I love this quote from President Monson, when he shared the story about a prison warden, Clinton Duffy, who was known for his efforts to rehabilitate men:
One critic said to Warden Duffy, “You should know that leopards don’t change their spots!” To that he replied, “You should know I don’t work with leopards. I work with men, and men change every day.”
We can change, and what's more, we can find a divinity and a power within ourselves and others that is truly breathtaking.
The scriptures contain many examples of people who have chosen to follow Christ on the path of discipleship. Although their backgrounds vary—some include great faith from a young age while others have been through a major change of heart—no matter the path one takes, all have the opportunity—and potential—to become a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.
One example in the New Testament teaches how a man completely changes as he understands his potential and finds his focus and purpose in life.
Saul, a Jew from Tarsus, had been one who “made havoc of the church” (Acts 8:3) by bringing hostility to Christian believers. He was “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). Saul persecuted and jailed Christians.
While Saul was journeying from Jerusalem to Damascus with the intent to arrest anyone teaching about Jesus Christ, a light suddenly appeared from heaven and shone round about Saul. As the light appeared, he fell to the earth and heard, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”