Often in the scriptures it is difficult to discern which helltemporary or permanentis being spoken of, since many references to hell in the scriptures are used in a nonspecific manner to simply designate a place or state of suffering for the wicked. 34:3435; note Almas repetitive use of the word state in Alma 40:1112; see also D&C 101:9091; 133:7073). One fire certainly shall be the lot of both. [4]. Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? (see Rom. Here, like John and Samuel, Alma equated the second death with the lake of fire and brimstone. Those mortals who never join the LDS Church (through baptism) cannot become sons of perdition. 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. 14:1519). Ball (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2001), 7789. 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. Big Love's episode "Outer Darkness" Summary: It is not our intention to discuss details of the portrayal of the temple ceremony here. First, it is another name for spirit prison, a temporary place in the postmortal world for those who died without a knowledge of the truth or those who were disobedient in mortality. Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smitha general authority who spoke more about this issue than any other leaderstated. Any person who inherits one of the . But unofficial prophets speaking at BYU or in their own books say no, except Brigham in the Journal of Discourses which is unofficial. Thank you! So why dont we get outer darkness too? (Joseph F. Smith,The Second Death,inBrian H. Stuy (editor), Collected Discourses: Delivered by Wilford Woodruff, his two counselors, the twelve apostles, and others, 18681898, 5 vols., (Woodland Hills, Utah: B.H.S. 5:22), as were those who failed to cast away their sins (JSM 5:34; cf. Outer Darkness. The Book of Mormon presents several significant insights concerning the lake of fire and brimstone of which John spoke. [2] For a discussion of the New Testament words that translate hell, see The Oxford Companion to the Bible, ed. Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap. Marcus Dods (New York: Random House, 1950), 781. And remember you can be excommunicated for asking church leaders to give solid answers so trust the apologists who say to only trust the prophets on matters like this. 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. There are two categories for those who should be considered sons of perdition. The Outer Darkness Dilemma - Official Website of the ex-Mormon Apologist This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. They will not have a kingdom of glory. 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. However, sons of perdition cannot achieve forgiveness and will be completely cast outside of the light of God. Why practically nobody-including you, former Mormon-will ever end up in 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 . Did I really have full knowledge? Source: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/sons-of-perdition. One must be on a high eminence to fall so low; and few in worlds history have attained such a height. A representation of the tree degrees of glory and outer darkness. 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. At the same time, prophets and apostles have taught that you can be sent to outer darkness for simply disbelieving or for apostasy or for being a part of a religion that doesn't have apostles. Does this description of God make it sound as if he is just (at least according to an LDS context)? So we can clearly state no women are Sons of Perdition in outer darkness. What is the Book of Mormons contribution to our understanding of the New Testaments teachings concerning hell, or that lake of fire John calls the second death (Rev. The Three Most Abominable Sins | Religious Studies Center But to pass it off as a belief of an entire Church, organization and people is wrong. In Mormonism, it depends. Only a handful of "sons of perdition" would go. Gregory A. Boyd, Paul R. Eddy Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology pp285 2009 "For example, how can hell be a place of outer darkness (Matt. Yes, they were said by Prophets of their church. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List, You continue to fight against the true church, Those spirits who rebelled against God in the preexistence are the original sons of perdition. This is the choice of an individual to reject God. No exact details are given. 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. Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever. Hell is outer darkness; it is the lake of fire; and it is the second death. Temporary abode of the wicked. Outer Darkness, I always heard, was reserved for a handful of suckers like Cain and Judas who saw God and/or Jesus and were still rebellious. Thank you! Jacob identified death and hell as temporal and spiritual death. Because reasons. 11:23). To qualify, a person would not only have to leave the Mormon church but also vehemently speak against it. 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. In addition, Alma defined the second death as dying as to things pertaining unto righteousness. These individuals are chained down to an everlasting destruction and are subject to the will of Satan. 11:3940; 18:13), pains of hell (Jacob 3:1112; Alma 14:6; 26:13; 36:13), chains of hell (Alma 5:7, 910; 12:11; 13:30; 26:14), child of hell (Alma 11:23; 54:11), powers of hell (Alma 48:17), everlasting hell (Hel. Italics in original). For example, John saw the judgment in vision and wrote that death and hell delivered up the dead . 18:8), hell fire (Matt. That ought to bring a sigh of relief to many who are reading this article! You quoted a website (Wikipedia) which is not doctrine and another website (FAIRMormon) which directly says it is not doctrine. The Book of Mormon also teaches that by coming unto Christ, one can escape the pains of hell experienced in this life. and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). Outer Darkness - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints With the sons of perdition, however, even this blessing is denied. 4. In the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), "outer darkness" has two separate meanings.. This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220). 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. The punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, D&C 19:10-12. 1:13), gates of hell (2 Ne. It is impossible for those who never joined Mormonism to become sons of perdition. And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end (1 Ne. However, not once have I ever suspected such a person to be a closet believer in Mormonism. Alma 40. Matt. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 195456), 31.; Bruce R. McConkie, Seven Deadly Heresies, 1 June 1980, BYU Marriot Center.). The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. 9:16), unquenchable fire (Mosiah 2:38), and hell fire (3 Ne. What is Outer Darkness? 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. The question is, what exactly does full knowledge entail? Outer darkness is a eternal place of torment reserved for those who are "sons of perdition." According to LDS scripture, this will be a place that "where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth" (Doctrine and Covenants 101:91; also see 133:73). They knew better but still chose wrong, one told me. 5:22), and the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone of which the apostle John wrote (Rev. I wonder if the language is tripping people up here. Mormons believe that there Prophets are fallible and in no way perfect. One of these guests, however, appeared without the proper wedding attire. 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. To become a son of perdition one must sin against the Holy Ghost, but before that is possible, one must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual Religion 324 and 325, 2001, p. 161). . And, if you havent come into relationship with the Jesus of the Bible, I encourage you to do some homework and meet Him. And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment (Mosiah 2:3839). So only a prophet can put the matter to rest well, thats nice that Brigham said there were no women, Joseph F. said there were no women, but Wilford Woodruff said there was no debate and there must be women. 3. For example, Alma the Younger was delivered from the intensity of his hellish pain when he cried to the Lord for mercy. This is the final destination of Satan himself. What do Mormons mean by 'outer darkness'? - Quora The city of Capernaum was upbraided for its lack of faith in view of the miracles Jesus performed there. Banishment into outer darkness. They go too far, and the Spirit leaves themYou cant renew them to repentancyou cannot save them. (Joseph Smith Jr., King Follett Discourse). 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. By EntropyJustKillUsNow, March 29, 2017 in Social Hall. A lot of people wanted a source on that. Grant Building Over the 30 years in Christian ministry, I have met many former Mormons who once believed in Mormonism, but none has ever confessed that they still believe Mormonism to be true. Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. So apostates from the church are clearly included in this list. Required fields are marked *. The second death is spiritual and is separation from God. Sons of Perdition are to be cast out with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. Outer darkness - MormonWiki.org Who of the following is NOT eligible for Outer Darkness. From its beginnings, it taught that very few people would go to "outer darkness" the Mormon concept of hell. 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. Hell is a state of suffering, both temporary and permanent. Publishing, 19871989), 4:227228. 13:40), cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 40 talks in 40 days for General Conference, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. How impossible would it be for a former Mormon (with full knowledge, even!) Hell - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints kingdoms of glory. Your email address will not be published. Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever; and then is the time that they shall be chained down to an everlasting destruction, according to the power and captivity of Satan, he having subjected them according to his will. St. Augustine wrote: Hell, which also is called a lake of fire and brimstone, will be material fire, and will torment the bodies of the damned, whether men or devilsthe solid bodies of the one, aerial bodies of the others; or if only men have bodies as well as souls, yet the evil spirits, though without bodies, shall be so connected with the bodily fires as to receive pain without imparting life. Source: https://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/What_is_Mormon_Doctrine.pdf. And I said unto them that it was a representation of that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked. The wicked are cast into outer darkness until the time of their resurrection, Alma 40:13-14. Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Why Practically NobodyIncluding You, Former MormonWill Ever End up In Outer Darkness, Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). . Bold and italics in original). Jesus marvelled at the faith of a centurion he met in Capernaum and proclaimed that many would come from the east and west, and [would] sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 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. Those who must suffer with Satan for the deeds done in mortality will go with him into outer darkness. That last part of the previous sentence is very important. We probably do not want to know how horrible it is just like in this life, some things that are so horrible that happen (especially to children) wed rather not know about it, if possible. In the Latter Day Saint movement, "outer darkness" can refer to hell (the place where the spirits of the wicked reside after death but before the resurrection)[3] or to the place where the sons of perdition will reside. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. As a young boy, I attended a two-week Christian camp. 20:1314). A) Never had a body B) Did evil things in this world C) Never joined the LDS Church D) All of the above are true. They are the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, 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. 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. (You are not one of those spirits since you have a mortal body.). 20:6). 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. 5. 22:13) that awaits the wicked? The apostle John saw the final judgment and wrote of the destiny of the wicked: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. One example would not be human since they were cast out of heaven with Satan before they could receive a body. 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. So, in the Mormon view, none of these so-called polygamist marriages are valid, religiously or legally. 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.