Description

Stockins

The Apostle John saw animals in heaven rejoicing and praising God. Indeed, animals will be resurrected, and, according to the Prophet, “They would remain in the dominion of those, who with creative power, reach out for dominion, through the power of eternal lives. Animals will be saved.

When I was just a small boy on the ranch, dad brought home a puppy for me. He was a mutt to be sure, somewhat resembling a collie dog. His name was Stockins and he was my best friend. I still remember running through the yard and him chasing me and trying to trip me. I don’t recall that he ever bit me or hurt me. He went everywhere with me, even those places I should not have gone. When we were working cows, he would get right in there and do his best. He was not afraid and understood sic em really well.

When I came home from school, Stockins was there. It seems he was always happy to see me. I loved him. One evening I went next door to a neighboring ranch and unbeknownst to me, Stockins followed. I was on my way back home when I heard what sounded like a dog fight. Moments later, I came upon a pack of dogs attacking Stockins. I screamed and jumped into the fray and drove them off, but it was too late. Stockins was so badly mauled it did not look like he would live.

I cried and watched over him for days. There was little I could do for him except watch him lick his wounds and languish on the threshold of death. He finally recovered, but he lost all use of one of his back legs. From then on, he had a most unusual rolling gait as he was running, and he never stopped running.

Then one day when I was a teenager, the sheriff showed up at our house—old Worth Hawley. In the back of his Ford Bronco was Stockins—all bloody and wounded. For all of his virtues, and they were many, Stockins had one weakness—he loved to chase cars. Evidently, he chased one too many and in his old age, he could not get out of the way. He was still alive, but barely.

We took him out and made him a soft bed. Again, I watched over him with deep sadness and regret. Suddenly, my parents announced that we were going to visit the relatives. Mom loaded us up and we were gone for the next several days.

When we got back, I got out of the car and went straight to Stockins’ bed. It was empty. Dad told me that he had died right after we left. I see now, they didn’t want me to watch him die.

It hurt! Oh, it hurt terribly. I can still remember the grief and pain of that loss. He was my friend.

There is this hope, however, that this sad story, will not always be so. I have this hope in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ—that I will see my favorite dog again—somewhere in a heavenly place. He lives. Thank the Lord for His Gospel that lets me know—that for the faithful, all tears will be wiped away in the end.

Sources:

Revelation 5:13

The Teachings of Joseph Smith by Dahl and Cannon, p. 39

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