It also teaches that the Atonement ransoms humankind from physical death through the resurrection and from spiritual death, or hell, through repentance. To the Church in Smyrna the Apostle John wrote: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 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. This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition ( Doctrines of Salvation 2:220 ). Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). 20:14), or the outer darkness (Matt. The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. 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. Meanwhile, sixth President Joseph F. Smith, also taught that a full knowledge of the truth is necessary, adding that not even Judas Iscariotthe betrayer of Jesuswill be destined for Outer Darkness: It is probable that only personages who have acquired similar full knowledge, who willfully and deliberately deny the truth, when they know it to be the truth, can commit the unpardonable sin and become sons of perdition. 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. (See D&C 76:2835, 4448.) [2] For a discussion of the New Testament words that translate hell, see The Oxford Companion to the Bible, ed. 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. Thank you! [1] See also Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. (Selections of Doctrines of Salvation, p. 462. But suppose, deep down, I do believe the church is true. Youll never regret it. ", 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. 801-422-6975. (To see his baptism for the dead record and other temple work done for him, click here.). 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. With the sons of perdition, however, even this blessing is denied. 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. Did I really have full knowledge? In this state of torment Alma remembered his fathers teachings about Jesus Christ and his redemptive mission. Only a handful of "sons of perdition" would go. Hence the saying: They will go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. 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. They go too far, and the Spirit leaves themYou cant renew them to repentancyou cannot save them. (Joseph Smith Jr., King Follett Discourse). 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. 14:1519). Thus, the only mortals who can possibly become sons of perdition must be Latter-day Saints who fall/fell away. hell.. Yes, they were said by Prophets of their church. 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. This is the choice of an individual to reject God. 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. He stated that converts made by the Pharisees became twofold more the child of hell than their teachers (Matt. With the exception of those who left the church and later rejoined, every other former Mormon left the church because they believed it is not true. Following this introduction will be a discussion of the usage of these termsfirst in the New Testament, then in the Book of Mormon. 14:1819). 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. 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. 13:42), the fire that never shall be quenched (Mark 9:45), where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:48), and cast into the fire (Luke 3:9). Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie have rejected the idea that those in perdition can ultimately be redeemed, which contradicts Brighams speculations. 5:22), and the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone of which the apostle John wrote (Rev. Banishment from the power of God. Please read, the source above, What is Official LDS Doctrine. Now go take a nap and rest well! They believe that they are mortal men capable of mistakes just like the rest of us. A Vision, Times and Seasons 4 (1 Feb 1843) 6:82-5. It honors and glorifies Satan. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 195456), 31.; Bruce R. McConkie, Seven Deadly Heresies, 1 June 1980, BYU Marriot Center.). 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. Another name for Outer Darkness is hell. 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. Serve Satan. . 9:16; emphasis added). 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? 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. 2:4). 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). What is Outer Darkness? In Jesus parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus contrasted the afterlife state of the lowly Lazarus with that of the self-absorbed rich man. 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. 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. Another manual states, Baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). 34:3435; note Almas repetitive use of the word state in Alma 40:1112; see also D&C 101:9091; 133:7073). 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.). 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. So we can clearly state no women are Sons of Perdition in outer darkness. Additional doctrinal truth concerning the great gulf can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 138:1837). 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. Twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball wrote. This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. It clarifies how using an obscure quote does not define LDS doctrines or dogmas. 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. Does this description of God make it sound as if he is just (at least according to an LDS context)? Sons of Perdition are to be cast out with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire [i.e., overcome or defeated by Christs Atonement]. 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. Usually, when one is going to hell, the unspoken caveat is unless they repent. D&C 76 does say telestial people are the ones thrust down to hell and not redeemed until the last resurrection. No exact details are given. and they were judged every man according to their works (Rev. 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. 12:16), hell which hath no end (1 Ne. An in depth look at the Mormon doctrine of hell. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the tormented rich man in hell . 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. 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. In the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), "outer darkness" has two separate meanings.. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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). 9:16), unquenchable fire (Mosiah 2:38), and hell fire (3 Ne. 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. 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. 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. Its just Scary bad. That night not one boy was interested in going to hell! Your email address will not be published. We will, however, address some of the portrayals of other LDS beliefs and practices that were depicted in this episode. 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. Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. There are ten references to the lake of fire and brimstone in the Book of Mormon. 4. As explained in D&C 88:11-13: While Christianity affirms that many people who were created by God will perish in hell, Mormonism also espouses this . 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. 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. Christians have debated for centuries the nature of the hell fire of which Jesus spoke (Matt. Those consigned to hell or outer darkness are partakers of the second death, and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone. In each of the New Testament references to outer darkness, Christ declared the punishment that awaits faithless and wicked people. Finally, John saw that death and hell delivered up the dead to be judged according to their works, and death and hell were cast into [a] lake of fire (Rev. That Satan rebelled against Christ and God the Father and was cast out with all of Satans followers and will not receive a body. 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. 5:22), burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt. One memorable night, he instructed us about the pains of hell. He asked us to imagine being stabbed and having that initial intense pain of the insertion of the knife last for twenty years. One must be on a high eminence to fall so low; and few in worlds history have attained such a height. What qualifies a person to be a Son of Perdition? 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, 78, 98 ). Temporary abode of the wicked. 10 reasons why a person ought to consider becoming a Christian. In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. 9:710, 19, 26). 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. 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). Alma 40. 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. ; Mormon Temple Worship. Hence, the term outer darkness. . 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). When I was Mormon, I was taught that in order to be sent to Outer Darkness (I'm a woman, that will be relevant in a second) you had to have an UNMISTAKABLE KnOwLeDgE of Christ, and then turn your back on God and deny him. 15:29, 35; Alma 19:29; 54:7), sleep of hell (2 Ne. Think along the lines of a religious leader serving God but the opposite. 12:22; Morm. 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. It is, therefore, important to examine carefully the context of each reference. This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. Also, you can read this too. WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL ANGELS WHO ARE INCAPABLE OF SINNING. And, if you havent come into relationship with the Jesus of the Bible, I encourage you to do some homework and meet Him. Mormon doctrines are often contradictory and inconsistent. 14:34), awful hell (1 Ne. Jesus declared that this exalted city would be brought down to hell (Matt. Dennis L. Largey was an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University when this was published. 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. No Mormon since the 1890 change has had the authority to marry any man to more than one woman. In this realm, as the name implies, there will be no light, and consequently no heat. They have said things much stranger and I am sure you know of them. That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. John did not define the second death other than to make it synonymous with the lake of fire and brimstone that awaits the wicked. 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. 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). Pingback: The Shunning Key by bwv549 - Mormon Bandwagon, A Son of Perdition is: 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. In this parable, a king arranged a wedding for his son, but the normal guests did not come; therefore, the king sent his servants to gather guests from off the street. 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. 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). What is the Mormon plan of salvation? 2:8-10) Jesus' atonement provided immortality for all people. 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. For many are called, but few are chosen." 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. Ah yes, well with clarity like that, why would Jeremy ever doubt them and ask for official sources! He also saw a pale horse with a rider whose name was Death, and Hell followed with him (Rev. 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). 8:17), and endless hell (Moro. 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. 2:11). Rev. When the king asked, "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" 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. T F According to a church manual, those who never were Mormon could never be sent to Outer Darkness. 2. The New Testament contains four references to the second death, all located in the Revelation of John. The Book of Mormon presents several significant insights concerning the lake of fire and brimstone of which John spoke. [1], Other views include those of Zane C. Hodges who controversially suggested that it represents a place for those who make it to heaven based on their faith, but have failed to perform good works during their time on the earth.[2]. They will not have access to the Holy Ghost or Heavenly Father or Jesus. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), s.v. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. Additionally it provides helpful commentary on New Testament passages concerning hell. Banishment into outer darkness. So the prophet, meeting with apostles is clear on this, there are women. If Lucifer had not known the effects of his rebellion, how would he ever become perdition? Just one sin. We believe that after the final judgment there are four places to which a person may be sent. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 185 Heber J. This is serving Satan. Hell is outer darkness; it is the lake of fire; and it is the second death. Yet I never was baptized and confirmed into this church. This isnt something like going out and breaking their rule of no drinking. Articles 1 - 7 will help your candle last longer and perform its best. But what is light? 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. That there will also be daughters of Perdition there is no doubt in the minds of the brethren. 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). The city of Capernaum was upbraided for its lack of faith in view of the miracles Jesus performed there. Mormons believe that only a Son of Perdition will go to Outer Darkness, their version of most Christian religions understanding of Hell. This is the final destination of Satan himself. Utterly turn against god. 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. For many years, those who have forfeited their membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may have been told by other Mormons that they were Sons of Perdition destined for Outer Darkness. (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. 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. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. 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. 20:6). 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. Brigham Young University Professor Larry E. Dahl reported: The word hell appears sixty-two times in the text of the Book of Mormon. Big Love's episode "Outer Darkness" Summary: It is not our intention to discuss details of the portrayal of the temple ceremony here. 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! If you want to make the point that Mormon Prophets have said some weird stuff, I am all for it. Each differing in Glory but all great places to go. 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. Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap.