Required fields are marked *. Hell - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Book of Mormon contains one reference to outer darkness. [1] See also Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. The Book of Mormon contains six references to the second death: one reference by Jacob (Jacob 3:11), three by Alma (Alma 12:16, 32; 13:30), and two by Samuel the Lamanite (Hel. Thank you! Joseph Fielding Smith who said that this class is composed of all who have known the power of God in this mortal life and then, having full knowledge of the power and purposes of God,rebel against him, putting Jesus Christ to open shame (Doctrines of Salvation 2:219-220. 3. Do Mormons Believe in Hell? - Truth in Love Ministry Twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball wrote. The LDS version of the King James Bible and the Book of Mormon help us to understand that the word black is actually a Hebrew idiom, meaning gloomy, dejected, or spiritual darkness, and has nothing to do with skin tone. Only a handful of "sons of perdition" would go. However, not once have I ever suspected such a person to be a closet believer in Mormonism. I can give you more than plenty of examples of that. That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. Second, it is the permanent location of Satan and his followers and the sons of perdition, who are not redeemed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 21:8). 12:16), hell which hath no end (1 Ne. So get what they deserve. Yet how many sins and wrong choices has every humanincluding me and youmade? Just one rebellion. Because of the resurrection, the body and spirit of the wicked are restoredthe body from the grave and the spirit from hell to be judged. . Dennis L. Largey, Hell Second Death, Lake of Fire and Brimstone, and Outer Darkness, inThe Book of Mormon and the Message of the Four Gospels, ed. Again, the doctrine of the second death is woven together with other essential parts of the plan of salvation, offering the reader the big picture concerning Gods judgments. If their Prophet wrote in a journal, or said to someone in passing, or gave a talk a local school saying that, Eating toast without butter is a sin worthy of hell! that does not make it a Mormon Doctrine. 14:34), awful hell (1 Ne. Twenty-nine times the word hell is used with descriptive modifiers, for example, depths of hell (1 Ne. outer darkness | Some Mormon Stuff Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. the man was silent (Matt 22:12); therefore, the king said: "Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The righteousness of some (Abraham or Lazarus) cannot erase the consequences of anothers sins (the rich man). Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism). Whats interesting is that there are many former Mormons who still believe Jesus Christ was the Son of God and have a testimony of the Spirit of the Lord. However, their faith no longer is in the Jesus of Mormonism but the Jesus of the Bible. Mormonism - Afterlife and Salvation - Patheos Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. He is damned by mortification and is his own condemner and tormenter. In each of the New Testament references to outer darkness, Christ declared the punishment that awaits faithless and wicked people. They will live in eternal darkness, torment, and misery with Satan and his angels forever. Outer darkness is something which cannot be described, except that we know that it is to be placed beyond the benign and comforting influence of the Spirit of God banished entirely from his presence (Ibid.). Thus, many would say I fight against the church. In revealing Satans tactics, Nephi wrote: And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is noneand thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance. Those mortals who did join the LDS Church in this lifetime must fit the following criteria to be classified as a son of perdition, with a destiny to outer darkness. The Plan of Salvation kind of negates the reason for missionary work Italics in original). The third use occurs in the parable of the talents: "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:30). Everyone but the Sons of Perdition and the devil and his devils, will overcome spiritual death through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Outer darkness - Wikipedia 8:1112). And now behold, I say unto you then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death; then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness. So I thought Id get it all out there in one simple post. So apostates from the church are clearly included in this list. In the rest of the article, were going to have to assume that Mormonism is true (of course, I dont think it is!) The latter meaning is a place where the glory of God is completely absent, and is the place where Satan and his angels will reside. 9:4. . Banishment from the joys of heaven. Also, Joseph confuses things further by combining words typically used with Hell to describe outer darkness: A sinner has his own mind and his own mind damns him. Just one sin. Banishment from the power of God. I was taught that to be condemned to outer darkness you would have to deny Christ to his very face and that could occur . Hence, the term outer darkness. GOSH. He called the Pharisees and scribes vipers and questioned, How can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matt. The conclusion: You (former Mormon), despite being baptized into this church, are not a son of perdition! Thus, the second death is taught in conjunction with the first death, which came as a consequence of the Fall of Adam and Eve, and also with the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which redeems all of humankind from the first death through resurrection and the second death through repentance. You dont believe it is true, which is the reason why you left. Jesus declared that this exalted city would be brought down to hell (Matt. Note the Book of Mormons addition of the words is as. Meanwhile, I have known many who could be considered fighters against the church, including those who became involved in what could be considered anti-Mormon activities. Who will partake of it, and what is the nature of the eternal torment? Outer darkness is something which cannot be described, except that we know that it is to be placed beyond the benign and comforting influence of the Spirit of God-banished entirely from his presence. Clearly, when it comes to perdition and outer darkness, I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me, and anyone who speaks on the matter has a dizzying intellect. They are the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. Wilford Woodruff in a meeting with the apostles, 1893 D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, 1997) p. 795. kingdoms of glory. He was not ignorant, and therefore he became perdition, and they who followed him were sons of perdition, because he and they sinned knowingly. He wrote: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Rev. Yet I never was baptized and confirmed into this church. They believe that they are mortal men capable of mistakes just like the rest of us. 801-422-6975. Outer darkness is not a kingdom of glory. 34:3435; note Almas repetitive use of the word state in Alma 40:1112; see also D&C 101:9091; 133:7073). Serve Satan. Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment (2 Ne. The ex-mortal sons of perdition will be resurrected, as will everyone else; but they will finally suffer the second death, the spiritual death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. (Hel. Clearly you dont know what is and is not doctrine, and are trying to throw shade. 21:8; see also 19:20). In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. Outer Darkness - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [2]. Publishing, 19871989), 4:227228. 6:8). Everyone is already going to the terrestrial kingdom by default. What qualifies a person to be a Son of Perdition? I wonder if the language is tripping people up here. Christ brings to pass the resurrection of all menThe righteous dead go to paradise and the wicked to outer darkness to await the day of their resurrectionAll things will be restored to their proper and perfect frame in the Resurrection. How unfair is this scenario? Joseph restated that anyone who apostatized from the church was a son of perdition in a poem for W.W. Phelps, Sons of Perdition as those who are ever lost, and can never return to the presence of God, the poem declared that such is the torment apostates receive. (Joseph Smith, The Answer to W.W. Phelps, Esq. Alma 40 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Yet what kind of devious person would it be who knew full well that Mormonism was trueincluding the historicity of theBook of Mormon,the authenticity of the restored churchs leadership that began withJoseph Smith,and the accuracy of theFirst Visioneventand then fight against these truths? Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition (Conference Reports, October 1958, p. 21). Outer darkness is something which cannot be described, except that we know that it is to be placed beyond the benign and comforting influence of the Spirit of God banished entirely from his presence (Doctrines of Salvation2:220). The first three are referred to as the three degrees of glory, often compared to the sun, the moon, and the stars (D&C 76:70 . What is it? Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. Also God says no one knows in scripture, so stop asking; but He also said in scripture that He upbraideth not those who have questions and if you ask it shall be opened unto you. These pains are similar to the state of suffering experienced by the ungodly who after mortality are assigned to hell. I have no fear of hell fire, that doesnt exist, but the torment and disappointment of the mind of man is as exquisite as a lake burning with fire and brimstoneso is the torment of man. When the lights were out and we were on the verge of sleep, our camp counselor took advantage of the moment and endeavored to imprint his teachings upon the minds of his captive audience. One of these guests, however, appeared without the proper wedding attire. These men and women cannot be redeemed, and will be the only ones who will suffer the second death. In this parable, a king arranged a wedding for his son, but the normal guests did not come; therefore, the king sent his servants to gather guests from off the street. So we can clearly state no women are Sons of Perdition in outer darkness. Smith told a general conference audience: I think I am safe in saying that no man can become a Son of Perdition until he has known the light. I said: I dont know and he said, How can I find outI just called Spencer Kimball and he told me he didnt know either. [1], Other views include those of Zane C. Hodges who controversially suggested that it represents a place for those who make it to heaven based on their faith, but have failed to perform good works during their time on the earth.[2]. 23:15). T F According to a church manual, those who never were Mormon could never be sent to Outer Darkness. So, in the Mormon view, none of these so-called polygamist marriages are valid, religiously or legally. Okay, so Cain, we have one guaranteed person according to no citation whatsoever. John the Revelator heard Christ proclaim that he possessed the keys of hell and of death (Rev. Also, you can read this too. There are three references that connect the judgment with a lake of fire and brimstone, and two references to a lake of fire. However, the use of the word fire in connection with judgment and the torment of the wicked is widespread throughout the Gospels. According to the Doctrine and Covenants, this will be a place that even in outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth (Doctrine and Covenants 101:91; also see 133:73). The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. One must be on a high eminence to fall so low; and few in worlds history have attained such a height. However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. This is serving Satan. But unofficial prophets speaking at BYU or in their own books say no, except Brigham in the Journal of Discourses which is unofficial. . It is doubtful if even Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was sufficiently enlightened to become a son of perdition (Gospel Doctrine,p. 545). Even Nazi dictator Adolph Hitler will get nothing less than the telestial kingdom since he was never baptized/confirmed into the church; work was done in proxy for him in the London, England temple several decades ago. ", Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Outer_darkness&oldid=1136269337, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 15:14. We believe that after the final judgment there are four places to which a person may be sent. By taking 2 Nephi 2:25 to its logical conclusion, we learn that Satan also fell that men might be, and that they might have joy! 2. The New Testament contains four references to the second death, all located in the Revelation of John. Horror Short Film "Outer Darkness" | ALTER | Online Premiere The Book of Mormon speaks of only two groups who inhabit the postmortal spirit world: the righteous, who exist in a state of happiness called paradise; and the wicked, who are consigned to outer darknessthe wicked being those who have been captivated by the devil and who will be resurrected to an endless hell. In the parable of the talents, the returning lord instructed that the wicked and slothful servant who hid his talent in the earth be cast into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. If he were ignorant, he could not have become perdition. 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. Salvation is release from the guilt and power of sin through God's gift of grace. See Michael Hicks, Joseph Smith, W.W. Phelps, and the Poetic Paraphrase of The Vision, Journal of Mormon History 20 (Fall 1994) 2: 63-84 for discussion of authorship of this poem.). (Selections of Doctrines of Salvation, p. 462. While this is true, please define Mormon Doctrine before saying I did not quote Mormon Doctrine. 185 Heber J. D&C 76 does say telestial people are the ones thrust down to hell and not redeemed until the last resurrection. You have to be pretty bad to go to the Teresita's kingdom, and horrendous to go to outer darkness. About 74 B.C. But what is light? It also teaches that the Atonement ransoms humankind from physical death through the resurrection and from spiritual death, or hell, through repentance. This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. Circumcision. Though we have this clarity in the scriptures that we carry with us daily, few members are aware that this insight is there." Lets go to modern revelation: that there would be no daughters of perdition. Joseph F. Smith Stan Larsen, ed., A Ministry of Meetings: The Diaries of Rudger Clawson, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Smith Associates and Signature Books, 1993) p. 560, Somebody called me up on the telephone and asked if there were daughters of perdition.