Response to an Investigator: Is God Okay With Killing Animals?

I recently had the happy surprise of being contacted privately on Facebook by a fellow LDS person who is interested in learning more about veganism. They asked me:

How do you interpret that part in Genesis that talks about animals and the so-called "license" that we have to use them for work (like oxen, horses, etc) and food?? I'm guessing this reference gets thrown at vegans in non-secular debates often. I usually know what non-believers would respond but what about vegans who believe in God and the scriptures?

I thought it might be informative to those who follow this blog for me to share my response. So....
Here is my response:

I assume you are referring to Genesis 1:26 which says "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

This verse says that in the garden of Eden, God gave man dominion over animals. It does not specify what that meant (if you know of a more specific verse please direct me to it). If it is the kind of dominion God has over us, it is more of a responsibility than a "license" to use them however we see fit. I understand this verse to mean that we have a responsibility to take care of the earth and our fellow creatures. A king has dominion over his people, but does that mean he has a right to use those people? I take it to mean he has a responsibility for their welfare.

Now, there are more verses in Genesis chapter 9, detailing the first instances of when the Eden-like peace between animals and humans was broken. Verses 1-5 say

"And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man."

If we are to take these verses literally, we must conclude that God gave Noah permission to eat animals. The Joseph Smith Translation clarifies some of the latter verses in verse 11, where God tells Noah that "blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands."

This makes it seem very clear to me that God was only allowing Noah to kill animals for food because there was nothing else to eat after the flood--he says specifically "only for meat, to save your lives" meaning when they would otherwise die of starvation, and that "the blood of every beast will I require at your hands" meaning that the killing of animals is something we are accountable for, perhaps even to the same extent as killing another human being.
Therefore, the lives of animals matter to God, and he only allows the killing of animals in a life-or-death situation.

D&C 49:21 also states: “wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need."

Because I have done the research to realize that human beings don't actually need to eat animals (or their byproducts) to live healthy lives, I feel that I am not justified in eating animal products. I would much rather work toward a better dominion where animals are taken care of as they were meant to be, rather than exploited.

The bible also condones owning slaves and stoning one's neighbor for breaking the Sabbath, so I feel that some rules in the Old Testament should be considered within their cultural context. 

What it comes down to for me though, is what I feel in my heart. As I moved closer and closer to becoming vegan, I felt myself becoming a better and more compassionate person... I think, more Christlike in some small way. It was a beautiful feeling as my mind began to open up to realize that I don't ever have to rationalize being cruel to anyone or anything. I asked myself, about treating animals like objects... if it feels wrong, if it is violent, if it is unnecessary, why am I doing it? Wouldn't it be better to err on the side of compassion? It is so liberating to learn how to trust that impulse in myself rather than doubting because of the popular opinion of other church members.

Even if veganism is not currently required of church members, it just makes me think of these verses from the D&C:

"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore be receiveth no reward.

Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

But he that does not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned."
(D&C 58:26-29)

This is something that I want to be anxiously engaged in of my own free will, and I think that if more people were concerned with animals, it would bring to pass much righteousness, not just for animals, but in changing people's hearts to love and serve others beyond conventional borders.

Sorry this is such a long response again, I tend to get wordy when I'm trying to explain things that I feel very strongly about. I hope none of this comes off as judgmental of non-vegans and non-vegetarians--these are just the things I considered for myself in making my decision. There's more details in my paper of course, which I have attached to this email.

Thank you for letting me share this with you. It's not often I get to talk about these things to someone who is  honestly curious.