Forget the past?

My granddaughter is on a mission in Mississippi. She just had a stake conference where Elder Larrell. Never heard of the guy but he basically said to forget our past and move forward with Jesus Christ. What?!? So what forget about Joseph Smith? Forget what a complete ass and racist abuser Brigham Young? Not to mention all the things that have been said along the way that we were told was from God. Now it’s all forget the past. If only it were that easy. I say this in the name of me amen