seemed to be a decision that you had to make, but seemed like something your old soul had decided long ago. You are who you are, in part, because you have always fully accepted those "living waters" in your life. 

After you were baptized, you were confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Your dad, grandpas and uncles surrounded you and laid their hands on your head. Later you told me that you felt the Holy Spirit most in this moment. Your dad declared the following things to you in your confirmation. He:

• Informed that the Lord wants you to know how much he loves you, that he cares about you and is watching over you at all times. 
• Blessed you with a desire to learn about your ancestors.
• Reminded you that your middle name is Hezekiah, a great man of your ancestry.
• Challenged you to learn about your ancestors.
• Blessed you to have a desire to learn from your ancestors successes that you may gain confidence from the hard things that they did in their lives.
• Blessed you to learn wisdom from your ancestors mistakes.
• Blessed you that you will learn to listen to the Holy Ghost and that you will be able to take action when the Holy Ghost speaks to you.
• Blessed you with a thirst for knowledge in the gospel and in your professional life.
• Blessed you with courage.
• Blessed you that you will not be afraid of failure.
• Blessed you that you will try and try again and that you will know that as you do this you will succeed spiritually and in all else that they Lord has planned for you.

My eyes filled up with tears and my heart was overflowing as I watched you covenant with Heavenly Father in that perfect setting surrounded by so many people who love you. I am so proud of you, my son, and so grateful I get to experience your goodness each day.

Love, 

Mom