Corruption_ofAnimalsWEB

To some people, there is a belief that animals are here to serve us – to be food for our bellies and humor usΒ and that’s it…. While there is some truth to that, the missing link all too often is respect. Envision in your mind an Indian tribe, where before winter they must store up on buffalo to survive that winter. This tribe prays to Mother Earth before their hunt, gives thanks to Mother Earth for providing this animal as they quickly – with as little pain as possible take the life of the animal, and when they bring that buffalo(s) back home – the tribe utilizes every morsel, and hair on that animal. That to me, is the definition of respect of animals. I do believe that animals are given to us as food [when necessary], and to provide us joy. I attempted many times to go vegetarian, or some level of vegetarianism because my heart aches so deeply knowing and learning time and time again how animals are treated behind the scenes in all these factories – to mass produce more meat than we truly need. [Check out ‘Food Inc’ on Amazon Prime or Netflix] It breaks my heart learning about all the harm and cruelty done on animals in science labs – that I feel for the most part are unnecessary. It’s really hard for me to believe that all this testing being doneΒ on animalsΒ is needed. I feel that scientists and politicians find it convenient and cheap to use animals because theΒ animals can’t fight back orΒ they are “dumb”. “There’s already ‘too many’ on this earth”…what, are they God? Who are they to say how many is too many? What is really unnerving is all these food packages need to say is that they’re approved safe by the FDA and we don’t think twice… not even a moment about how many short-cuts or under the table deals were done to make that happen. Nobody thinks twice that their ground beef is not entirely ground beef – but pumped full of pink slime filler so these meat factories can get even more money. Or worse, the cheap ground beef is filled with filler to [hopefully] kill off live e-coli because the cows were fed on nothing but corn feed – which is not their natural diet. As a result their second stomach is FULL of e-coli. So the meat packing factories have to find a cheap way to kill that off. Sadly, the illness isn’t always killed and too many lives are taken because of this. We don’t hear about this as much as we should, because guess what? The government hands out ‘hush’ money so they can keep on making their big bucks. πŸ™

Anyways, I could rant about this forever… I always get so motivated to go vegetarian every time I get on this topic and research again on all that is happening to poor innocent animals. Something has to be done, and even if I can only make a very small dent in the market of all this mass production and cruelty being done to animals for the sake of ‘convenience’ & money, I want to try again. It’s really hard to know what brand to trust unless you do some heavy research & have the extra money to buy higher priced items – but I do know that buying locally is one of the best things you can do. Buy locally for as much produce, meat or any product really. Something is better than nothing. I know I am capable of voting with my dollar, and to the best of my ability – I will try, and keep trying as many times as needed to be consistent through diet of what I purchase at the grocery store, to any beauty products or other similar items that I can find that are kind to animals and avoid those that are testing and harming animals. I hope you join me – if you agree and believe the same. If you’re like me and have fallen victim to not paying attention to what you’re eating and where it came from – don’t worry. We have the rest of our lives to perfect our habits. πŸ™‚ Forgive yourself, let go – and try again. As many times as you need to. Life get’s busy, you may be part of a large family that has a different belief system on this matter – that’s OK. You are in charge of YOU – so you decide what you can do to take action on this matter. β™₯ Nobody should be put down, or be made to feel inadequate for trying to be a better person. Neither should others be put down for believing differently. We’re all doing the best we know how – and that’s what matters. Celebrate the little victories and light that torch of what you believe is truth – to lead the way.

Here are some EXCELLENT quotes on the spiritual side of animal welfare from lds.org, and what place these animals have in the eyes of God:

β€œMen cannot worship the Creator and look with careless indifference upon his creations. The love of all life helps man to the enjoyment of a better life. I exalt the spiritual nature of those in need of divine favor.” [Where do animals fit in the eternal plan of things?]

During the Zion’s Camp expedition in the summer of 1834, an incident occurred that allowed a practical application of concern for animal life. As related by the Prophet Joseph Smith in his history:
β€œIn pitching my tent we found three massasaugas or prairie rattlesnakes, which the brethren were about to kill, but I said, β€˜Let them aloneβ€”don’t hurt them! How will the serpent ever lose his venom, while the servants of God possess the same disposition, and continue to make war upon it? Men must become harmless, before the brute creation; and when men lose their vicious dispositions and cease to destroy the animal race, the lion and the lamb can dwell together, and the sucking child can play with the serpent in safety.’ The brethren took the serpents carefully on sticks and carried them across the creek. I exhorted the brethren not to kill a serpent, bird, or an animal of any kind during our journey unless it became necessary in order to preserve ourselves from hunger.” (Documentary History of the Church, vol. 2, pp. 71–72.) [The Gospel & Animals]

President Young also warned that the Latter-day Saints would β€œnever inherit the Celestial Kingdom” until they learned to take proper care of the things on this earth entrusted to them by the Lord. Specifically referring to livestock, he said the people should β€œtake care of their cattle and horses” and the man who did not do it would β€œlay himself liable to censure in the eyes of justice.” (JD, vol. 11, p. 141.)

β€œKindness to the whole animal creation and especially to all domestic animals is not only a virtue that should be developed, but is the absolute duty of mankind. … It is an unrighteous thing to treat any creature cruelly. … It will be a blessed day when mankind shall accept and abide by the Christ-like sentiment expressed by one of the poets in the following words: β€˜Take not away the life you cannot give, For all things have an equal right to live.’”

Man should be kind to the animals which serve him both directly and indirectly. An angry word or a brutal blow wounds the heart from which it comes. Love of nature is akin to the love of God; the two are inseparable.” [The Gospel & Animals]

 

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[Reference for sketch found here]
About the Artist

Living the dream as a full-time artist. I'm a Mental Health Advocate. πŸ’š A creator of realism fine art. 🎨 I'm passionate about creating Visual Comfort Art for the wounded, and inspiring young minds through my children's books (Be Kind Books), to create a more safe and loving world with kindness.πŸ’•

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