It'll be a Bad Day and Other False Prophecies

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him . . . Titus 1:15-16

The moon when leaving the temple grounds

The less-active member of the Church we met with today said, "Easter Sunday will be a bad day."  We asked how could the remembrance of our Savior's resurrection and what that means to us be a bad day.  She answered, "It is the day my aunt died."  Then she went on to say that all of May was going to be a very bad month for her because her daughter's birthday was in May and her daughter wasn't speaking to her.  She said many terrible things happened to her in the past during that month and it brings bad memories.  Bad memories can be dimmed so they don't overpower and run our lives.  Yes, those of us with children can relate to how sad it is when we cannot talk to them on their birthdays, or if they've removed themselves from our lives, but we have no control over that and we cannot let it ruin our lives entirely.  We have empathy for anyone suffering in such circumstances and other trials and troubles, but a person need not continue the anguish to the point it makes it impossible to enjoy life and gain some happiness.

Often we hear people say they cannot enjoy Christmas, or some other holiday because of the losses they experience on or around that time in the past.  They predict how horrible a certain day or time will be because of the memories attached to the date.  They are guaranteed to have a bad day or a bad month as long as they choose to believe their self-fulling prophecies.  False prophets are they.  Where is their faith in God?

"X" marks the spot to look towards--Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?  why are they then baptized for the dead?  1 Corinthians 15:29

It is a sad thing to dwell on heartaches and loss of the past and allow those things to dictate forever after the certainty of reliving the same pain year after year.  Yes, people mourn and remember their loved ones or traumatic events, but they can allow their trust in God to bring them peace and understanding.  Jesus Christ died that we might all live again in joy.  His Atonement has fulfilled the promise that we can be lifted of our burdens and blessed with strength to find beauty and happiness in any circumstance we have in life.

We can choose any path or attitude we wish

On this mission, we have often been counseled not to let the weather dictate what kind of day we'll have.  If people in England decided every rainy day was dreary and pulled the cover over their heads in bed all day, not much would happen.  They'd miss many opportunities to accomplish worthwhile things and see the beauty around them.

Distribution center on the temple grounds

Flowers on the Preston Temple grounds in Chorley

As for me and my house, I choose to look for that blessed hope of each new day.  A date is a number.  A bad day long past is not meant to be commemorated with a repeat performance.  I wish we knew how to help those with negative outlooks to celebrate the good memories and forget to focus on the bad.  They do have a choice in the matter.  Jesus Christ showed us the way.

My lovely daughter-in-law from the Philippines, and her family, have a joyful tradition of remembering their now deceased relatives in a positive way.  Each year on the ancestor's birthday, the family gets together in love and a spirit of fun and celebrates the loved one's life.  They project a positive outcome for that particular day and get what they expect!