outer darkness mormon

16:18). 15:2830). Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). 9:710, 19, 26). Outer Darkness. 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. Additional doctrinal truth concerning the great gulf can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 138:1837). Outer Darkness. 3:20; 10:9- 10; Eph. Mormons also believe that those on Earth with bodies can become a Son of Perdition, tho this is difficult to do. 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. So a heads up, this does not include you or any one who has ever been or will be born on Earth. Yet I an certainly exempt from outer darkness, no questions asked. According to Smith: It is very clear in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:30-37, that the only persons who will be completely overcome by this dreadful fate are the sons of perdition who go with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. (Answers to Gospel Questions 5:107-108). At the end of the twenty years, the knife would be withdrawn and again stabbed into us, with the resulting excruciating pain lasting another twenty years; this process would then be repeated for all eternity. Thank you! The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. 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. Pingback: The Shunning Key by bwv549 - Mormon Bandwagon, A Son of Perdition is: 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. Please read, the source above, What is Official LDS Doctrine. Brigham Young University Professor Larry E. Dahl reported: The word hell appears sixty-two times in the text of the Book of Mormon. 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. Thank you! 801-422-6975. 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. 1:13), gates of hell (2 Ne. 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. These men and women cannot be redeemed, and will be the only ones who will suffer the second death. [1] See also Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. So the prophet, meeting with apostles is clear on this, there are women. Joseph restated that anyone who apostatized from the church was a son of perdition in a poem for W.W. Phelps, Sons of Perdition as those who are ever lost, and can never return to the presence of God, the poem declared that such is the torment apostates receive. (Joseph Smith, The Answer to W.W. Phelps, Esq. John did not define the second death other than to make it synonymous with the lake of fire and brimstone that awaits the wicked. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. He also said,I think I am safe in saying that no man can become a Son of Perdition until he has known the light. . 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. 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. 21:8; see also 19:20). With the sons of perdition, however, even this blessing is denied. 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). Your email address will not be published. Publishing, 19871989), 4:227228. Did I really have full knowledge? 1. The first death is physical death, and everyone but the devil and his angels will overcome physical death through Resurrection. Now go take a nap and rest well! So we can clearly state no women are Sons of Perdition in outer darkness. 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. 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). The Plan of Salvation kind of negates the reason for missionary work. 21:8; cf. The punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, D&C 19:10-12. Jacob identified death and hell as temporal and spiritual death. (1) We believe in trimming our wicks to 1/4 between each burn. Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? 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. This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220). Clearly, when it comes to perdition and outer darkness, I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me, and anyone who speaks on the matter has a dizzying intellect. Chapter 40. Please note that FAIRMormon states it is not doctrine on the website. But what is light? The Book of Mormon contains one reference to outer darkness. 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. 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. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. 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. 8:13). Also, Mormons believe in three Heavens. 22:13). Additionally it provides helpful commentary on New Testament passages concerning hell. 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. That Satan rebelled against Christ and God the Father and was cast out with all of Satans followers and will not receive a body. 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. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. Think along the lines of a religious leader serving God but the opposite. Although this is an obvious scare tactic, this accusation is not true according to important LDS leaders. 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. Articles 1 - 7 will help your candle last longer and perform its best. The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. Note the Book of Mormons addition of the words is as. spirit prison. In this realm, as the name implies, there will be no light, and consequently no heat. The manual Gospel Principles sheds additional light: There is no forgiveness for them, for they denied the Holy Spirit after having received it. A) Most humans B) Satan C) His angels D) Sons of Perdition. The wicked, or in this particular context, the sons of perdition who are filthy still after judgment and resurrection, are assigned to everlasting punishment (see 2 Ne. There are ten references to the lake of fire and brimstone in the Book of Mormon. What is the Mormon plan of salvation? 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. ). Clean and Unclean What is Outer Darkness? The prophet Alma described the disposition of those in outer darkness: And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evilfor behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their houseand these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil (Alma 40:13; cf. Which would be a sure-fire way to know that a spirit is headed to Outer Darkness? 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. 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 ). What qualifies a person to be a Son of Perdition? Ray L. Huntington and Terry B. For example, John saw the judgment in vision and wrote that death and hell delivered up the dead . You are taking quotes that are not Mormon Doctrine. 20:6). 2:11). As a young boy, I attended a two-week Christian camp. The second death is spiritual and is separation from God. Clearly you dont know what is and is not doctrine, and are trying to throw shade. 20:14), or the outer darkness (Matt. 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. 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. Twenty-nine times the word hell is used with descriptive modifiers, for example, depths of hell (1 Ne. 20:14). 9:16; emphasis added). The Book of Mormon provides another testament of the reality of a designated place called hell, where the wicked are consigned. The phrase first occurs in Jesus' comment concerning the faith of the Centurion of Capernaum: And I say to thee that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven: But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 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. Jesus declared that this exalted city would be brought down to hell (Matt. [3]. The kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory is called outer darkness. 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. GOSH. And, if you havent come into relationship with the Jesus of the Bible, I encourage you to do some homework and meet Him. Johns announcement of death and hell releasing their dead for judgment is augmented by the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob, who taught the same doctrine but provided significantly more detail. They have wilfully (sic) made themselves servants of Satan and servants to him shall they remain forever. Their theology was turned upside down! (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.). 6:8). However, not once have I ever suspected such a person to be a closet believer in Mormonism. 6:28), hell fire (3 Ne. The New Testament contains four references to the second death, all located in the Revelation of John. 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. Italics in original). 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. Continuous suffering, however, is reserved only for sons of perditionthose who are still unclean after the final judgment. 23:15). The sinner must deal with the self-created gulf on his own, with the help of the Savior and his Atonement. But suppose, deep down, I do believe the church is true. Because reasons. 12:22; Morm. 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). 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). hell.. 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). The righteousness of some (Abraham or Lazarus) cannot erase the consequences of anothers sins (the rich man). These pains are similar to the state of suffering experienced by the ungodly who after mortality are assigned to hell. (-Joseph Smith in the King Follett Discourse), There is my definition I used in my previous post. 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? That last part of the previous sentence is very important. Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels, D&C 29:37-38. Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? 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. How impossible would it be for a former Mormon (with full knowledge, even!) 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 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. So get what they deserve. Yet how many sins and wrong choices has every humanincluding me and youmade? From its beginnings, it taught that very few people would go to "outer darkness" the Mormon concept of hell. Brigham Young University An in depth look at the Mormon doctrine of hell. The term second death refers to spiritual death or separation from God. 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. Hell is a state of suffering, both temporary and permanent. Even the regular Wikipedia seems confused: Sons of Perdition are: The pre-mortal spirit followers of Satan. 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. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). 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. Also, the whole thing about Daughters of Perdition. 22:13) if it is also a place of perpetual fire (Matt. 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. 14:1819). He wrote. 22:13) that awaits the wicked? Those mortals who never join the LDS Church (through baptism) cannot become sons of perdition. 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. One fire certainly shall be the lot of both. [4]. Nephis commentary to his brothers concerning his fathers dream of the tree of life adds interesting insight into the possible meaning of the great gulf Jesus referred to: And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God. 4. A representation of the tree degrees of glory and outer darkness. Consistently, hell is associated with fire. Source: https://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/What_is_Mormon_Doctrine.pdf. Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie have rejected the idea that those in perdition can ultimately be redeemed, which contradicts Brighams speculations. (2) We believe in allowing our candles to burn for a maximum of four hours at a time. Okay, so Cain, we have one guaranteed person according to no citation whatsoever. They are sons of perdition because, Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to open shame (D. & C. 76:35). 14:34), awful hell (1 Ne. Those mortals who did join the LDS Church in this lifetime must fit the following criteria to be classified as a son of perdition, with a destiny to outer darkness. Outer darkness is a place reserved for the Devil, his angels, and the sons of perdition. It is an eternal destination, a place where very few (if any) human beings will ever be sent. Some Christians have believed the lake of fire John spoke of to be a literal lake. 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. . In Mormonism, it depends. Mormon doctrines are often contradictory and inconsistent. 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). Hence the saying: They will go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. 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. Which means that really, no one knows anything about this. Hence, the very worse lot in their lives will be the telestial kingdom. 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). Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. It also adds insight that, when blended with other essential doctrines, offers a more complete understanding of the plan of salvation. It even warns its readers to beware of the devils temptation to disbelieve the doctrine of a personal devil and that there is an actual place and/or state called hell. As explained in D&C 88:11-13: 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. However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. [2] For a discussion of the New Testament words that translate hell, see The Oxford Companion to the Bible, ed. Youll never regret it. 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. 9:16) after the final judgment. . This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. 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. Grant Building (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 125). So apostates from the church are clearly included in this list. As soon as you define doctrine in a way that includes wikipedia, get back to me. 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.