Do mormon/ lds people believe that animals and insects have souls?

Answer 1

I am LDS as well. First, soul, for us, usually refers to the united entity of both body and spirit. Since we believe that all living things were created spiritually before they were created physically, we therefore believe that all living things have "souls. " (Doctrine and Covenants 72:2)
We also believe that, during Christ's millenial reign, we will live in peace with the animals (Isa. 11:6-9). Since animals are subject to mortal death and fulfil the measure of their creation, we also believe that they will be in heaven by the grace of Christ's atonement for all living beings. Hence, many prophets have spoken out against killing for sport or abusing animals in any manner. Despite this, we also believe that meat was given to us for our sustinance (Gen 9:3) but that it should be used sparingly (D & C 89:12). President Joseph F. Smith said, "I do not believe any man should kill animals or birds unless he needs them for food, and then he should not kill innocent little birds that are not intended for food for man. I think it is wicked for men to thirst in their souls to kill almost everything which possesses animal life. It is wrong."
That said, we are not anti-hunting. I fish, spearfish, and hunt lobster regularly. I do not waste anything that I legally catch. While I could go to the store, my family and I prefer fresh sea food with all those rich omega three fatty acids!

Answer 2

I am LDS...I don't believe they have a "soul" like a human, no. But, I do believe animals have some sort of intelligence, probably as a person mentioned above me, a lesser intelligence. I believe there will be many animals, even ones we have never seen but that were created on other worlds, in the world to come.
I would say no for insects.

Answer 3

Mormon's are normal people, as well as other people with a religion like the rest, they are all off a bit.
I believe animals have a soul, but not sure on insects, but I am open to it, I am open to my perspectives perhaps why it's possible that even insects may have a soul too, it's a Spiritually reason to why I feel it's possible.

Peace!

Answer 4

I Mormon I hunted deer with, has no respect for animal life.

He wanted to shoot the buck, then walk up and see if it was legal.
If not, walk away from it.

I talked him out of that. Besides, that would get us both in trouble

Answer 5

Yes, animals, insects, vegetables, grass, trees and people all have spirits that are all supposed to eventually evolve into Gods, according to Mormons.

Orson Pratt was a Mormon Apostle under Joseph
Smith, and he outlined the Mormon concept of spiritual atomism and spiritual evolution in his book called The Seer.

What Mormons are saying is that our physical body is eternal and intelligent because we are made up of atoms which have existed as animals and vegetation. These materials of which our spirits are composed, are capable of thinking, moving, willing, etc. They are talking about thinking peas and carrots that have spirits, and that the spirit of a fish can be consumed and assimilated into our spirit. I know, I went to Mormon Seminary and they taught me this.

Mormons believe in eternal particles of spirit that evolve into Gods, and these particals of spirit are...

"growing out of the earth in the shape of grass, herbs, and trees; and after this, these vegetables become food for celestial animals, and these same particle are organized into their offspring, and thus form the spirits of animals. There, then, is apparently a transmigration of the same particles of spirit, from an inferior to a superior organization, wherein their condition is improved, and their sphere of action enlarged. Who shall set any bounds to this upward tendency of spirit? Who shall prescribe the limits to its progression? If it abide the laws and conditions of its several states of existence, who shall say that it will not progress until it shall gain the very summit of perfection, and exist in all the glorious beauty of the image of God?"

"If they were once organized in the vegetable kingdom, and then disorganized by becoming food of celestial animal, and then again re-organized in the form of the spirits of animals, which is a higher sphere or being, then, is it unreasonable to suppose that the particles have, from all eternity, being passed through an endless chain of unions and disunions, organizations and disorganizations, until at length they are permitted to enter into the highest and most exalted sphere of organization in the image and likeness of God?"

If all of this sounds a little bizarre, you have to know that it was the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith who said over and over again: "God never had power to create the spirit of man," "God never had power to create the Spirit of Man at all." "God never did have power to create the spirit of man at all."
(from "Words of Joseph Smith" pages 341, 346, 352, 359, 360)

This is the Mormon god they are talking about who cannot create but can only "organize" like Satan. Mormons do not belive in the One True God of the Bible, the Creator, the Christian God.

Answer 6

I really don't think so. They obviously believe they were created by God, similar to other Christians. They also believe that they are for the benefit of mankind.

Answer 7

As whapingmon pointed out, we believe God created all things spiritually before he created them physically.

Answer 8

I would hope so. To believe otherwise is pretty arrogant...

Answer 9

yes - but they consider them lesser intelligences

Answer 10

mormonism is a CULT and they willburn in HELL if they dont repent!!!


Amen