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Do Animals Have A Knowledge Of The Pre-mortal Life

This is one of those questions I dream up when I'm driving lonely stretches of highways on long road trips. The thought occured to me that God caused a veil of forgetfullness to come over us, thus we do not remember our pre mortal world. The reason for this was to determine if we would be faithful in this life without the knowledge we gained in the previous life. But what about animals? It would appear the reason for our forgetfullness would not apply to them, so could they possibly come to Earth with a full recollection of the spirit world? If not, what reason would God have for causing them to forget their preexistence?

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I guess that is just one of those things that you really do not think much about, however, I guess that there is nothing to say that they have 'forgotten', but I do know that they act exactly as commanded and do not deviate from it, thus making them all Celestial beings on earth.

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I discussed this with my wife and she is of the opinion animals cannot remember the pre mortal world. She bases her opinion on the behaviour of our Golden Retriever. She thinks if he could indeed remember, he would not chase cats, or steal food from our cat, or be as selfish and disobedient as he is. I told her I didn't see how a remembrance of his past life would change these behaviours.

Life Pre-mortal The Knowledge Have Animals Do

Your wife may have a point about the chasing of cats. I don't imagine dogs chase cats in the spirit world. I envision it the way the Bible describes the last days when the lion and the lamb get along. So, if your dog remembered the pre-existance, he probably wouldn't chase cats. Of course, that is assuming that things are as peaceful in the pre-existance as they will be in the Celestial Kingdom. That could be the flaw in this opinion.

Life Pre-mortal The Knowledge Have Animals Do

Some years ago, I heard an older brother say that animals didn't have the veil, as they weren't tried by faith as humans. It may be so, but I don't know. Animals were created as spirit entities in pre-existence (Moses 3:1-9), and in the Garden of Eden, they were immortal. Then came the fall which all forms of life were subject to, humans and animals etc. (2.Nephi 2:22). Ever since then humans as well as animals have lived in their mortal state. - I personally don't believe that animals can look into the spirit world, that there are no veil for them, as the scriptures tells us that the consequences of the fall affected all creations.

Best regards
John

Do Animals Have A Knowledge Of The Pre-mortal Life

I hate to say "I heard..." but at this time, I don't have anything to back it up so...

I heard long ago that even animals have free agency and can deviate from there path, so to speak.

Do Animals Have Knowledge The Pre-mortal Life

Please keep in mind that when making statements like this, knowingly you do not have sources to back it up, is nothing but pure speculation.

So far, we know as humans Heavenly Father have blessed us with free agency and that there is a veil upon us so we can't remember our pre-mortal life. We know this through the Scriptures and Prophets. There is no scriptural evidence (as far as I know) that animals can "deviate" from their paths, so to speak.

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I am returning after a very long time...

Anyways, I heard once that animals are still being tested, just not to the extent that we are. They will be received in the Celestial Kingdom if they fulfill the measure of their creation. But this is just speculation as far as I know, but maybe an apostle has said this? I don't know.

Edited: DanInTheDen on 28th May, 2007 - 8:15pm