Alma 5

"Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world."

~President Ezra Taft Benson

We are all human. That's a phrase often used to describe our flaws and imperfections. It's also a way of unifying every person; we are all human.

Another common phrase is: Everyone deserves a second chance. Sometimes there are disagreements upon the matter. Some believe people can't change. To them once a criminal, always a criminal.

Criminals are people who we may have a hard time forgiving or trusting. Perhaps we believe they can't change. But more often than not, previous actions express to the populous that we can't trust them. Especially if they are repetitive. It just builds our distrust. However, people can change. They do not have to be in such a state and it's something I believe we should remember.

It's not just criminals. It's everyone. We all make mistakes in life. We are all human. We all have a second chance. We have the opportunity to change. I'm not saying it's easy, but it is possible.

When we learn about Christ. When we have faith, when we show we have faith by praying, believing that there is someone listening, when we have faith by doing something good when it's a sacrifice to do so, a mighty change is wrought in the heart. Wrought means to be engaged in an activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result. It's not easy. But a change can happen. People can be born again. They can have their chance. If they reach out and work for it. Through Christ and his Atonement we can change.

When people change for the better, those people begin affecting the world little by little. It's that much more good on earth. But people have to choose to work to be changed. President Benson said:

“When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be changed. . . . 

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. . . . ("Born of God." Ensign, Nov. 1985).

People can change.