Many Nephites thought the Lamanites were irredeemable. I wonder if we think of some groups of people or individuals in that way today—maybe even ourselves. Has anyone really gone so far down the path of sin that Jesus Christ’s redeeming power can’t reach them?

When we give ourselves and those around us the space, time, and patience to change, coupled with the pure love of Christ, we can see miracles. The Lamanite people proved to be one example of the redemption that the Savior offers.

Alma 23:6–7 says, “As the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away. For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren.”

Surely if the Lamanites can be converted unto the Lord and “never . . . fall away,” so can we, and so can anyone who truly desires to change to be like Christ.

Wilford Woodruff taught, “We none of us are perfect [while] we dwell in the flesh; but the man who in humble reliance upon God never falters in the fight for the right, never wavers in his allegiance to the truth, and ever maintains inviolate his covenants, is one whom we can all pause to admire, and strive, by heaven’s help, to imitate.”

The only perfect being to have lived on this earth is Jesus Christ. As we strive to emulate Him, never give up our fight for the right, and stay true to the truth of the gospel, we can be strengthened to change and to be truly “converted unto the Lord.”