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. Only a handful of "sons of perdition" would go. 1. 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. About 74 B.C. 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). So the prophet, meeting with apostles is clear on this, there are women. 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. So we can clearly state no women are Sons of Perdition in outer darkness. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. One of these guests, however, appeared without the proper wedding attire. It clarifies how using an obscure quote does not define LDS doctrines or dogmas. What is it? The first death is physical death, and everyone but the devil and his angels will overcome physical death through Resurrection. [Discourse given on 20 January 1895.] However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. The opposition gospel twists the title of Adversary into a positive thing. Outer Darkness - Social Hall - Mormon Dialogue & Discussion Board. The extent of this punishment none will ever know except those who partake of it. 9:4. If you want to make the point that Mormon Prophets have said some weird stuff, I am all for it. As soon as you define doctrine in a way that includes wikipedia, get back to me. (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220-221). 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. 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. The Book of Mormon also teaches that by coming unto Christ, one can escape the pains of hell experienced in this life. But suppose, deep down, I do believe the church is true. They place themselves beyond the power of repentance and beyond the mercies of God. Sons of Perdition are to be cast out with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. Mormons believe that only a Son of Perdition will go to Outer Darkness, their version of most Christian religions understanding of Hell. 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). Another manual states, Baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). Unless someone has rejected love, like the Nephites, I believe there is still hope that they will repent. It also teaches that the Atonement ransoms humankind from physical death through the resurrection and from spiritual death, or hell, through repentance. [3]. Source: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/sons-of-perdition. 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. He also saw a pale horse with a rider whose name was Death, and Hell followed with him (Rev. Thus the Book of Mormon does seem to contain a reference to the degrees of glory and outer darkness. What do Mormons believe happened in the pre-existence? One example would not be human since they were cast out of heaven with Satan before they could receive a body. Although this is an obvious scare tactic, this accusation is not true according to important LDS leaders. 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). 6:28), hell fire (3 Ne. Youll never regret it. Banishment from the joys of heaven. 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. Okay, so Cain, we have one guaranteed person according to no citation whatsoever. In my last post, I claimed that I might be a candidate for outer darkness. . Also, the whole thing about Daughters of Perdition. A church manual reports, To become a son of perdition one must sin against the Holy Ghost, but before that is possible, one must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual Religion 324 and 325, 2001, p. 161). The term second death refers to spiritual death or separation from God. He had a sure witness of the Lord and willfully chose to follow Satan instead. Alma 40. That ought to bring a sigh of relief to many who are reading this article! 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. 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). According to the Doctrine and Covenants, this will be a place that even in outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth (Doctrine and Covenants 101:91; also see 133:73). 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. 11:23). 18:8)? 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 ). But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. That Satan rebelled against Christ and God the Father and was cast out with all of Satans followers and will not receive a body. To qualify, a person would not only have to leave the Mormon church but also vehemently speak against it. 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. (To see his baptism for the dead record and other temple work done for him, click here.). Well thats wrapped up as long as no other prophets said oh. Twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball wrote. He once said that a person. 4. That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. And as such I would qualify. There are three references to outer darkness in the New Testament, all contained in the Gospel of Matthew. Here, like John and Samuel, Alma equated the second death with the lake of fire and brimstone. (Matt. hell.. But what is light? But to pass it off as a belief of an entire Church, organization and people is wrong. You quoted a website (Wikipedia) which is not doctrine and another website (FAIRMormon) which directly says it is not doctrine. 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). 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. 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. 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. For many are called, but few are chosen." 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. The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. So a heads up, this does not include you or any one who has ever been or will be born on Earth. 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. 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. 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. 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. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). They knew better but still chose wrong, one told me. 14:18.) 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). 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. In Mormonism, it depends. He stated that converts made by the Pharisees became twofold more the child of hell than their teachers (Matt. While this is true, please define Mormon Doctrine before saying I did not quote Mormon Doctrine. In the Book of Mormon the phrase lake of fire and brimstone is used as a metaphor for the suffering that awaits the wicked. 16:811)meaning to be left with those who would partake of that permanent hell reserved only for those who, as Jacob stated, are filthy still.. Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? As explained in D&C 88:11-13: The use of the term exterior darkness is in Jesus' parable of the wedding feast (also known as the parable of the marriage of the king's son). 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. Cannot be saved at the last day; except W.W. Phelps who was classified as such by Joseph and then redeemed, and we should only trust prophets on the matter because they dont conflict, unless they do. Italics in original). 5:22), and the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone of which the apostle John wrote (Rev. Its just Scary bad. Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels, D&C 29:37-38. . I can give you more than plenty of examples of that. Yet I an certainly exempt from outer darkness, no questions asked. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List, You continue to fight against the true church, Those spirits who rebelled against God in the preexistence are the original sons of perdition. (You are not one of those spirits since you have a mortal body.). The Book of Mormon speaks of only two groups who inhabit the postmortal spirit world: the righteous, who exist in a state of happiness called paradise; and the wicked, who are consigned to outer darknessthe wicked being those who have been captivated by the devil and who will be resurrected to an endless hell. 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. GOSH. Hence, the very worse lot in their lives will be the telestial kingdom. 9:16; emphasis added). Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. 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). . (2) We believe in allowing our candles to burn for a maximum of four hours at a time. 20:1314). 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. A) Never had a body B) Did evil things in this world C) Never joined the LDS Church D) All of the above are true. 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. At the end of the twenty years, the knife would be withdrawn and again stabbed into us, with the resulting excruciating pain lasting another twenty years; this process would then be repeated for all eternity. 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. 22:13-14, D-R.). Your email address will not be published. (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. It also adds insight that, when blended with other essential doctrines, offers a more complete understanding of the plan of salvation. Please read, the source above, What is Official LDS Doctrine. If Lucifer had not known the effects of his rebellion, how would he ever become perdition? 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). So apostates from the church are clearly included in this list. Hence, the term outer darkness. 15:29, 35; Alma 19:29; 54:7), sleep of hell (2 Ne. The sinner must deal with the self-created gulf on his own, with the help of the Savior and his Atonement. Hell is outer darkness; it is the lake of fire; and it is the second death. 12:22). [2] For a discussion of the New Testament words that translate hell, see The Oxford Companion to the Bible, ed. It is provided through Christ's atonement and received by personal faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. Yea, Alma wrote, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell (Alma 36:13). . Hell is a state of suffering, both temporary and permanent. 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. 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. 34:3435; note Almas repetitive use of the word state in Alma 40:1112; see also D&C 101:9091; 133:7073). Those in this second group will be resurrected from the dead but will not be redeemed from the second (spiritual) death and cannot dwell in a kingdom of glory (D&C 88:32, 35). T F Once a spirit enters Outer Darkness, there will be no leaving there. 801-422-6975. 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). A lot of people wanted a source on that. [1] The pains of hell can also be experienced in mortality (Jacob 3:11). In Mormonism, it depends. 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 celestial, terrestrial, and telestial are kingdoms of glory. In Christianity, the "exterior darkness" or outer darkness is a place referred to three times in the Gospel of Matthew (8:12, 22:13, and 25:30) into which a person may be "cast out", and where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth". 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. 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. 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. These men and women cannot be redeemed, and will be the only ones who will suffer the second death. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism). Those mortals who never join the LDS Church (through baptism) cannot become sons of perdition. How impossible would it be for a former Mormon (with full knowledge, even!) Your email address will not be published. Now go take a nap and rest well! 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. Additionally it provides helpful commentary on New Testament passages concerning hell. Marcus Dods (New York: Random House, 1950), 781. Those who must suffer with Satan for the deeds done in mortality will go with him into outer darkness. They are the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. Conclusion 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. They did what they did with their eyes open, and were in rebellion against God. John the Revelator heard Christ proclaim that he possessed the keys of hell and of death (Rev. Matt. If he were ignorant, he could not have become perdition. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. But as with anything, that doesnt stop prophets from talking about it like they knew. 6:8). Italics in original). He called the Pharisees and scribes vipers and questioned, How can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matt. However, I think the breakdown I have above is accurate because outer darkest is a place of permanence for the filthy. 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). 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). lucifer. 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. 20:1315). 13:40), cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matt. Brigham Young University 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. (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.). 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 . [3] Larry E. Dahl, The Concept of Hell, in Doctrines of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992), 4243. Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition. Thank you! They will not have access to the Holy Ghost or Heavenly Father or Jesus. In the D&C, the definition of those who go to Outer Darkness is stated as: the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof;Nevertheless, I, the Lord, show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again; Wherefore, the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except those who are ordained unto this condemnation (D&C 76:45-48). 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. 5:22), as were those who failed to cast away their sins (JSM 5:34; cf. Their theology was turned upside down! . 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. 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. Because of the resurrection, the body and spirit of the wicked are restoredthe body from the grave and the spirit from hell to be judged. In a general conference talk, Joseph Fielding Smith further explained that. There are possible characteristics of a son of perdition. According to the churchs website: The followers of Satan who will suffer with him in eternity. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), s.v. Who will partake of it, and what is the nature of the eternal torment? 8:17), and endless hell (Moro. And remember you can be excommunicated for asking church leaders to give solid answers so trust the apologists who say to only trust the prophets on matters like this. Smith said this will be practically indescribable: The extent of this punishment none will ever know except those who partake of it. The question is, what exactly does full knowledge entail? 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? The terms spiritual death or second death, lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness are all synonymous with hell, and all are descriptive of both the temporary and the permanent hell. 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 . Everyone but the Sons of Perdition and the devil and his devils, will overcome spiritual death through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon text confirms the truth of New Testament teachings on hell, second death, lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness. [1] See also Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. A person would have to be very wicked to know the church was true yet still fight against it! Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church. and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). 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. 40 talks in 40 days for General Conference, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 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. This is full on rejection of God. Pingback: The Shunning Key by bwv549 - Mormon Bandwagon, A Son of Perdition is: Each differing in Glory but all great places to go. 185 Heber J. 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. The Book of Mormon teaches that only through the Atonement of Christ can one escape the damnation of hell. Jacob testified that without the infinite atonement all mankind would be forever subject to the awful monster, death and hell, and thus would become like the devil and his angels (2 Ne. Followers 0. Thank you! The Book of Mormon provides another testament of the reality of a designated place called hell, where the wicked are consigned.