This is the second death. 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). Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? One of these guests, however, appeared without the proper wedding attire. Those consigned to hell or outer darkness are partakers of the second death, and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone. Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). The Book of Mormon discusses with great clarity the ultimate punishment reserved exclusively for the sons of perdition, or those who are filthy still (2 Ne. 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. 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. 20:14), or the outer darkness (Matt. Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? 10:28). But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. 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. You not only need to have been a Mormon, but you have to have full knowledge that this is the restored church of God and still fought against it. This is a Son of perdition. What is the Mormon plan of salvation? This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the tormented rich man in hell . 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. To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. Even if I did, I still am not eligible for outer darkness. kingdoms of glory. 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. I was taught that to be condemned to outer darkness you would have to deny Christ to his very face and that could occur . The sinner must deal with the self-created gulf on his own, with the help of the Savior and his Atonement. 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 phrase first occurs in Jesus' comment concerning the faith of the Centurion of Capernaum: And I say to thee that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven: But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In the Bible, the phrases lake of fire and lake of fire and brimstone, describing the fate of the wicked, are unique to the book of Revelation. 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. For example, Alma the Younger was delivered from the intensity of his hellish pain when he cried to the Lord for mercy. (2) We believe in allowing our candles to burn for a maximum of four hours at a time. 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. 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. 67, LDS Church Archives. It is simply his opinion. Serve Satan. And the definition contains all of the pre-mortal spirits who followed Lucifer, which would imply that God created a lot more male spirits than women spirits and maybe thats why there was a war in Heaven. Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. 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. to become a son of perdition? 22:13). 25:30). Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition (Conference Reports, October 1958, p. 21). 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). Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The. These spirits never received a mortal body necessary to progress to a kingdom of glory. 2:11). In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), a son of perdition is a person who will not take part in the glory of God in the afterlife. it could be a reference for the resurrected who gain inheritance on other worlds but without the fulness of Banishment from the joys of heaven. 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.. 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. First, LDS Church scripture uses the term outer darkness to refer to a condition in the spirit world. Jesus also referred to outer darkness in two parables he gave during the last week of his life. Though we have this clarity in the scriptures that we carry with us daily, few members are aware that this insight is there." If Lucifer had not known the effects of his rebellion, how would he ever become perdition? It doesnt matter because I never joined. The New Testament contains four references to the second death, all located in the Revelation of John. 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. Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition. Mormonism. I can give you more than plenty of examples of that. Ah yes, well with clarity like that, why would Jeremy ever doubt them and ask for official sources! Can someone get out of this state of Perdition once they are in it? The Bible teaches that there is a devil and a hell, but the place of hell in the plan of salvation is taught best by the Book of Mormon. Smith described these spirits who were the first to display rebellious ways: Lucifer became perdition by rebellion. spirit prison. For many are called, but few are chosen." This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). (You are not one of those spirits since you have a mortal body.). That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. Banishment from the presence of God. 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). Jacob identified death and hell as temporal and spiritual death. 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 . 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. To the Church in Smyrna the Apostle John wrote: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 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. Mormons believe that a majority of people on this Earth will go to one of these three heavens. Bad as they may suffer, and awful as their punishment may be, they are not among that group which is to suffer the eternal death and banishment from all influence concerning the power of God (Conference Reports, October 1958, 21). 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. Even the wicked of the earth who never knew the power of God, after they have paid the price of their sinningfor they must suffer the excruciating torment which sins will bringshall at last come forth from the prison house. 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 . 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. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. Because reasons. They believe that they are mortal men capable of mistakes just like the rest of us. Banishment from the glory of God. Continuous suffering, however, is reserved only for sons of perditionthose who are still unclean after the final judgment. Outer Darkness - Social Hall - Mormon Dialogue & Discussion Board. 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? 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. How impossible would it be for a former Mormon (with full knowledge, even!) The Prophet Joseph Smith would not countenance the teaching of this doctrine, and sanctioned the decision of the bishop that any who taught it should be barred from communion (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 125). We believe that after the final judgment there are four places to which a person may be sent. The second possible sons of perdition are mortals. And, if you havent come into relationship with the Jesus of the Bible, I encourage you to do some homework and meet Him. It is provided through Christ's atonement and received by personal faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. . Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smitha general authority who spoke more about this issue than any other leaderstated. Outer Darkness. Salvation is release from the guilt and power of sin through God's gift of grace. Later in the same discourse Alma blended the doctrines of the Fall, agency, and the second death together as an admonition to keep the commandments of God (see Alma 12:3137). (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220-221). He wrote. . It is impossible for those who never joined Mormonism to become sons of perdition. 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. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. 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. 6:28), hell fire (3 Ne. They will not have a kingdom of glory. Okay so clearly we have billions of souls who qualify as perdition and go to outer darkness according to one prophet in his personal books and not officially speaking as a prophet. 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. ; Mormon Temple Worship. 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). 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. 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. He was not ignorant, and therefore he became perdition, and they who followed him were sons of perdition, because he and they sinned knowingly. They have wilfully (sic) made themselves servants of Satan and servants to him shall they remain forever. Did I really have full knowledge? 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. When I bring this issue up with some Latter-day Saints, I sometimes get defensive arguments. (Matt. Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? 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. Other sources used in composing this topic: http://en.fairmormon.org/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_darkness#Usage_in_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement, http://en.fairmormon.org/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Eventual_fate, http://emp.byui.edu/satterfieldb/quotes/Sons%20of%20Perdition.htm. 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. In Mormonism, it depends. 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. Each person must reap the harvest of the seeds sown in this life. 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 ). What do Mormons believe happened in the pre-existence? https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Outer_Darkness&oldid=27067. 10 reasons why a person ought to consider becoming a Christian. For example: everlasting fire (Matt. Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. They once held membership in the church (through baptism/confirmation); They had full knowledge of their apostasy from the true and restored church of Jesus Christ; They continue to fight against the LDS Church despite their knowledge. Jesus of Mormonism but the Jesus of the Bible. The New Testament testifies that there is an actual place identified as hell into which people can be cast, as in the case of the wicked, and from which they can lift up their eyes, as in the case of the rich man, and from which they can be delivered, as in the case of King David. The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. This is full on rejection of God. . . 14:18.) . Nephis words can thus be applied to Jesus parable: the reason the rich man could not cross the great gulf to Abrahams bosom, or the reason the wicked could not join the Saints of God at the tree of life, is because the justice of God does not permit it. In Mormonism, it depends. Just one rebellion. Although this is an obvious scare tactic, this accusation is not true according to important LDS leaders. Mormons believe that only a Son of Perdition will go to Outer Darkness, their version of most Christian religions understanding of Hell. 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. (-Joseph Smith in the King Follett Discourse), There is my definition I used in my previous post. In my last post, I claimed that I might be a candidate for outer darkness. Through baptism and confirmation by priesthood authority, you became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, 2004, p. 21, So, even if you attended LDS Church services, sang the hymns, and even partook of the weekly sacrament, yet you were never baptized and confirmed into the faith, you can never become a son of perdition. 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). While John could be referring to the sons of perdition in this passage, the specific sins he identified are characteristic of those who will suffer in hell but, after experiencing their part in the lake of fire, will be released from their torment and be resurrected to a telestial glory (see D&C 76:10312). 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. 5:30). Those in this second group will be resurrected from the dead but will not be redeemed from the second (spiritual) death and cannot dwell in a kingdom of glory (D&C 88:32, 35). True, some former Mormons have expressed doubts and wondered if the church might possibly be true, which is a completely natural response after having left the one true church. If they decided they made a mistake because they still believed the church were true, they would be more apt to rejoin it rather than stay excommunicated and fight against it. Note the Book of Mormons addition of the words is as. Unless someone has rejected love, like the Nephites, I believe there is still hope that they will repent. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 125). For example, John saw the judgment in vision and wrote that death and hell delivered up the dead . 2. Additional doctrinal truth concerning the great gulf can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 138:1837). But what is light? Who of the following is NOT eligible for Outer Darkness. They must have had a fullness of knowledge; a testimony which cannot be destroyed. Yes, they were said by Prophets of their church. 22:13-14, D-R.). This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220). 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. 22:13) that awaits the wicked? 16:18). Yet I an certainly exempt from outer darkness, no questions asked. About 74 B.C. The sons of perdition are those who have had a knowledge of the truth, have known that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, have had the testimony of the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Ghost, and these things have all been revealed so that they know they are true; and then they turn against them and fight them knowingly (Conference Reports, April 1942, p. 27. 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. 4:32; 3 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. The kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory is called outer darkness. ( Miracle of Forgiveness 129-30) The Lord Will Judge For persons not to receive forgiveness neither in this world nor in the world to come does not mean that they will be cast into outer darkness, for the sin of murder can be pardoned even though it is unforgivable. 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. [3] Larry E. Dahl, The Concept of Hell, in Doctrines of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992), 4243. Circumcision. T F Once a spirit enters Outer Darkness, there will be no leaving there. 21:8; see also 19:20). Mormon theology ultimately portrays Outer Darkness as heaven, and Satan as the God of that realm. Alma 40. Matt. However, sons of perdition cannot achieve forgiveness and will be completely cast outside of the light of God. One must be on a high eminence to fall so low; and few in worlds history have attained such a height. 20:1314). 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. Johns announcement of death and hell releasing their dead for judgment is augmented by the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob, who taught the same doctrine but provided significantly more detail. Latter Day Saint beliefs on hell are connected with the movement's doctrines of the plan of salvation, the degrees of glory and the telestial kingdom. Samuel also confirms the relationship John spoke of between the second death and the wicked being cast into fire, but he adds this explanatory clause: For they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness.. However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. Italics in original). 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. Your email address will not be published. Who will partake of it, and what is the nature of the eternal torment? In Outer Darkness, there is endless lamentation and no divine presence. Required fields are marked *. The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. T F According to a church manual, those who never were Mormon could never be sent to Outer Darkness. 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). (J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Church Leaders and the Scriptures, [original title When Are the Writings or Sermons of Church Leaders Entitled to the Claim of Scripture?] Immortality and Eternal Life: Reflections from the Writings and Messages of President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Vol, 2, (1969-70): 221; address to Seminary and Institute Teachers, BYU (7 July 1954); reproduced in Church News (31 July 1954); also reprinted in Dialogue 12/2 (Summer 1979): 6881.).