The kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory is called outer darkness. 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. Now go take a nap and rest well! Its just Scary bad. It clarifies how using an obscure quote does not define LDS doctrines or dogmas. 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. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. 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. It is the closest Mormon analogy to the concept of hell in most other Christian traditions. Mormonism. 4:32; 3 Ne. And now behold, I say unto you then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death; then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness. They are the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. 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. 9:16), unquenchable fire (Mosiah 2:38), and hell fire (3 Ne. Though we have this clarity in the scriptures that we carry with us daily, few members are aware that this insight is there." Those who must suffer with Satan for the deeds done in mortality will go with him into outer darkness. 18:8), hell fire (Matt. (2) We believe in allowing our candles to burn for a maximum of four hours at a time. 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. Also, you can read this too. . First, LDS Church scripture uses the term outer darkness to refer to a condition in the spirit world. . Thus, by the definition given by the leaders cited above, these people cannot be considered sons of perdition. 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. 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. (Joseph F. Smith,The Second Death,inBrian H. Stuy (editor), Collected Discourses: Delivered by Wilford Woodruff, his two counselors, the twelve apostles, and others, 18681898, 5 vols., (Woodland Hills, Utah: B.H.S. 14:1819). Jesus of Mormonism but the Jesus of the Bible. 23:33). However, I think the breakdown I have above is accurate because outer darkest is a place of permanence for the filthy. 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. Just one rebellion. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the tormented rich man in hell . It is provided through Christ's atonement and received by personal faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. Banishment from the joys of heaven. Again Mormons think this is a very hard place to get into. Also, the whole thing about Daughters of Perdition. 1:13), gates of hell (2 Ne. In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. So why dont we get outer darkness too? 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. 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. The Book of Mormon teaches that after death, the spirits of those who "chose evil works rather than good" in mortality will be "cast out . 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. However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. Mormons believe we existed before coming to Earth. 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). 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. It also adds insight that, when blended with other essential doctrines, offers a more complete understanding of the plan of salvation. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism). Many of the apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For many are called, but few are chosen." Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition (Conference Reports, October 1958, p. 21). ). 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. In Mormonism, it depends. 2. 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. Following this introduction will be a discussion of the usage of these termsfirst in the New Testament, then in the Book of Mormon. 20:6). 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. 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. So, in the Mormon view, none of these so-called polygamist marriages are valid, religiously or legally. Outer Darkness is the permanent location of Satan and his followers and the Sons of Perdition, who are not redeemed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 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. (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220-221). 801-422-6975. 2. 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. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? That there will also be daughters of Perdition there is no doubt in the minds of the brethren. has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 358). Thank you! 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? Wilford Woodruff in a meeting with the apostles, 1893 D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, 1997) p. 795. The Book of Mormon provides another testament concerning the existence of hell, and explains how one can escape the chains of hell in this life, and an everlasting hell in the next life, through application of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Christ brings to pass the resurrection of all menThe righteous dead go to paradise and the wicked to outer darkness to await the day of their resurrectionAll things will be restored to their proper and perfect frame in the Resurrection. 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 . 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). Okay, so Cain, we have one guaranteed person according to no citation whatsoever. 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. This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition ( Doctrines of Salvation 2:220 ). Conclusion He stated that converts made by the Pharisees became twofold more the child of hell than their teachers (Matt. (1) We believe in trimming our wicks to 1/4 between each burn. We believe that after the final judgment there are four places to which a person may be sent. 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. Please read, the source above, What is Official LDS Doctrine. Unless someone has rejected love, like the Nephites, I believe there is still hope that they will repent. 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). Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), s.v. 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. In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. 22:13) if it is also a place of perpetual fire (Matt. 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. Because reasons. 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). 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). He had a sure witness of the Lord and willfully chose to follow Satan instead. 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. [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]. Return to the Crash Course Mormonism Index. Polygamy with tons more men than women sounds ill-thought out. . One fire certainly shall be the lot of both. [4]. For most, outer darkness, the lake of fire, and the second death have an end, but for the sons of perdition these states continue eternally. 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. Mormons believe that a majority of people on this Earth will go to one of these three heavens. Italics in original). 15:29, 35; Alma 19:29; 54:7), sleep of hell (2 Ne. As with anything in Mormon doctrine, theres a lot of confusion, contradictory information and just all around ignoring a topic that should be as simple as asking a question and getting an answer. They knew better but still chose wrong, one told me. There are three references to outer darkness in the New Testament, all contained in the Gospel of Matthew. Yea, Alma wrote, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell (Alma 36:13). The apostle John saw the final judgment and wrote of the destiny of the wicked: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Please note that FAIRMormon states it is not doctrine on the website. Into the telestial kingdom will go, according to that which is written here in this revelation, the vicious, the unclean, the ungodly (Conference Reports, April 1942, p. 27). So the prophet, meeting with apostles is clear on this, there are women. Usually, when one is going to hell, the unspoken caveat is unless they repent. Banishment from the glory of God. 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. Thus, many would say I fight against the church. Thirty-three times it stands alone, without modifiers or explanation of what it means, as in And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell (Alma 30:60). One example would not be human since they were cast out of heaven with Satan before they could receive a body. 2:4). 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. 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. 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. Women or not. Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smitha general authority who spoke more about this issue than any other leaderstated. 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. 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. Publishing, 19871989), 4:227228. ", 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. In this realm, as the name implies, there will be no light, and consequently no heat. 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. Even if I did, I still am not eligible for outer darkness. In Peters second general epistle to the Church, he taught concerning the angels who had sinned, saying that God cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness (2 Pet. Hence the saying: They will go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. 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. The filthy would be more miserable to dwell with God than to dwell in hell, Morm. 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. 12:22). Also, Mormons believe in three Heavens. The followers of Satan who will suffer with him in eternity. Again, the doctrine of the second death is woven together with other essential parts of the plan of salvation, offering the reader the big picture concerning Gods judgments. That night not one boy was interested in going to hell! Here is one more thing to think about: I work full time with a Christian ministry aimed at converting Mormons. Salvation is release from the guilt and power of sin through God's gift of grace. 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. To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. 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. 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. Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Why Practically NobodyIncluding You, Former MormonWill Ever End up In Outer Darkness, Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). 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. The second death is spiritual and is separation from God. There are ten references to the lake of fire and brimstone in the Book of Mormon. 9:710, 19, 26). In each of the New Testament references to outer darkness, Christ declared the punishment that awaits faithless and wicked people. Outer Darkness. Source: https://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/What_is_Mormon_Doctrine.pdf. 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. That Satan rebelled against Christ and God the Father and was cast out with all of Satans followers and will not receive a body. 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. Provo, UT 84602 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. 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). 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. 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. 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. It must be emphasized that the witness described means that the person has had the heavens opened unto him and has personally seen, and even spoken with, the Savior, and then has turned against Him, bringing him to open shame. 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. 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. So I thought Id get it all out there in one simple post. . Which means that really, no one knows anything about this. 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. The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. 67, LDS Church Archives. 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. 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 . But as with anything, that doesnt stop prophets from talking about it like they knew. it could be a reference for the resurrected who gain inheritance on other worlds but without the fulness of 20:14), or the outer darkness (Matt. No exact details are given. This isnt something like going out and breaking their rule of no drinking. 14:1519). 16:18). Ray L. Huntington and Terry B. Mormons believe that only a Son of Perdition will go to Outer Darkness, their version of most Christian religions understanding of Hell. (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. The sinner must deal with the self-created gulf on his own, with the help of the Savior and his Atonement. 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). The second possible sons of perdition are mortals. The Book of Mormon clarifies that the lake of fire and brimstone is a metaphor for the suffering of the wicked. For example, John saw the judgment in vision and wrote that death and hell delivered up the dead . 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. But wait! A Vision, Times and Seasons 4 (1 Feb 1843) 6:82-5. Matt. John the Revelator heard Christ proclaim that he possessed the keys of hell and of death (Rev. 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. A) Most humans B) Satan C) His angels D) Sons of Perdition. Thus the Book of Mormon does seem to contain a reference to the degrees of glory and outer darkness. 5:22), as were those who failed to cast away their sins (JSM 5:34; cf. 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. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). One must be on a high eminence to fall so low; and few in worlds history have attained such a height. [2] For a discussion of the New Testament words that translate hell, see The Oxford Companion to the Bible, ed. He called the Pharisees and scribes vipers and questioned, How can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matt. 14:34), awful hell (1 Ne. 67, LDS Church Archives. spirit prison. Twenty-nine times the word hell is used with descriptive modifiers, for example, depths of hell (1 Ne. Circumcision. Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap. T F According to a church manual, those who never were Mormon could never be sent to Outer Darkness. 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. [1] See also Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. 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.
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