Animals and the kingdom

[Guest Kamperfoelie]

I saw a 'funny-pictures' collection of church signs, where two opposing churches were flaming eachother about whether or not dogs go to heaven. It was meant to be funny (and it was) but it did make me think.

It made me think: if the wolf dwells with the lamb, and the leopard and the kid and so on and so on, then apparently animals can get into the kingdom. If so, id hope to see my dog again. But then again, someone else might object to dogs mucking around in the kingdom, so probably they would only be allowed to the tellestial? Maybe i am just being silly, but i really like my dog: he is like a part of the family.

[JThimm88]

Do dogs go to heaven?

[Traveler]

I do no doubt that animals will reside with us in heaven. But I do not believe that they will have the same citizenship status. Much like here – they may be protected by laws and therefore subject to law but they will not be voting citizens or able to run for or hold an office.

Sometimes I am confused when someone says that the family pet is “part” of their family. Family has very special and specific meaning to me – and I would never consider a pet on equal terms with my children or grandchildren. But I do enjoy having pets in the family however, since I have children and grandchildren with pet allergies I would never have a pet in the house nor would I ever allow a pet to put even a neighbor or their child at risk (unless such neighbor was violating my property rights – all according to the law the governs us).

The Traveler

[AR_Member]

There is a wonderful book by Brent Top called "Glimpses beyong Death's Doors: and LDS perspective to Near Death Experiences" that gives some wonderful insights to the spirit world with a lot of lesser known quotes from church leaders. The Prophet Jospeh Smith was particularly interested in the spirit world and in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith he mentions that all forms of animal like will exist in the Celestial Kimgdom of God. All things were created spiritually before they were created physically. Your beloved family pet will be there too, not selaed to your family, but as one of God's creations.

[HEthePrimate]

But then again, someone else might object to dogs mucking around in the kingdom, so probably they would only be allowed to the tellestial?

<tongue in cheek> How about if we turn that around? Animals go to the Celestial Kingdom (CK) for sure, because they all "fulfill the measure of their creation". On the other hand, only people who like, or at least can tolerate, animals will go to the Celestial Kingdom! </tongue in cheek>

HEP

[MarginOfError]

<tongue in cheek> How about if we turn that around? Animals go to the Celestial Kingdom (CK) for sure, because they all "fulfill the measure of their creation". On the other hand, only people who like, or at least can tolerate, animals will go to the Celestial Kingdom! </tongue in cheek>

HEP

That must be a very comforting line of thought to a monkey

[HEthePrimate]

That must be a very comforting line of thought to a monkey

LOL Indeed it is!

[tubaloth]

Question: "Do animals have spirits? If so, will they obtain the resurrection, and if so, where will they go?"

Answer: The simple answer is that animals do have spirits and that through the redemption made by our Savior they will come forth in the resurrection to enjoy the blessing of immortal life. The Bible as it has come to us through numerous translations and copies does not contain the information concerning the immortality of the animal world in the clearness which, without any doubt, it was invested with the pure inspiration of the revelations of the Lord. However, there are some passages which still remain bearing witness to the eternal nature of the animal world. Among these are the following:

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. . . .

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. (Genesis 2:1, 4-5.)

Then, before death came upon the world, the Lord planted a garden for Adam and Eve and placed all manner of cattle and living creatures on the earth, as well as vegetation. When Adam transgressed the commandment, all things upon the earth became subject to death, as well as Adam and Eve, and the earth itself partook of this fall.

AN ACCOUNT AS IT WAS WRITTEN BY MOSES

In the restoration of the original scriptures to the Prophet Joseph Smith we are given a clearer picture of conditions both before and after the fall. This is the account as it was written by Moses:

And now, behold, I say unto you, that these are the generations of the heaven and of the earth, when they were created, in the day that I, the Lord God, made the heaven and the earth.

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air;

But I, the Lord God, spake, and there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. (Moses 3:4-6.)

Then to make the matter perfectly clear, the Lord added this:

And out of the ground made I, the Lord God, to grow every tree, naturally, that is pleasant to the sight of man; and man could behold it. And it became also a living soul. For it was spiritual in the day that I created it; for it remaineth in the sphere in which I, God created it, yea, even all things which I prepared for the use of man; and man saw that it was good for food. . . . (Ibid., 3:9.)

When the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith many things concerning the millennium and the events which should precede and follow it, he gave the following:

And again, verily, verily, I say unto you that when the thousand years are ended, and men again begin to deny their God, then will I spare the earth but for a little season;

And the end shall come, and the heaven and the earth shall be consumed and pass away, and there shall be a new heaven and a new earth.

For all old things shall pass away, and all things shall become new, even the heaven and the earth, and all the fulness thereof, both men and beasts, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea;

And not one hair, neither mote, shall be lost, for it is the workmanship of mine hand. (D. & C. 29:22-25.)

WHAT IS MEANT BY "THE FOUR BEASTS"?

While meeting with a group of the members of the Church one day in March 1832, the Prophet Joseph Smith was asked this question: "What are we to understand by the four beasts, spoken of in the same verse?" (i.e., Revelation 4:6.) His answer is as follows:

They are figurative expressions, used by the Revelator John, in describing heaven, the paradise of God, the happiness of man, and of beasts, and of creeping things, and of the fowls of the air; that which is spiritual being in the likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal in the likeness of that which is spiritual; the spirit of man in the likeness of his person, as also the spirit of the beast, and every other creature which God has created. (Ibid., 77:2.)

Again when commenting on the Revelation of John, the Prophet said:

John saw curious looking beasts in heaven, he saw every creature that was in heaven . . . actually there, giving glory to God. How do you prove it? (See Rev. 5:13.) "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."

"BEINGS OF A THOUSAND FORMS"

I suppose John saw beings there of a thousand forms, that had been saved from ten thousand times ten thousand earths like this,—strange beasts of which we have no conception: all might be seen in heaven. The grand secret was to show John what there was in heaven. John learned that God glorified Himself by saving all that His hands had made, whether beasts, fowls, fishes or men; and he will glorify Himself with them.

Says one, "I cannot believe in the salvation of beasts." Any man who will tell you that this could not be, would tell you that the revelations are not true. John heard the words of the beasts giving glory to God, and understood them. God who made the beasts could understand every language spoken by them. The four beasts were four of the most noble animals that had filled the measure of their creation, and had been saved from other worlds, because they were perfect: they were like angels in their sphere. We are not told where they came from, and I do not know; but they were seen and heard by John praising and glorifying God. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 291-292.)

As to where the beasts, birds, and fish, and all other creatures will go after the resurrection we can only express an opinion. John saw many of them in heaven in the presence of God. It is very probable that they, like mankind, will be distributed in the various kingdoms, celestial, terrestrial, and telestial. We may well believe that in each of these kingdoms such creatures will be assigned.

(Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols. [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957-1966], 2: 51.)

[Moksha]

WHAT IS MEANT BY "THE FOUR BEASTS"?

Possibly Man, Animals, Plants and Toasters.

That sounds so much nicer than suggesting Ann Coulter, Leona Helmsley, Sarah Palin and Rachel Ray.