Living Water

The woman at the well was one of the first few people that Christ openly declared himself the Messiah to. The woman was a Samaritan and was living in sin. She was also perceptive to spiritual truths. She asked if Christ was a prophet and when he told her he was the Messiah she believed him. When she learned this truth she ran to her village to tell others and have them come learn from Christ.

A few weeks ago my bishop told us a story during Sacrament Meeting. He told us that he commutes via the train to Salt Lake for work each day. On his rides to and from work he had observed a woman that also travels back and forth each day. This woman would engage with those around her during their commute and take opportunities to talk to others about the gospel. He said that she eventually started talking to him. He said that as she talked and shared the gospel with him he didn't reveal any personal information about himself, including that he is LDS and a bishop. He let this woman "teach" him the gospel over the course of several weeks. Eventually she asked specific questions about him and learned that he is a bishop. He said that she was so excited to share the gospel with everyone around her and that even though he is a faithful member he enjoyed hearing her enthusiasm. He then talked about how we should all be excited about gospel truths so much so that we can't contain it within ourselves and we just have to share it. I thought back to a few years ago when I wanted to serve a mission. I tried to prepare myself by studying diligently every day. I devoured the scriptures. I loved them. I loved learning from them. That is a time when I was excited about the gospel and couldn't contain it within myself. I didn't end up serving a mission and life caught up to me, or I got caught up in life is more like it and that passion and excitement that I felt has slowly been dwindling, unfortunately. The woman at the well was excited and had to run and share her news with others.

Christ still offers us living water. Elder Bruce R. McConkie defined living water as “the words of eternal life, the message of salvation, the truths about God and his kingdom; it is the doctrines of the gospel.” He went on to explain, “Where there are prophets of God, there will be found rivers of living water, wells filled with eternal truths, springs bubbling forth their life-giving draughts that save from spiritual death.” Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said, "We are blessed to live in a day when prophets and Apostles live on the earth. Through them we are refreshed continually by an abundant stream of eternal truth that, if obeyed, brings the living water of the Lord into our lives."