Pets as part of our eternal families

[Guest]

Yesterday I had to put down my 19 year old cat and it broke my heart. I've had 3 cats who lived to be 20, 19, and 15. All I desire now out of heaven is to be with my pets for eternity and hold them again. Is there ever word from our church leaders about our beloved pets being part of our eternal families? If they are not part our our heaven then it's not heaven and not as good as its talked about. Animals are an important part of the temple endowment. Can anyone comfort me with words in this depressing time? It'd cheer me up so much.

[Guest MormonGator]

Dude, first off I am so sorry. I've owned several dogs in my life and they mean the world to me. I'm still mourning the loss of a pug I had. One of my tattoos is in her honor. She was a lovely, sweet dog and I know exactly how you feel. 

 

The prophet had several pets in his life and he did mention that we would be seeing them again in the afterlife. I forget his actual words. 

Praying for you bro. Sorry you are hurting right now. 

[Guest]

I was always taught growing up that dogs and cats indeed go to the Celestial Kingdom, so I have every reason to believe you will indeed be with your pet again.  Take it easy, let yourself grieve, and have hope.

[Guest]

Thanks. Hope is all I can have right now.

[ztodd]

This at least seems to say to me that they will be resurrected :

Doctrine and Covenants 29:24  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;

Also found this-- 

https://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/03/to-the-point/do-animals-have-spirits-what-happens-to-them-after-they-die?lang=eng

Do animals have spirits? What happens to them after they die?

Yes, animals have spirits (see D&C 77:2–3). Of course, there is a major difference between animals’ spirits and our spirits—we are begotten sons and daughters of Heavenly Father, and they are not.

And according to the Prophet Joseph Smith, there are at least some animals in heaven. He said:

“John saw curious looking beasts in heaven; … actually there, giving glory to God. … (See Rev. 5:13.) …

“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. 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” (in History of the Church, 5:343).

So, although we don’t have a complete understanding of what happens to animals after they die, we believe that they will enjoy some kind of salvation and immortality.

Edited November 13, 2016 by ztodd
addition

[Guest]

I got a priesthood blessing from a priesthood holder the other day and he said in the blessing that I'd be with my pets in heaven and I believe those words were from God not just the person saying it. So I believe our pets will be with us in heaven. I went to the Celestial room of the temple to pray about the subject and got peaceful confirmation they'll greet me when I die and my heaven will be what we truly desire in our hearts.

[Traveler]

 

I have thought long and hard about a response in this thread.  I do not want to cause heart ache – but only to say that it is better for an eternal perspective to desire to be with the Saints in eternity than with pets.  Not to say that we will not be associated with our beloved pets – only that there are more important things that require attention, concern and preparation if we are to also have hope of being reunited with our pets.

 

The Traveler

[Guest]

7 hours ago, Traveler said:

 

I have thought long and hard about a response in this thread.  I do not want to cause heart ache – but only to say that it is better for an eternal perspective to desire to be with the Saints in eternity than with pets.  Not to say that we will not be associated with our beloved pets – only that there are more important things that require attention, concern and preparation if we are to also have hope of being reunited with our pets.

 

The Traveler

I agree with that but we are told every week in church we can be with our human family in the eternities and there's never been mention in a General Conference about the possibility of our pets as part of our famIies so that's why it's so important to me.

Edited November 14, 2016 by Zarahemla

[Traveler]

On ‎11‎/‎14‎/‎2016 at 2:51 PM, Zarahemla said:

I agree with that but we are told every week in church we can be with our human family in the eternities and there's never been mention in a General Conference about the possibility of our pets as part of our famIies so that's why it's so important to me.

 

I believe that all good things will be part of our Celestial experience.  I believe we will have relationship with all living things – especially to those with which we developed love and trust in this life.  What I am not sure is that we should degrade the divine intelligence that defines what is a child of G-d (family) as no more spiritually appointed than that of brute beasts.   There is and always will be a difference between man and beasts – not just a difference of the flesh but of the spirit as well.

 

The Traveler

[mirkwood]

I read a quote many years ago, that I believe was from Brigham Young, where he said, our faithful pets will be with us if we want them, or words to that effect.  I don't remember for sure which early prophet, but BY comes to mind.

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

6 hours ago, mirkwood said:

I read a quote many years ago, that I believe was from Brigham Young, where he said, our faithful pets will be with us if we want them, or words to that effect.  I don't remember for sure which early prophet, but BY comes to mind.

Maybe it was Joseph Smith?  I vaguely remember something like that too.  As I recall, he said it after a beloved horse died.  

[SilentOne]

I found these after our family cat died. The first one contains a reference to Joseph Smith's comment regarding his horse.

https://www.lds.org/liahona/1979/03/i-have-a-question?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1972/08/the-gospel-and-animals?lang=eng

[Traveler]

For some time I have become concerned with the trend of the evolving definition of marriage and family.  My concern is not about love, honor and concerns between friends and respect for relationships – just the trend in mixing the relationships of marriage and family with friends and all other personal relationships. 

Obviously there is a great deal of problems and dysfunction in many a family and marriage relationship.  Such dysfunctions are likely to have an impact in the eternities.  But none of this is quite the point I am trying to make. 

The path to becoming a Celestial being will indeed require that we build associations with a vast variety of creation.  Because I am often providing blood to mosquitoes I dread the possibility that the Celestial Kingdom could have many of them.  This is because I see such things in my mortal perspective – those things that give me comfort I tend to become “selfish” about.

I tend to think the family of eternity will be exclusive to what is human in this life – this according to the covenants of family made in the temples of G-d.  I do believe we will have loving concerns and relationships for many things of creation – Including things that were created by and owned by G-d our Father – creatures that he also loves and to which he gave life.  I had a pet dog that I grew up with.  A dog that I got within a day of its birth that would have died had I not fed it by hand with an eye dropper and cared for it.  As a child I was drawn with great love for this dog as much as any friend or family member.  She was not allowed anywhere in the house except my bed room where she sleep every night – even when I was away on a mission and serving in the army.

I was very troubled when she took sick and was in great pain.  I felt great responsibility for her and her care – and would not allow her to be put down by anyone but me and I held her in my arms when I put her down and gave her rest for her suffering.  Will I see her again – I believe so and I believe we will meet with joy and gladness.  In my personal prayers I have inquired after her.  I believe my prayers have been answered – at least in part.  That G-d loves her as much and even more so than I.  This does not take away at all from my love for her – but she belongs to my G-d and he lovingly is willing to share her – even in eternity.  I am grateful that my Father shares with me some of his most cherished possessions. 

 

The Traveler

[Guest]

36 minutes ago, Traveler said:

Because I am often providing blood to mosquitoes I dread the possibility that the Celestial Kingdom could have many of them.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that mosquitoes are the living embodiment of the underworld and all the demonic forces therein.

Edited November 22, 2016 by Guest

[Traveler]

2 hours ago, Carborendum said:

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that mosquitoes are the living embodiment of the underworld and all the demonic forces therein.

 

Exactly - and this is what bothers me - that they have so successfully (perfectly) filled the full measure of their creation. 

 

The Traveler