Jesus proclaimed to Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against the rock upon which He would build the Church (Matt. (see Rom. Ball (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2001), 7789. and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). What qualifies a person to be a Son of Perdition? But as with anything, that doesnt stop prophets from talking about it like they knew. The second possible sons of perdition are mortals. They go too far, and the Spirit leaves themYou cant renew them to repentancyou cannot save them. (Joseph Smith Jr., King Follett Discourse). . The Plan of Salvation kind of negates the reason for missionary work. This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition ( Doctrines of Salvation 2:220 ). One fire certainly shall be the lot of both. [4]. 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). (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Youll never regret it. I did cite sources spoken from the pulpit by a prophet. Banishment from the joys of heaven. Jesus also referred to outer darkness in two parables he gave during the last week of his life. Mormons believe we existed before coming to Earth. They did what they did with their eyes open, and were in rebellion against God. This is in contrast to the VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, who will receive a kingdom of glory after the Final Judgment, and enter into one of three degrees of glory after the resurrection: celestial, terrestrial, or telestial kingdoms. T F Once a spirit enters Outer Darkness, there will be no leaving there. and they were judged every man according to their works (Rev. Does this description of God make it sound as if he is just (at least according to an LDS context)? As soon as you define doctrine in a way that includes wikipedia, get back to me. Rev. Twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball wrote. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). 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). 18:8), hell fire (Matt. Concerning the first resurrection John observed: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years (Rev. Here, like John and Samuel, Alma equated the second death with the lake of fire and brimstone. Thank you! Ellipsis mine). WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL ANGELS WHO ARE INCAPABLE OF SINNING. These pains are similar to the state of suffering experienced by the ungodly who after mortality are assigned to hell. If you want to make the point that Mormon Prophets have said some weird stuff, I am all for it. So I thought Id get it all out there in one simple post. it could be a reference for the resurrected who gain inheritance on other worlds but without the fulness of 9:1012, 1516). So why dont we get outer darkness too? 2. That ought to bring a sigh of relief to many who are reading this article! That being said, I don't think it really matters at the end of the day, because if it is all real, I want to stay clear away from anyone who the Church says deserves the Celestial Kingdom. 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. The righteousness of some (Abraham or Lazarus) cannot erase the consequences of anothers sins (the rich man). Their theology was turned upside down! All missionaries are doing is trying to upgrade people to a premium plan of ruling over planets and polygamy. 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). (Selections of Doctrines of Salvation, p. 462. 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. About 74 B.C. So we can clearly state no women are Sons of Perdition in outer darkness. It is doubtful if even Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was sufficiently enlightened to become a son of perdition (Gospel Doctrine,p. 545). Outer darkness is not a kingdom of glory. 12:22). 5. 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. (1) We believe in trimming our wicks to 1/4 between each burn. These spirits never received a mortal body necessary to progress to a kingdom of glory. (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.). Because of their disobedience, these spirits ended up not receiving bodies, a necessary ingredient to progress to mortality and be qualified for one of the three kingdoms of glory. 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). In each New Testament passage that speaks of hell (the word hades is neutralneither a place of punishment nor reward but the place of departed spirits) the context associates it with suffering and punishment. The apostle James taught that the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity . Hence, the term outer darkness. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Temporary abode of the wicked. 9:16; emphasis added). 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. 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. What do Mormons believe happened in the pre-existence? This is not an easy thing to do unless you are choosing to do so while being fully aware that you are doing so. Unfortunately, Apple's iOS doesn't support home screen shortcuts in the Chrome browser. 23:15). D&C 133:73 says, These shall go away into outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Humans who never heard about Mormonism will not go there, as tenth President Joseph Fielding Smith said, That is a punishment that will not come to those who have never known the truth. No Mormon since the 1890 change has had the authority to marry any man to more than one woman. T F According to a church manual, those who never were Mormon could never be sent to Outer Darkness. [4] Augustine, The City of God, trans. So the prophet, meeting with apostles is clear on this, there are women. 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. That Satan rebelled against Christ and God the Father and was cast out with all of Satans followers and will not receive a body. One example would not be human since they were cast out of heaven with Satan before they could receive a body. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism). In short, Outer Darkness is eternal torture. Even Nazi dictator Adolph Hitler will get nothing less than the telestial kingdom since he was never baptized/confirmed into the church; work was done in proxy for him in the London, England temple several decades ago. 5:22), and the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone of which the apostle John wrote (Rev. 21:8). 8:17), and endless hell (Moro. 6:8). The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. Learn how your comment data is processed. In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. Jesus warned that those who mocked their brothers by saying Thou fool were in danger of hell fire (Matt. Utterly turn against god. The Book of Mormon contains six references to the second death: one reference by Jacob (Jacob 3:11), three by Alma (Alma 12:16, 32; 13:30), and two by Samuel the Lamanite (Hel. 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. 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. Additional doctrinal truth concerning the great gulf can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 138:1837). 9:16) after the final judgment. 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. Alma 40. Who will partake of it, and what is the nature of the eternal torment? 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. 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. 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. 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. Provo, UT 84602 https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22. The extent of this punishment none will ever know except those who partake of it. Continuous suffering, however, is reserved only for sons of perditionthose who are still unclean after the final judgment. Smith described these spirits who were the first to display rebellious ways: Lucifer became perdition by rebellion. In Mormonism, Outer darkness is described as "those who are unfaithful, those who will listen to Satan, who will lend a willing ear to his blandishments and to his allurements, when they go from this state of existence, they go into a condition where they are subject to his power. 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. 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 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. 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. But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. 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. Mormon theology ultimately portrays Outer Darkness as heaven, and Satan as the God of that realm. 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. Just one sin. . 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. 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. Did I really have full knowledge? That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. 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. In this state of torment Alma remembered his fathers teachings about Jesus Christ and his redemptive mission. The Book of Mormon also makes reference to everlasting fire (2 Ne. 801-422-6975. Jesus declared that this exalted city would be brought down to hell (Matt. Thus, the only mortals who can possibly become sons of perdition must be Latter-day Saints who fall/fell away. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 195456), 31.; Bruce R. McConkie, Seven Deadly Heresies, 1 June 1980, BYU Marriot Center.). 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). 9:16), unquenchable fire (Mosiah 2:38), and hell fire (3 Ne. Although this is an obvious scare tactic, this accusation is not true according to important LDS leaders. 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.