March 1, 2009

• Trying to come to terms with the inevitable.

  Well, Crookshanks hasn't eaten anything and we don't want him to starve himself. We did get him to drink some water. I've been looking up pet euthanasia and trying to decide what to do. He really doesn't seem happy and I don't want to prolong his misery. This is the toughest thing I've dealt with in a while. Since last year around this time. I've never really had anyone close to me die. Crookshanks is my closest family member or friend to pass away. I've had several relatives die, of course, but none that I really knew or saw frequently. I was just talking to my dad when he was here about how I was worried about how I would deal with death whenever it came. This sucks. I feel so much pressure. What if he's gonna get better? But what if today is the best day he has left and each day will get worse? I can't imagine this house without him and his feisty little spirit. And poor Mr. Potter. He would be all alone. I always worried about what would happen when one of them died, but I was expecting it in 15 years, not now.

  I've been very concerned about Crookshanks role in the afterlife today. Will he be resurrected? Does he have a soul? Is there a chance I would see him again? I've never gotten to know a pet as well as I have gotten to know my kitties. They certainly have personalities. So I did some research on the prophets' teachings about pet's souls and the afterlife. Here were a few of my favorite snippets from LDS.org and a few Ensign articles. There isn't much information out there because of course, the Church is far more concerned about the salvation of men rather than animals, but, it has been very comforting to read the few teachings about pets.

  "Do animals have spirits and are they resurrected?" Yes. The Prophet Joseph Smith received information concerning the eternal status of animals. Answers to questions he posed are in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 77. He also spoke about the resurrection of animals in a sermon but did not expand on the subject. (History of the Church, 5:343.)

  "To what degree of glory do animals go?" The scriptures speak only of animals being in the celestial kingdom. Whether they go to other kingdoms is a matter of conjecture. Elder Joseph Fielding Smith on one occasion said the distribution of animals into all three degrees of glory is “very probable,” (Improvement Era, Jan. 1958, pp. 16–17.)

  "Are animals judged and resurrected according to their obedience to laws?" According to Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, animals do not have a conscience. They cannot sin and they cannot repent, for they have not the knowledge of right and wrong. (Man: His Origin and Destiny, Deseret Book Co., 1954, pp. 204–5.)

  "Can animals be with their owners in the hereafter?" There is no revealed word on this subject. Reason would tell us that a rancher or farmer may not want all of the cattle he has owned during his life. On the other hand, emotional ties may be honored and family pets may well be restored to their owners in the resurrection. Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote that Joseph Smith expected to have his favorite horse in eternity. (Improvement Era, Aug. 1927, p. 855.)

  So I figure if I get resurrected, Crookshanks will too. And that is helping me through the whole grieving process.

  I know some of you are probably thinking, "It's just a cat," or "Just get another one!" But these kitties have been my babies. They are the closest thing to children that we have (aside from Joey, of course.) We raised them and taught them. We loved them and watched them grow. I can't believe I am having to let one go so soon.

  I'm still hoping for improvement. But if Tuesday comes and he's still miserable and not eating, I don't know what else to do. Except cry of course. Good thing I have all those tissues left over from when I was sick.

  • 11:36 pm
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