If kittens grow up to be cats,
And puppies grow up to be dogs;
If lambs grow up to be sheep,
And piglets grow up to be hogs—
Then a truth of this glorious gospel
Each seeker with reverence applauds—
If offspring grow up like their parents,
Then we can grow up to be gods!
Baby animals are cute. My family has raised many goats over the years. It is fun to see their abnormally long, floppy ears and their unsteady legs as they try to stand for the first time. We have also raised horses, cows, sheep, pigs, bees, cats, turkeys, chickens, and a dog. On top of that, my parents raised ten kids. Needless to say, home life usually felt like a combination of the circus and the zoo! Once, my brother even decided to eat dog food and broke out in hives—but that is a story for another time.
Speaking of dogs, just before the holidays a friend at work said he was worried because his wife thought they should give their kids a dog for Christmas. In fact, she was on her way to go look at a little puppy right then. Uh-oh.
“She’s just going to look,” he said.
“Rrrrright,” said I.
“It’s not a done deal,” he said.
“You’re getting one,” said I.
Later, I asked him what his wife thought about the puppy. Wordless, he took out his phone and showed me a picture. It was a little bundle of golden furr, separated from his siblings—waiting expectantly by a gate with his head turned slightly sideways like puppies do in the ultimate pose of total cuteness. The owner said that is the stance the puppy took after the wife left.
Yep, they got the dog.
My bishop also got a little puppy a while back. It is a Labrador. The thing about puppies, though, is that they grow up; and the thing about labs is that they get big. I saw the bishop and the dog out for a walk the other night. I am still not exactly sure who was walking who!
Referring to our growth and potential, the Bishop in a recent talk said that just like kittens grow into cats and puppies mature into dogs, we each must remember our lineage. We are spirit children of Almighty God. He is our Father. As such, we have the ability to become like Him as we choose to follow the path He followed. What a glorious truth of the restored gospel. Not only can we regain God’s presence, but we can become as He is!
The seed of divinity is within us.
Written: February 4, 2018
