Second Chances

 

        In January 2009, Jeffrey R. Holland, member of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for president of Brigham Young University returned to that campus to speak at a devotional. The title of the speech he gave is 'Remember Lot's Wife'. As it was the beginning of a new year, Elder Holland spoke on faith and the future. 

        One of the things he talked about was wanting to live in the past. The "good old days" when life was better and everything was easier. Having a "I wish I were eighteen again" attitude.  Nothing in the future could be as good as the past. He claimed that this demonstrated a lack of faith in the future.

        Then he brought up the tendency to remember past mistakes, our own or someone else's. He referred to it as "the worst kind of wallowing in the past" and said that when someone has repented of their mistakes and is truly trying to do better in their life they should be allowed to do so. (This is a paraphrase.)

        It reminded me of a story told by the late Thomas S. Monson. He told a story about a prison warden who was running programs to rehabilitate those in prison. Someone mocked him by pointing out that leopards can't change their spots. The warden answered that he doesn't work with leopards, he works with men and men can change.

        Why is it that one bad moment tends to define who a person is for the rest of their life?  It doesn't seem to matter what comes after, that person is forever yoked to a moment or a choice they wish never happened. 

        Many of us say we believe in second chances, but do we really? When someone makes an effort to do better can we let them move on?

        I don't believe that you can fairly judge a person in the worst moments of their life. What you should look at is what comes after those moments.