By

Phil Shapley (White Wolf) Owen Sound, Ontario

This paper presents the evidence for everything in the world being spiritual and how the spiritual components interact and function-- essential knowledge for resource managers. We draw from scriptural sources, human experiences, and particularly the understandings and experiences of Native North Americans. Though the Bible contributes to this knowledge, Latter Day Saint (LDS) scriptures contain additional insights and thus, will be quoted. Native understandings and experiences parallel and are mostly consistent with the scriptures.

The presentation is organized around principals or truths starting with basic truths, then proceeding with how the basics come together to form the Creation the earth and everything on it.

1. Everything is spiritual, that is, has life in it. This life form is called spirit, conscious intelligence, or awareness. The spirits existed before the Earth was formed and will continue to exist forever.

Native understandings: Natives believe all matter, including rocks, plants, and animals, are inhabited by beings called spirit or spirits, and they are aware of the quality of energy around them. These spirits existed before the world was formed.

Bible: The Bible uses several definitions of spirit. It mainly uses the term to speak of good or evil teachings and ways, the Spirit of God, and the Holy Spirit. But in another definition that is consistent with the one used in this paper, it speaks of beings called evil spirits such as a person being inhabited by an unclean spirit (Matthew 12:43) and Christ giving his disciples power against unclean spirits (Matthew 10:1). And in Hebrews 12:9-- shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits. When Christ commanded the waters be still and Moses commanded the Red Sea to part, this implies that water is inhabited by beings that can respond to God. In Genesis, when God said let there be this and that, it implies that there existed something that could be organized. Job 38:4 implies that Job existed before the world was created. The New Testament speaks of the resurrection of the dead. Thus, the Bible is consistent with Native understandings that everything is spiritual.

LDS: Moses 3:5-- all things were created spiritually before they were on the earth

Abraham (Abr.) 3:18-- these two spirits (speaking of one being more intelligent than another) have no beginning, they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are. eternal.

Abr. 3:22-- the intelligences that were organized before the world was

Discourses of Brigham Young, 1925 Ed., p.56.There is life in all matter throughout the vast extent of all the eternities, it is in the rock, sand, in water, air, the gases, and in short, in every description and organization of matter whether it be solid, liquid or gaseous, particle operating within particles.

Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) 138:55-56-- we received our lessons before we came to earth.

D&C 88: 14-16-- The dead are resurrected.

Alma 40: 11-14-- We continue to exist after our death.

2. The spirits (intelligences) can perceive positive and negative energy, such as love versus hate, people living or not living as the Creator ask, etc.

Experiences of people: When there is love and respect for plants and animals, they flourish.

Native understandings: We need to respect and revere all of Nature:

- When you harvest plants or animals, you explain to them why you are doing it 

and offer tobacco or something else in thanksgiving

- Animals will come to you so you can harvest them if your need is a good need

Bible: In Luke 19:40-- states that the stones would cry out if people held their peace about who Christ is

LDS: In Moses 7.48-- Mother Earth is grieved by the wickedness of man

3. The Creation and everything on Earth exists because the intelligences (spirits) are organized into physical and biological matter by the Creator. They obey the Creator because they love and revere him.

Human experience: Those persons who live close to their Creator, feel his love and in turn, love him. They perceive that the Creator is all wise and they experience many beautiful Blessings which he gives, and thus, these persons want to be obedient.

Near death experiences: People who have had near death experiences (their spirit has traveled to the abode of the Creator), see flowers and water singing praises to their Creator.

Native understandings: Natives understand that the spirits in Nature obey their Creator because they revere him. Because of this, the Creation could occur.

Bible: Genesis-- God created the earth and everything on it.

John 1:3-- all things made by God.

Hebrews 1:2-- Christ created the world.

Luke 19:40-- rocks will cry out if the people can't proclaim Christ

Other evidences from the Bible-- Christ turned water in wine (John 2:1-11), calmed the waters (Math. 8:23-27), healed the sick (many references), raised the dead (Math 9:18-26), John 11:39-46, etc.), Moses parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31), Moses hand was healed (Ex. 4:6-7), etc.

LDS: Abr. 4:12-25 In the Creation, the Gods (meaning God's helpers) saw that the spirits obeyed them to form plants, the sun and moon, animals, etc.

D&C 88:42-- He hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons.

D&C 93:30-- Intelligences (spirit) can act for themselves.

Book of Mormon (B of M) Helaman 12:8-19-- All of Nature obeys God's commands.  

4. The Creation is organized on the basis of love and respect for other members of the Creation, such as giving for the benefit of others, etc.

Human experience: Trusting bonds can develop between people and animals.

- When love and respect are given to plants and animals, they thrive and return the love.

- Animals will sacrifice for people, such as dogs risking their life to save a loved person.

- I, the author, have seen the love between a dog and a bobcat

- Note the love between mates among mammals and birds, and parents, between humans and animals, animals will risk their life to save their young

- Some humans can communicate in a deep way with animals and a very close bond develops I know two men who have become the trusted friends of bull buffalo.

- Horses are very obedient and close to people

- I met several Natives who asked trees to give themselves for a ceremonial drum. A cedar consented. The drum gave the most beautiful and spiritual sound that I have heard (from a drum).

- A Native friend had moose come to him so he could provide moose meat to the elderly.

Native understandings: Plants and animals are willing to give themselves to Man if his need is a good one. The Creator has asked many animals to be food (prey) for predators and man. Grass and buds are food for many animals.

Bible: 1 John 4:16-- God is love.

Christ preached love. And in the Millennium (the future 1000 years of peace), it will be a time of love, enmity will disappear, such as that between lambs and predators (Isaiah 11:7).

LDS: D&C 59:18-19-- everything has been created for the benefit of man-- food, beauty to enliven the soul, etc.

An intellectual observation It seems that plants must have known when they were placed on earth, that they would be food for animals and that they consented to this. Also, the role of rabbits, mice and many other animals, is to be food for predators. This is giving in the same sense that God asks man to sacrifice for his fellow man if he is to have the best of the after life in the heavens and many Blessings in his Earth life.

5. When positive energy is present, plants and animals thrive but negative energy causes plants and animals to diminish.

Human experience: In section 4, we pointed out that animals and plants thrive where there is love and respect. Alternatively, where there is hate, greed, etc., everything diminishes populations don't flourish, there is less reproduction, etc..

Native understandings: The spirits in the creation are our brothers and sisters-- we all come from the Creator and he formed our physical bodies. We are to honour, respect and help each other, and by doing this, we all benefit.

Bible: Malachi 3-- If you share your income and wealth generously, God will greatly Bless you.

- The Bible consistently shows that when Israel lived as God asked, she prospered and when she lived otherwise, she did poorly and was frequently conquered by her enemies. For Israel to prosper, many of the resources such as trees, crops and animals, would need to be doing well.

LDS: In the Book of Mormon, the people prospered when they lived Gods way and suffered when they lived otherwise. Part of this prospering was crops and animals doing well.

D&C 59:3 The earth brings forth its strength for those who are faithful.

D&C 59:15-20-- The Creation is for the benefit of those persons that live as God asks.

Moses 7:48 Mother Earth grieved by the wickedness of man.