hell.. Their theology was turned upside down! 25:30). Can someone get out of this state of Perdition once they are in it? Latter-day Saints understand hell to be a literal place and/or stateeither the temporary hell in the spirit world where the unjust suffer in a state of torment until they are resurrected to a telestial glory (D&C 76:8185, 98112), or the permanent hell where the wicked (the sons of perdition) continue to suffer eternally after the resurrection (D&C 76:37, 4548). Nephis commentary to his brothers concerning his fathers dream of the tree of life adds interesting insight into the possible meaning of the great gulf Jesus referred to: And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God. Satan and his followers are beings of spirit who were denied bodies and cast out of heaven during pre-mortal existence (see Plan of Salvation). Outer Darkness is the permanent location of Satan and his followers and the Sons of Perdition, who are not redeemed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. [3] Larry E. Dahl, The Concept of Hell, in Doctrines of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992), 4243. Required fields are marked *. One memorable night, he instructed us about the pains of hell. He asked us to imagine being stabbed and having that initial intense pain of the insertion of the knife last for twenty years. After the millennium, after the last great battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan, Satan and his followers will be cast into Outer Darkness. Outer Darkness. Yet I never was baptized and confirmed into this church. And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls. It also teaches that the Atonement ransoms humankind from physical death through the resurrection and from spiritual death, or hell, through repentance. After inspecting the intruder, the king instructed his servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever (Mosiah 3:2427; emphasis added). Therefore repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second death (Hel. Each differing in Glory but all great places to go. Serve Satan. The terms spiritual death or second death, lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness are all synonymous with hell, and all are descriptive of both the temporary and the permanent hell. He called the Pharisees and scribes vipers and questioned, How can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matt. While some apparently have taught that these spirits could be restored to a kingdom of glory, 12th President Spencer W. Kimball said this wasnt true: In the days of the restoration there apparently were those who taught that the devil and his angels and the sons of perdition should sometime be restored. Outer Darkness. Clear as mud. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire [i.e., overcome or defeated by Christs Atonement]. Twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball wrote. Outer Darkness - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 67, LDS Church Archives. Plagiarism and The Globe a comparative analysis, The Shunning Key by bwv549 - Mormon Bandwagon, https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/sons-of-perdition, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism), https://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/What_is_Mormon_Doctrine.pdf, https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22, LDS Church and Same Sex Marriage Timeline, The Pump LDS film and the original source, Ethan Smith, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Solomon Spaulding connections. He cried: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. This desperate cry for forgiveness through Christ brought deliverance from the pains of hell Alma had experienced because of his sins (Alma 36:1620). The Book of Mormon text confirms the truth of New Testament teachings on hell, second death, lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness. Whether Christians have believed hell to be literal or figurative, the New Testament metaphor of an unquenchable lake of fire has conjured up for believers in the Bible harsh images of souls consigned to never-ending punishment as recompense for their evil deeds done while on earth. 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. This is what was taught by several important church leaders, including founder Joseph Smith. Bold and italics in original). Outer darkness is something which cannot be described, except that it is to be placed beyond the benign and comforting influence of the Spirit of Godbanished entirely from his presence. Banishment from the glory of God. 9:16) after the final judgment. Thus ensued the War in Heaven, which resulted in Satan and his followers being cast out of heaven and denied the opportunity of receiving a physical body. Circumcision. The Plan of Salvation kind of negates the reason for missionary work Mormonism. In harmony with this doctrinal truth that death and hell will deliver up the spirits and bodies of their captives, King David received the promise that his soul would not be left in hell (see Ps. Sons of Perdition are to be cast out with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. . One of the messages of the Book of Mormon is that people sometimes lose the desire to repent. Marcus Dods (New York: Random House, 1950), 781. Its just Scary bad. there are two answers, one is being cast out of the presence of God which would be a form of darkness and the other is complete darkness without even the spirit of God in a spiritual realm as far as the light has an end, if thats possible. There was a movement a few years ago to have people deny the holy spirit on Youtube, where many a youtuber claimed they would now go to Outer Darkness. 8:1112). So lets turn to that bastion of all wisdom that Jeremy Runnells was blamed for not believing and turning to with questions: FAIRMormon: The church has no official position on this issue. In Christianity, it is understood that anyone who denies the holy spirit goes to outer darkness, but they see it as a synonym for Hell. 22:13). Are the Three Degrees of Glory Mentioned in the Book of Mormon? Yes Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. Women or not. [DS 2:225.] To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. 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. Heaven and Hell - Mormonism Research Ministry [4] Augustine, The City of God, trans. Even the regular Wikipedia seems confused: Sons of Perdition are: The pre-mortal spirit followers of Satan. Even if I did, I still am not eligible for outer darkness. (You are not one of those spirits since you have a mortal body.). The Book of Mormon does not teach the doctrinal truth that hell will end for the majority of those who suffer in the spirit prison prior to being resurrected and entering the telestial kingdom; however, this truth is clearly taught in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 76:3638, 106). These spirits never received a mortal body necessary to progress to a kingdom of glory. Those who followed Lucifer in his rebellion in the premortal life and those who in mortality sin against the Holy Ghost are sons of perdition. 20:1315). It clarifies how using an obscure quote does not define LDS doctrines or dogmas. We found these portrayals to be highly inaccurate. Johns references to the second death testify of its existence but do not offer any explanatory information that instructs those readers who do not already understand the doctrine. 8:17), and endless hell (Moro. WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL ANGELS WHO ARE INCAPABLE OF SINNING. Thus, by the definition given by the leaders cited above, these people cannot be considered sons of perdition. This is the final destination of Satan himself. Jesus disciples were told not to fear those who could kill the body but to fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. The second possible sons of perdition are mortals. 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. The "authority" to marry a man to one wife is not the same as the "authority" to marry a man to more than one wife. Thus, many would say I fight against the church. . The Book of Mormon teaches that only through the Atonement of Christ can one escape the damnation of hell. Jacob testified that without the infinite atonement all mankind would be forever subject to the awful monster, death and hell, and thus would become like the devil and his angels (2 Ne. Additional doctrinal truth concerning the great gulf can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 138:1837). ", 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. 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. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). There are possible characteristics of a son of perdition. According to the churchs website: The followers of Satan who will suffer with him in eternity. The phrases depths of hell, awful hell, sleep of hell, pains of hell, chains of hell, everlasting hell, and endless hell are all unique to the Book of Mormon. These pains are similar to the state of suffering experienced by the ungodly who after mortality are assigned to hell. However, I think the breakdown I have above is accurate because outer darkest is a place of permanence for the filthy. 16:811)meaning to be left with those who would partake of that permanent hell reserved only for those who, as Jacob stated, are filthy still.. What do Mormons mean by 'outer darkness'? - Quora King Benjamin defined the cause of this great torment: Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever. 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 . The first death is physical death, and everyone but the devil and his angels will overcome physical death through Resurrection. Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first deaththat spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. This is a Son of perdition. For those who once were baptized and confirmed into Mormonism, what is your status? [1] See also Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. They are the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. Because reasons. Outer darkness - Wikipedia That there will also be daughters of Perdition there is no doubt in the minds of the brethren. 20:14). Source. They are sons of perdition because, Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to open shame (D. & C. 76:35). This page was last edited on 17 September 2010, at 20:26. Hell is outer darkness; it is the lake of fire; and it is the second death. . Clearly you dont know what is and is not doctrine, and are trying to throw shade. Severe punishment for eternity, reserved for Satan and his demons as well as the sons of perdition, those humans who once embraced Mormonism and left to fight against the faith, even though they knew Mormonism was true. - 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. . Jesus of Mormonism but the Jesus of the Bible. 2. Following this introduction will be a discussion of the usage of these termsfirst in the New Testament, then in the Book of Mormon. The Concept of Hell | Book of Mormon Central Christians have debated for centuries the nature of the hell fire of which Jesus spoke (Matt. 5:22), burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt. Note the Book of Mormons addition of the words is as. For those born in this life, the person must be a former member who knew Mormonism was true but still rebelled and went against the truth while still knowing it was true. 14:1819). According to Smith: It is very clear in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:30-37, that the only persons who will be completely overcome by this dreadful fate are the sons of perdition who go with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. (Answers to Gospel Questions 5:107-108). 3. Conclusion The Book of Mormon text confirms the truth of New Testament teachings on hell, second death, lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness. 12:22; Morm. The Seeker: 'Big Love' in big trouble with Mormons - Chicago Tribune In the D&C, the definition of those who go to Outer Darkness is stated as: the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof;Nevertheless, I, the Lord, show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again; Wherefore, the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except those who are ordained unto this condemnation (D&C 76:45-48). In each of the New Testament references to outer darkness, Christ declared the punishment that awaits faithless and wicked people. Who goes to Outer Darkness, a handy guide - Exploring Mormonism Woman must atone for sins committed by the volition of her own choice, but she will never become an angel to the devil, and sin so far as to place herself beyond the reach of mercy. Brigham Young Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. 12:16), hell which hath no end (1 Ne. As with anything in Mormon doctrine, theres a lot of confusion, contradictory information and just all around ignoring a topic that should be as simple as asking a question and getting an answer. Smith said this will be practically indescribable: The extent of this punishment none will ever know except those who partake of it. 22:13) if it is also a place of perpetual fire (Matt. He was not ignorant, and therefore he became perdition, and they who followed him were sons of perdition, because he and they sinned knowingly. You are taking quotes that are not Mormon Doctrine. That last part of the previous sentence is very important. As a young boy, I attended a two-week Christian camp. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 758. One fire certainly shall be the lot of both. [4]. I can give you more than plenty of examples of that. Matt. . John did not define the second death other than to make it synonymous with the lake of fire and brimstone that awaits the wicked. According to tenth President Joseph Fielding Smith. Youll never regret it. A lot of people wanted a source on that. A Vision, Times and Seasons 4 (1 Feb 1843) 6:82-5. John identified specific sins that would lead to the lake of fire and brimstone: 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. Hence the saying: They will go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Banishment into outer darkness. The Outer Darkness Dilemma - Official Website of the ex-Mormon Apologist The word hell is mentioned twenty-three times in the New Testament: fifteen times in the Gospels, twice in the book of Acts, once each in James and 2 Peter, and four times in the book of Revelation. Dennis L. Largey was an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University when this was published. This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220). 2. No Mormon since the 1890 change has had the authority to marry any man to more than one woman. Into the telestial kingdom will go, according to that which is written here in this revelation, the vicious, the unclean, the ungodly (Conference Reports, April 1942, p. 27). 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. Many of the apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What is the Mormon plan of salvation? Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. . Utterly turn against god. lucifer. Everyone is already going to the terrestrial kingdom by default. The followers of Satan who will suffer with him in eternity. Each person must reap the harvest of the seeds sown in this life. Is outer darkness reserved for apostate LDS? - Ask Gramps Also, you can read this too. 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. 1:18). 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. kingdoms of glory. However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. 8 - 14 are for safety. 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. Mormon doctrines are often contradictory and inconsistent. 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). 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. Please read, the source above, What is Official LDS Doctrine. For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord. They did what they did with their eyes open, and were in rebellion against God. Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. Jesus proclaimed to Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against the rock upon which He would build the Church (Matt. Both Luther, who taught soul sleep till the resurrection of the dead, and Calvin, who taught the immortal soul, considered the "outer darkness" references in Matthew to refer to the last judgment. Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smitha general authority who spoke more about this issue than any other leaderstated. King Benjamin also taught that the fiery suffering was a state of misery one encounters when viewing ones sinfulness: They shall be judged, every man according to his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil. The Nephites became so wicked, that contemplating murder was a source of happiness. 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. Mormons also believe that those on Earth with bodies can become a Son of Perdition, tho this is difficult to do. Banishment from the power of God. Jacob taught that the lake of fire is not a literal fire but a figurative representation of torment: And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end (2 Ne. Who will partake of it, and what is the nature of the eternal torment? (Conference Reports, October 1958, p. 21. Though we have this clarity in the scriptures that we carry with us daily, few members are aware that this insight is there." Requirements for Outer Darkness : r/exmormon - reddit.com 6:28), hell fire (3 Ne. It even warns its readers to beware of the devils temptation to disbelieve the doctrine of a personal devil and that there is an actual place and/or state called hell. 20:14), or the outer darkness (Matt. So, if you are directly listing to Satan, like Cain, and actively turning away from God, like Cain, then you can become a Son of Perdition. Death brought a reversal of their conditions wherein the rich man in hell became a beggar, longing for a drop of water from the finger of Lazarus, who was now in heaven, or Abrahams bosom. In the parable Abraham explained the impossibility of receiving his request, because between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence (Luke 16:1926). I did cite sources spoken from the pulpit by a prophet. It occurs in a doctrinal discussion Alma conducted with his son Corianton. (See D&C 76:2835, 4448.) 28:2223). He stated that converts made by the Pharisees became twofold more the child of hell than their teachers (Matt. To look closer at this possibility, lets break humans into two categories: 1) Those who have never been Mormon; 2) Those who are or once were Mormon. Source: https://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/What_is_Mormon_Doctrine.pdf. As explained in D&C 88:11-13: Ball (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2001), 7789. 15:29, 35; Alma 19:29; 54:7), sleep of hell (2 Ne. I wonder if the language is tripping people up here. 21:8; cf. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the tormented rich man in hell . Articles 1 - 7 will help your candle last longer and perform its best. The wicked, or in this particular context, the sons of perdition who are filthy still after judgment and resurrection, are assigned to everlasting punishment (see 2 Ne. Just one rebellion. 20:1314). Hell Second Death, Lake of Fire and Brimstone, and Outer Darkness In this state of torment Alma remembered his fathers teachings about Jesus Christ and his redemptive mission. He once said that a person. 15:2830). Outer Darkness - Social Hall - Mormon Dialogue & Discussion Board. Outer darkness is a place reserved for the Devil, his angels, and the sons of perdition. It is an eternal destination, a place where very few (if any) human beings will ever be sent. One must be on a high eminence to fall so low; and few in worlds history have attained such a height. So I found one, by Joseph F. Smith, Thus we see that the first death which came into the world is also the last death which shall be pronounced upon the sons of perdition. In short, Outer Darkness is eternal torture. 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. They place themselves beyond the power of repentance and beyond the mercies of God. (see Rom. We believe that after the final judgment there are four places to which a person may be sent. Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. Alma the Younger contributed even more insight on the second death when he gave the wicked people of Ammonihah a detailed description of the fate of those who harden their hearts against the word of God: Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned. Generally, the outer darkness is thought to be hell; however, many Christians associate the outer darkness more generally as a place of separation from God or from the metaphorical "wedding banquet" that Jesus is expected to have upon his Second Coming .