Gone to a Better Place

[Anonymous]

I’ve be getting on here a few times a week for awhile, but I haven’t been posting because my life has been turned upside down recently. I’m still trying to navigate it and coming here has helped me immensly. I feel ready now to post my exerience.

My father passed away about a month ago. He had a terminal illness, but he was doing well and his doctor had just told him he thought Dad would have a year or two more. Then he got sick and was gone in a matter of days. It’s never a good time to lose a loved one, but this came at the worst possible time for our family. I won’t go into to the details why, but his death has also thrust me into a situation I wasn’t prepared for.

This is the first major crisis situation I’ve faced since my FC and I feel like I’ve been pulled from my moorings. In the old days, I would have turned to my belief in God and an afterlife to buoy me up. Now, still not knowing exactly what I believe, it’s made a horrible situation worse. Peeple keep saying he’s gone to a better place and he’s with his parents, or that God called him home, but I’m not sure I believe that. People also say that Jesus will comfort me and bring me peace and strengthen my faith. I’ve actually started praying again like I hadn’t in a long time, but I feel nothing except confusion, pain and loss. My sister is feeling the same way. She doesn’t want to go to church again. I went with DH when he dressed Dad in his temple clothes. People told me it can be a spiritual experience. It was only traumatic for me. I wish I hadn’t gone.

I know that someday, the pain of all this will lessen. Life forces us to move forward and heal. I’m looking into getting grief counseling. But my question is, what have some of your experiences been with death since your FC? I know a few of you have spoken of losing children and others. Did any of you feel like you got comfort from God? I thought I believed in some kind of life after death, but now I’m not sure.

[Anonymous]

MockingJay,

I don’t have any words of comfort, only that I thank you for sharing, and that I hope you can find some peace. I have not had to work through what you are currently dealing with, but if there is a way that I (or others here) can help in any way please reach out.

I will keep you in my thoughts –

-SBRed

[Anonymous]

My wife and I both lost our fathers last year. In fact, last week was the anniversary of her dad’s death. She and some of her family hang onto their faith in the afterlife for great comfort. I am more analytical by nature and have learned simply to see death as a case of “sufficient unto tomorrow are the (questions) thereof” – meaning I simply honor the people who have died and try to live my life the best way I know how, both to honor them and to follow my conscience.

I have faith in an afterlife when I will interact with them again, meaning I hope for it, lacking any personal evidence for that hope – and focusing on that hope is enough for me. I don’t need to “know”, and I can’t say that I know, but I do have hope. I want it to be that way, so, again, lacking solid evidence either way, I choose to accept that hope. It’s enough to comfort me.

[Anonymous]

The death of my father (probably my best life-long friend) was certainly one of the top 3 hardest things I have ever gone through. My heart goes out to you. It was 3 years before my faith crisis (#2 on the list of hardest things) and I can’t quite tell how it played into it.

I hope you find some peace and time will help, but I know that does not mean as much when your heart is as broken as you can imagine TODAY.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Ray on this one — but I believe statements like “he’s in a better place” are there to comfort the people left behind. I’m agnostic about what happens after this life is over. But one thing is for sure, I don’t want to take away the comfort that the LDS theology brings to the people who believe in eternal family, etcetera.

[Anonymous]

Quote:

But one thing is for sure, I don’t want to take away the comfort that the LDS theology brings to the people who believe in eternal family, etcetera.

Perfectly said, SD. Amen, and amen.

[Anonymous]

First and foremost I’m truly sorry for what you are going through. I’ve been there, I’ll inevitably be there again. Thanks for having the courage to post, you’re helping a lot of us by putting your questions out there, this touches or will touch all of us.

The hardest thing for me was being thrust into the position of having to comfort other family members. When they worry about seeing their loved one again (non LDS) what words of comfort do I give them? I took the approach of reminding them of the faith that their belief system espoused. In one case I came completely clean with what I believed because I got the sense that the person was in the exact same boat I was in. It’s strange now that I reflect back. Were my differing responses really all that different from each other? Wasn’t I just telling people what I felt they wanted/needed to hear in both cases?

I’m still dealing with the ripple effects and it’s no small thing. Truth be told, despite my age I’m just a child trying to figure things out as best I can given the circumstances I’m in.

I do not believe in an afterlife. That’s a terrible thing to say to someone in your situation but that’s my current feeling on the matter. That’s currently my cross to bear. That doesn’t have to be your answer and I’m certainly not going to convince anyone to my way of thinking.

I might echo Ray in that I have hope for an afterlife, and in my book if you hope for something you work hard to make that dream come true. What can I do in the face of death? Nothing.

I did learn what I feel to be at least one positive message. The gospel isn’t about differing happiness to the next life. The gospel is about finding peace and spreading love now, and if there is a next life the peace and love obtained during this life will simply carry over to the next. It’s of little comfort when struggling to find happiness in the moment but it is a goal nonetheless.

[Anonymous]

MockingJay – thank you for sharing your grief with us. May you find solace as you move forward.

I have not lost my parents, my husband lost both of his just as he was beginning his crisis. I believe the two intense impacts are still wrestling with his soul, and we are 6 years past the events.

My grandparents have passed and my mothers parents were deeply important to me, I could barely get through their funerals, and I grieve them all the time. And when the grief hurts its deepest I am reminded of the words of Morrie Schwartz,

Quote:

Death ends a life, not a relationship.

Namaste.

[Anonymous]

The afterlife is something we hope for on the basis of our own personal beliefs. The LDS church has the most complete teachings

regarding the afterlife of any organized religion. On the basis of those teachings, I have hope.

One of my favorite movies is titled: The Shawshank Redemption. It is the story of two men sentenced for crimes one didn’t commit.

The movie is filled with quotes about Hope. My favorite quote is:

Quote:

Andy Dufresne: [in letter to Red] Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

For me, this topic revolves around “what do you hope for?”

I believe that life continues on a different level or plain. There is no pain or suffering. Where all is revealed. Where I can interact with everyone I knew in this life & others I didn’t know in this life.

I was with my Father when he died. He is the only person I’ve seen die. My Mother was with me when the moment came. There was no sorrow or pain. He just slipped away. I personally hope that we will meet again. MockingJay, I’m sorry for your loss. I hope you find peace in your experience too.

[Anonymous]

I lost my dad to cancer about 7 years ago. He was so sick and in so much pain, I remember thinking that if there was no afterlife, he is still better off now than the state of pain he was in.

Then I went through really, really difficult trials in my life, and I really missed my dad. I was close to him and I miss having him talk to me and give me advice.

One Sunday I skipped church and spent the day in the mountains. I found myself talking to my dad and feeling his presence. It was very good for me. I do it often now.

I think I came to a point where I am not sure I can logically think through the afterlife, and where my dad is, and what he is doing, or if he is in a better place. There is no way to prove it.

But all I know is that I feel more comforted when I believe in it, and have faith enough I even do things, like talk to him…that’s faith. And the experience I get isn’t a visitation or a voice back, but simply an experience of feeling better when I do it. So I believe in that.

Despite my doubts, I believe my dad is in a better place. Sometimes good things happen to my life and I say with a smile, “Thanks dad, you’re still looking out for me!” I have no idea if he does or not, but I like believing it. And one day, I’ll learn what the next life is when I pass on. Until then, I follow my heart and my experience of what feels good to me. And it is more than just a thought or belief…it is a real comfort to me, it is enough for me to say I know what I believe, and I talk to my dad about it still.

I learned through my FC that I don’t need to disbelieve everything, and only start believing in what I can prove. But I hold on to what feels right in my heart and what I choose to believe, until I see proof of things that make me disbelieve something with new information. So I shed some things when I see I should, and believe new things when I see I should, and when I don’t know…I choose to believe what I always have or what feels right to me. And that has helped me through my trials.

Follow your heart, MJ. Find quiet, peaceful moments to close your eyes, think and feel, and listen to what your spirit is telling you, and go with what feels right to you.

I’m sorry for your loss. I’m sorry it was at a bad time. I wish I could give you a hug and tell you it will be all right. Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

MockingJay, I am so sorry for your loss. They say time heals all wounds, but don’t believe it. The hurt softens, but it never really goes away. I tell myself that I still hurt because I love. And I am grateful for that love. My FC came after my loss, but when I lost my husband unexpectedly, I had to know where he was. I was desperate to know what it was like where he was. Was he really anywhere and would I really see him again? And most important to me was would he remember me and still love me and watch over me and the children? I prayed and did feel some comfort at the time, but the thing that helped me the most was reading about other people’s near death experiences. There are some amazing books and stories out there. There are so many similarities between the stories that I believe them. It is not just a hope for me, but a belief after all the reading I did. That gave me the greatest healing. I didn’t need supposition or prognosticating, I wanted to know what other people had actually experienced. I encourage you to read some of them. They are readily available on Amazon.com. I know that there is something there beyond this life. I know that those who have experienced it and come back feel incredible joy at what lies beyond. They feel LOVE. So much love. It doesn’t matter their religion, these people feel love, and they are often surrounded by family and friends who have passed on before them.

Interestingly, there was one I read that I bought at Deseret Book called I Stand All Amazed. Her NDE is so vivid, and you will be amazed at what she sees. She was not a member of the church at the time it occurred. Perhaps if you read some of these experiences, you will find comfort in where you father is. It gave me the comfort nothing else did.

I am glad you are here and felt the desire to share. Everyone’s experiences here have helped me so much. I pray you find some measure of comfort here too.

[Anonymous]

Eternity4me wrote:

Perhaps if you read some of these experiences, you will find comfort in where you father is.

I lost a younger brother just a year after his mission. My mom also took great comfort in reading about NDE (Near Death Experiences). Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your kind words of support and comfort. I knew bringing my sorrows here was the right thing. Each comment has had something of value for me. I especially love the comments about hope. They helped clear things up for me. It’s helped me not be afraid to believe what I feel in my heart and soul. One of the products of my FC is fear of trusting my feelings. I think this experince is helping me see that it’s OK to trust what my heart is telling me and not to be afraid of feelings that, well, feel good. 🙂

I also liked Eternity4me’s suggestion about NDE’s and Intothelight posting the video about one on a different thread. I’ll have to look into “I stand all amazed.”

Thanks to mom3, Heber13, Ray, Nibbler and SD. Heber13, I loved what you said about talking to your dad. I’ve starting doing that a little. It helps.

I know this will be a long road, but I also know Dad would not want me sitting around being miserable. For now, I’m going to trust that he’s there looking out for and helping our family, just like he’s always done.

[Anonymous]

MockingJay, I am so sorry for your loss. I tried to post last night but had log in difficulties (Thanks Brian for getting me going again!) I won’t go into my own loss situations but the most recent one was within the year and it was a grown child. My husband has struggled through with his faith. He never struggled before. I had some church struggles but really believe,down in my gut, in life after death and I did better overall. Part of why is that I truly believe with all my heart there is much more beyond this. I wasn’t brought up in a religious home and my religious experiences were sought after from an early age and never taken for granted. I view those who have gone on as being in the next room.

I have always pursued reading about near death experiences. When we were hit with our tragedy last year, we immediately bought every new book on the market and started reading. One of great interest was by this renown neurosurgeon. http://www.ebenalexander.com/ This man would have never endorsed the idea of near death experiences until his own occurred. More and more actual research is being carried out now and will be in the future.

Most hospice nurses can share observed situations regarding the dying process and visits from loved ones beyond. We witnessed one with my own mother’s death.

I also talk to my loved ones. I have felt their presence in certain situations, especially when I was in a close to death situation myself. There is hope. Believe.

A good grief therapist is worth his/her weight in gold! I totally endorse this idea!

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