Do animals, especially pets, also go to heaven?

Question

Gramps,

Do you have any insight about the hereafter for animals (pets)?

Howard

Answer

Dear Howard,

It is my understanding that all of God’s creations are eternal, and that they all consist of an intelligence, a spirit and a body. This includes all what we consider as living things, i.e. all plants and animals, down to all bugs, insects, etc., as well as the creations of God not normally looked on as living souls. Take the earth, for instance. Following are the words of Joseph Fielding Smith on the subject—”We learn from the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, that the earth is a living being. It is obedient to every command, therefore it is entitled to be sanctified, just as human beings who keep the commandments of the Lord are to be sanctified. “And again,” said the Lord, “the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law-Wherefore, it shall be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and the righteous shall inherit it.” Therefore, in order to sanctify the earth and cleanse it, it had to pass through the water of baptism, and by water be cleansed. Then, at a later day, it will be baptized with the fire and the Holy Ghost, just the same for the earth as for humanity who will possess it forever. Now we begin to see why there had to be a flood. It had to be a complete immersion, just the same as any other baptism, so the Lord did two things, first, he cleansed the earth of all of its corruption brought upon it by the wickedness of “all flesh,” and second, the earth having reached the age for such an ordinance, was cleansed from all the sin upon its face.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Man, His Origin and Destiny, p.432)

And we read the following from Otten and Caldwell—

The Lord has revealed the following pertaining to beasts and animals of the earth: (See D&C 77:2-4) “1. They will be resurrected and placed in their appropriate places in Heaven. As the fall of Adam affected animals, (see B of M, 2 Nephi 2:22) so also through the atonement will the animals be heirs of salvation in their respective spheres. “2. The spirits of animals are in the likeness of their bodies. The spirit is eternal and does not change. The spirit of an elephant looks like an elephant; the spirit of man looks like a man. This is true of all creatures under Heaven. Therefore, the body of the creature cannot change and evolve into something different and still look like its spirit. This principle is simply stated by the Lord that there might not be misunderstandings.

 

“3. They will be given knowledge, including power to move and act and as such, have the capacity to enjoy their eternal happiness and destiny.”John saw curious looking beasts in heaven; he saw every creature that was in heaven,-all the beasts, fowls and fish 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.

 

“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 would 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. (HC, Vol. 5, pp. 343-344)” (L. G. Otten and C. M. Caldwell, Sacred Truths of the Doctrine and Covenants, 2:, p.39)

Gramps