We believe that after the final judgment there are four places to which a person may be sent. The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. 5:22), burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt. What do Mormons believe happened in the pre-existence? kingdoms of glory. Though we have this clarity in the scriptures that we carry with us daily, few members are aware that this insight is there." 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. 22:13). They did what they did with their eyes open, and were in rebellion against God. 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. Big Love's episode "Outer Darkness" Summary: It is not our intention to discuss details of the portrayal of the temple ceremony here. In Mormonism, it depends. This is not an easy thing to do unless you are choosing to do so while being fully aware that you are doing so. and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). . Alma 40 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Through his Atonement, Resurrection, and ministry in the spirit world, Christ provided a bridge by which repentant souls could cross the gulf from hell to spiritual freedom. 1:18). In the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), "outer darkness" has two separate meanings.. 8 - 14 are for safety. 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. So a heads up, this does not include you or any one who has ever been or will be born on Earth. 2:11). No exact details are given. 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. (1) We believe in trimming our wicks to 1/4 between each burn. Hence, the term outer darkness. 14:1519). 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. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism). The Book of Mormon clarifies that the lake of fire and brimstone is a metaphor for the suffering of the wicked. 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). 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. . 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. 22:13) that awaits the wicked? From its beginnings, it taught that very few people would go to "outer darkness" the Mormon concept of hell. Hmmm.. I doubt whether it can be found, from the revelations that are given and the facts as they exist, that there is a female in all the regions of hell. Brigham Young Journal of Discourses 8:222. 5:30). Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. Christians have debated for centuries the nature of the hell fire of which Jesus spoke (Matt. ( 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. Jesus declared that this exalted city would be brought down to hell (Matt. This is serving Satan. The Book of Mormon presents several significant insights concerning the lake of fire and brimstone of which John spoke. (2) We believe in allowing our candles to burn for a maximum of four hours at a time. What qualifies a person to be a Son of Perdition? Just because Hitler, Mao, and Stalin along with Judas Iscariot (as mentioned above) never became Latter-day Saints apparently provides them with a much higher privilegea life in the telestial kingdom over those who once believed but left the true fold, kicking and screaming in their continued fight against the restored church of Jesus Christ. Sons of perdition include (1) those who followed Satan and were cast out of heaven for rebellion during premortality and (2) those who were permitted to be born to this world with physical bodies but then served Satan and turned utterly against God. Continuous suffering, however, is reserved only for sons of perditionthose who are still unclean after the final judgment. They must have had a fullness of knowledge; a testimony which cannot be destroyed. 9:1012, 1516). 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. 18:8), hell fire (Matt. Provo, UT 84602 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. Articles 1 - 7 will help your candle last longer and perform its best. Please read, the source above, What is Official LDS Doctrine. Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels, D&C 29:37-38. Even the most evil of people, including Adolph Hitler and those of his ilk, appear to have a place reserved for them in nothing less than the telestial kingdom. 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). That night not one boy was interested in going to hell! . 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. These men and women cannot be redeemed, and will be the only ones who will suffer the second death. 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. 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. It is true that the only mortals who had once been members are eligible to become sons of perdition, a fact that may worry some former Mormons who wonder if they might be destined for outer darkness. 20:13). . This objection is inconsistent since Mormonism teaches that Lucifer's demon forces, which are clearly destined for "outer darkness," make up one-third of God's "children" (Bruce R. McConkie,Mormon Doctrine, p. 195). Heaven and Hell - Mormonism Research Ministry In each of the New Testament references to outer darkness, Christ declared the punishment that awaits faithless and wicked people. 23:33). Well thats wrapped up as long as no other prophets said oh. 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. The righteousness of some (Abraham or Lazarus) cannot erase the consequences of anothers sins (the rich man). They are the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. Please note that FAIRMormon states it is not doctrine on the website. You are taking quotes that are not Mormon Doctrine. While this is true, please define Mormon Doctrine before saying I did not quote Mormon Doctrine. Hence the saying: They will go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. 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. (Selections of Doctrines of Salvation, p. 462. For many are called, but few are chosen." 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. 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. The Concept of Hell | Book of Mormon Central Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap. Cannot be saved at the last day; except W.W. Phelps who was classified as such by Joseph and then redeemed, and we should only trust prophets on the matter because they dont conflict, unless they do. Yes, they were said by Prophets of their church. 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. 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. (Matt. (You are not one of those spirits since you have a mortal body.). Those who must suffer with Satan for the deeds done in mortality will go with him into outer darkness. Oh yes they did: after a man has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for himlike many of the apostates of Christof the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That ought to bring a sigh of relief to many who are reading this article! You have to be pretty bad to go to the Teresita's kingdom, and horrendous to go to outer darkness. Clearly you dont know what is and is not doctrine, and are trying to throw shade. 21:8). The Book of Mormon provides another testament of the reality of a designated place called hell, where the wicked are consigned. In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. On the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter spoke of the promise David had received that his soul would not be left in hell (Acts 2:27). 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. No Mormon since the 1890 change has had the authority to marry any man to more than one woman. . Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? Which would be a sure-fire way to know that a spirit is headed to Outer Darkness? This is the second death. There are two categories for those who should be considered sons of perdition. FAIRMormon says on this page even: When any man, except the President of the Church, undertakes to proclaim one unsettled doctrine, as among two or more doctrines in dispute, as the settled doctrine of the Church, we may know that he is not moved upon by the Holy Ghost, unless he is acting under the direction and by the authority of the President. Even if a person had once been a Latter-day Saint, Kimball said it still was practically impossible for a human to become a son of perdition: The sin against the Holy Ghost requires such knowledge that it is manifestly impossible for the rank and file to commit such a sin (Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 123) (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual Religion 324 and 325, p. 161). He wrote. So, in conclusion, I would have a hard time believing that you or billions of souls as you put will qualify for perdition even while taking Mormon beliefs into account. But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. Publishing, 19871989), 4:227228. However, sons of perdition cannot achieve forgiveness and will be completely cast outside of the light of God. John did not define the second death other than to make it synonymous with the lake of fire and brimstone that awaits the wicked. Even the regular Wikipedia seems confused: Sons of Perdition are: The pre-mortal spirit followers of Satan. Marcus Dods (New York: Random House, 1950), 781. Twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball wrote. 2. Mormonism - Afterlife and Salvation - Patheos So get what they deserve. Yet how many sins and wrong choices has every humanincluding me and youmade? 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. 10 reasons why a person ought to consider becoming a Christian. The views expressed . 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. Sorry ladies, you cant actually apostatize from the church, I guess (Someone tell Kate Kelly her excommunication is not valid!). 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. 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. 12:22). 12:22; Morm. This analysis will first briefly review what we know from the teachings of the Restoration about hell, second death, the lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness. Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition. outer darkness | Some Mormon Stuff So, in the Mormon view, none of these so-called polygamist marriages are valid, religiously or legally. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Outer Darkness. There are ten references to the lake of fire and brimstone in the Book of Mormon. To the Church in Smyrna the Apostle John wrote: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. The New Testament contains four references to the second death, all located in the Revelation of John. The kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory is called outer darkness. It is doubtful if even Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was sufficiently enlightened to become a son of perdition (Gospel Doctrine,p. 545). 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). 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. Additionally it provides helpful commentary on New Testament passages concerning hell. 8:13). We found these portrayals to be highly inaccurate. In contrast, Book of Mormon references to the second death are embedded in sermons that teach it in context with other essential elements of the plan of salvation. While many Latter-day Saints bristle at the doctrine of hell (i.e., How could a loving God send His children to such a place?), they may have not considered the fact that these spirits were never given the chance to have a physical body because of the wrong choice they made in the preexistence. Again Mormons think this is a very hard place to get into. In Mormonism, it depends. But what is light? They have said things much stranger and I am sure you know of them. Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). Mormon Hell, Sons of Perdition and Outer Darkness - YouTube 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). Their theology was turned upside down! 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. Brigham Young University Professor Larry E. Dahl reported: The word hell appears sixty-two times in the text of the Book of Mormon. What do Mormons mean by 'outer darkness'? - Quora Everyone but the Sons of Perdition and the devil and his devils, will overcome spiritual death through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 20:14), or the outer darkness (Matt. [Discourse given on 20 January 1895.] The second death is a second separation from God, not because of Adams transgression (the first death) but because of ones own failure to repent of personal sin. Grant Building Just one sin. They will live in eternal darkness, torment, and misery with Satan and his angels forever. Smith taught: 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. A lot of people wanted a source on that. 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. Horror Short Film "Outer Darkness" | ALTER | Online Premiere 14:34), awful hell (1 Ne. . So there you go, the souls who end up in Outer Darkness are clearly apostates, or not. 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.). 9:16) after the final judgment. 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. What is it? WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL ANGELS WHO ARE INCAPABLE OF SINNING. 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. 12:16), hell which hath no end (1 Ne. Here, like John and Samuel, Alma equated the second death with the lake of fire and brimstone. Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. 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. Required fields are marked *. Many of the apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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. T F Once a spirit enters Outer Darkness, there will be no leaving there. Although this is an obvious scare tactic, this accusation is not true according to important LDS leaders. Those consigned to hell or outer darkness are partakers of the second death, and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone. Hell - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints When the king asked, "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" 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). 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.. 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. A Vision, Times and Seasons 4 (1 Feb 1843) 6:82-5. 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. Because reasons. 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. He also saw a pale horse with a rider whose name was Death, and Hell followed with him (Rev. 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. The sinner must deal with the self-created gulf on his own, with the help of the Savior and his Atonement. Outer darkness - MormonWiki.org 2:8-10) Jesus' atonement provided immortality for all people. Only a handful of "sons of perdition" would go. The first example would be spirits from the preexistence who sided with Lucifer rather than Jesus at the Council in Heavenwhere it was decided who would become the Savior of the World. In the Book of Mormon the phrase lake of fire and brimstone is used as a metaphor for the suffering that awaits the wicked. This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition. Everyone is already going to the terrestrial kingdom by default. 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. An in depth look at the Mormon doctrine of hell. Today, interpretation of these "outer darkness" verses are a subset of Protestant discussion on hell and annihilationism. 4:32; 3 Ne. . https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22. I did cite sources spoken from the pulpit by a prophet. it could be a reference for the resurrected who gain inheritance on other worlds but without the fulness of