People Can Change...So Let Them Change

Last Thursday, I was in my Brother Griffen's class, and we were going over chapter 31 of Alma. After reading the following verse, Bro. Griffen told us that these men who went with Alma, were the 'dream missionary team'.

 "Therefore he took Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner; and Himni he did leave in the church in Zarahemla; but the former three he took with him, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, who were at Melek; and he also took two of his sons." (Alma 31:6) 

Then he asked,"What is the first thing you think of when you hear the name 'Zeezrom"? If you have read his story before, you might think back on what this Zeezrom character had done. 

"And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you? And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being." (Alma 11:21-22)

Obviously, Zeezrom has had a change of heart by the time he serves a mission with some of the most righteous men of that time. 

Though Zeezrom has changed, all of us students only remembered his wicked past. This shows me how I should always allow people to change, repent, learn, and grow. I should never fit anyone into a box that once defined who they were, but that is not flexible for a change of heart. I do not know what everyone is going through, or at what level of spiritual development they are at, therefore, I have no right to keep them at a point in their life that could have been the result of a wrong choice or mistake. Do not judge others because they sin differently than you. That is the basic gist I'm going for. I know that if I treat others with optimism and faith that they can become better, that I can be a strength for good to those I interact with day by day.