A person would have to be very wicked to know the church was true yet still fight against it! 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 Youll never regret it. https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22. Each differing in Glory but all great places to go. (p. 273). He wrote. Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? I have no fear of hell fire, that doesnt exist, but the torment and disappointment of the mind of man is as exquisite as a lake burning with fire and brimstoneso is the torment of man. Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church. It also teaches that the Atonement ransoms humankind from physical death through the resurrection and from spiritual death, or hell, through repentance. 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. 20:14). [1] The pains of hell can also be experienced in mortality (Jacob 3:11). 21:8). 20:1314). 3:20; 10:9- 10; Eph. By taking 2 Nephi 2:25 to its logical conclusion, we learn that Satan also fell that men might be, and that they might have joy! In Mormonism, it depends. 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). About 74 B.C. 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. D&C 76 does say telestial people are the ones thrust down to hell and not redeemed until the last resurrection. 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). Your email address will not be published. Sons of Perdition are to be cast out with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. 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. The sinner must deal with the self-created gulf on his own, with the help of the Savior and his Atonement. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. While this is true, please define Mormon Doctrine before saying I did not quote Mormon Doctrine. Think along the lines of a religious leader serving God but the opposite. If their Prophet wrote in a journal, or said to someone in passing, or gave a talk a local school saying that, Eating toast without butter is a sin worthy of hell! that does not make it a Mormon Doctrine. . Hell - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints From its beginnings, it taught that very few people would go to "outer darkness" the Mormon concept of hell. 25:30). Also, the whole thing about Daughters of Perdition. 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. T F According to a church manual, those who never were Mormon could never be sent to Outer Darkness. The Sons of Perdition are those who have lived as mortal men and women on the earth, have had the heavens opened to them and received a certain knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, and then have rejected the Savior, "having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:34-35; see also Doctrine and Covenants 76:3133, 3637). (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220-221). Is outer darkness reserved for apostate LDS? - Ask Gramps Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie have rejected the idea that those in perdition can ultimately be redeemed, which contradicts Brighams speculations. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 758. While Christianity affirms that many people who were created by God will perish in hell, Mormonism also espouses this . Jacob identified death and hell as temporal and spiritual death. 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. . The first death is physical death, and everyone but the devil and his angels will overcome physical death through Resurrection. Now go take a nap and rest well! Do Mormons Believe in Hell? - Truth in Love Ministry what about that 1/3 the host of heaven who didnt follow Gods plan Joseph F. Smith was so sure qualify as Sons of Perdition were NONE of them women? With the sons of perdition, however, even this blessing is denied. Today, interpretation of these "outer darkness" verses are a subset of Protestant discussion on hell and annihilationism. 9:16) after the final judgment. Do "apostates" go to outer darkness or telestial kingdom? 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). You quoted a website (Wikipedia) which is not doctrine and another website (FAIRMormon) which directly says it is not doctrine. 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). 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. There are ten references to the lake of fire and brimstone in the Book of Mormon. Conclusion Learn how your comment data is processed. Required fields are marked *. 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). 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. It is taught that, in the pre-mortal life, they chose to follow a plan proposed by Satan, rather than that presented by God the Father. 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. It honors and glorifies Satan. This is the choice of an individual to reject God. Mormon Wiki, for example has a pretty specific definition of who doesnt go there but lacks any citations: Sons of Perdition as those few souls who have been born on this earth who have been made partakers of Gods power, yet suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy God by denying the Holy Spirit after having received it, denying the Only Begotten Son and put him to an open shame. They openly and knowingly fight against God and Christ, having sided with Satan even though they had once tasted of full gospel knowledge by the power of the Holy Ghost.There are those who fear that they have committed the unpardonable sin, because they have not been faithful members of the Church. 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). Another name for Outer Darkness is hell. 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). 23:15). It's not as simple as you make it out to be. The ex-mortal sons of perdition will be resurrected, as will everyone else; but they will finally suffer the second death, the spiritual death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. (Hel. 21:8; cf. 8:17), and endless hell (Moro. 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. 2:4). The celestial, terrestrial, and telestial are kingdoms of glory. Mormon doctrines are often contradictory and inconsistent. The LDS version of the King James Bible and the Book of Mormon help us to understand that the word black is actually a Hebrew idiom, meaning gloomy, dejected, or spiritual darkness, and has nothing to do with skin tone. Who of the following is NOT eligible for Outer Darkness. 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. That last part of the previous sentence is very important. 15:29, 35; Alma 19:29; 54:7), sleep of hell (2 Ne. (To see his baptism for the dead record and other temple work done for him, click here.). Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. 2. Jesus also referred to outer darkness in two parables he gave during the last week of his life. 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. These are they who do two very specific things. Dennis L. Largey was an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University when this was published. New Testament [ edit] But to pass it off as a belief of an entire Church, organization and people is wrong. Mormons believe that there Prophets are fallible and in no way perfect. Italics in original). 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. ABCs of Science and Mormonism now available in Print from Amazon! It is simply his opinion. Okay, so Cain, we have one guaranteed person according to no citation whatsoever. Hell Second Death, Lake of Fire and Brimstone, and Outer Darkness 4:32; 3 Ne. 5. 2:11). The Three Most Abominable Sins | Religious Studies Center . 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. They are the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. 9:710, 19, 26). 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. Mormons also believe that those on Earth with bodies can become a Son of Perdition, tho this is difficult to do. Even if I did, I still am not eligible for outer darkness. 10:28). This is the second death. Spirit world (Latter Day Saints) - Wikipedia As soon as you define doctrine in a way that includes wikipedia, get back to me. In the parable of the wedding of the kings son, the king discovered that a guest was not properly attired in the required wedding garment, i.e., righteousness. 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. The wicked are cast into outer darkness until the time of their resurrection, Alma 40:13-14. 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. 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. The punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, D&C 19:10-12. Twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball wrote. it could be a reference for the resurrected who gain inheritance on other worlds but without the fulness of But wait! In the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), "outer darkness" has two separate meanings.. He was not ignorant, and therefore he became perdition, and they who followed him were sons of perdition, because he and they sinned knowingly. . 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. As Joseph Fielding Smith put it, those mortals who fit into this nebulous category of sons of perdition will suffer permanently while the worst of the worst sinners will suffer only temporarily before receiving a kingdom of glory. We found these portrayals to be highly inaccurate. 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. 15:2830). Outer Darkness. lucifer. 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. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? Brigham Young University Professor Larry E. Dahl reported: The word hell appears sixty-two times in the text of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon clarifies that the lake of fire and brimstone is a metaphor for the suffering of the wicked. 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. This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. 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. 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. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism). John the Revelator heard Christ proclaim that he possessed the keys of hell and of death (Rev. Dennis L. Largey, Hell Second Death, Lake of Fire and Brimstone, and Outer Darkness, inThe Book of Mormon and the Message of the Four Gospels, ed. 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. 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. The second possible sons of perdition are mortals. Smith described these spirits who were the first to display rebellious ways: Lucifer became perdition by rebellion. 8 - 14 are for safety. ", 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. 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. Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? 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. 20:13). 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. So there you go, the souls who end up in Outer Darkness are clearly apostates, or not. Many of the apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What do Mormons believe happened in the pre-existence? The city of Capernaum was upbraided for its lack of faith in view of the miracles Jesus performed there. 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. Ray L. Huntington and Terry B. 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. 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. Yet I an certainly exempt from outer darkness, no questions asked. Source: https://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/What_is_Mormon_Doctrine.pdf. ). Yea, Alma wrote, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell (Alma 36:13). Articles 1 - 7 will help your candle last longer and perform its best. When I bring this issue up with some Latter-day Saints, I sometimes get defensive arguments. Which would be a sure-fire way to know that a spirit is headed to Outer Darkness? The Seeker: 'Big Love' in big trouble with Mormons - Chicago Tribune Hell is outer darkness; it is the lake of fire; and it is the second death. 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. However, not once have I ever suspected such a person to be a closet believer in Mormonism. In this state of torment Alma remembered his fathers teachings about Jesus Christ and his redemptive mission. 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. 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. The Book of Mormon provides another testament of the reality of a designated place called hell, where the wicked are consigned. 67, LDS Church Archives. The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. In Mormonism, it depends. Everyone but the Sons of Perdition and the devil and his devils, will overcome spiritual death through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. outer darkness. GOSH. 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 ). In this realm, as the name implies, there will be no light, and consequently no heat. As used in the New Testament, hell is an English word which is translated from two Greek words: hades (used ten times) and geenna (twelve times). (1) We believe in trimming our wicks to 1/4 between each burn. It is provided through Christ's atonement and received by personal faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. . Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. 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. 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.