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). For many are called, but few are chosen." And as such I would qualify. Also, the whole thing about Daughters of Perdition. Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smitha general authority who spoke more about this issue than any other leaderstated. Brigham Young University Thus the Book of Mormon does seem to contain a reference to the degrees of glory and outer darkness. 9:710, 19, 26). Additionally it provides helpful commentary on New Testament passages concerning hell. ( Miracle of Forgiveness 129-30) The Lord Will Judge For persons not to receive forgiveness neither in this world nor in the world to come does not mean that they will be cast into outer darkness, for the sin of murder can be pardoned even though it is unforgivable. Historic Christianity. 5:22), as were those who failed to cast away their sins (JSM 5:34; cf. The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. So why dont we get outer darkness too? Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? 9:4. 801-422-6975. 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. Jesus declared that this exalted city would be brought down to hell (Matt. 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! Here is one more thing to think about: I work full time with a Christian ministry aimed at converting Mormons. But as with anything, that doesnt stop prophets from talking about it like they knew. lift[ed] up his eyes and saw Abraham and Lazarus across an impassable gulf (Luke 16:23). Also, Joseph confuses things further by combining words typically used with Hell to describe outer darkness: A sinner has his own mind and his own mind damns him. 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. 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 . (p. 273). 15:29, 35; Alma 19:29; 54:7), sleep of hell (2 Ne. Although this is an obvious scare tactic, this accusation is not true according to important LDS leaders. D&C 76 does say telestial people are the ones thrust down to hell and not redeemed until the last resurrection. 2:8-10) Jesus' atonement provided immortality for all people. 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. 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. 14:34), awful hell (1 Ne. 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 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. That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. You dont believe it is true, which is the reason why you left. T F It is practically impossible for those who were human to ever be sent to Outer Darkness. [3] Larry E. Dahl, The Concept of Hell, in Doctrines of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992), 4243. The phrases depths of hell, awful hell, sleep of hell, pains of hell, chains of hell, everlasting hell, and endless hell are all unique to the Book of Mormon. Ball (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2001), 7789. 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. 2. Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church. 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. Outer darkness is something which cannot be described, except that it is to be placed beyond the benign and comforting influence of the Spirit of Godbanished entirely from his presence. Banishment from the presence of God. When I bring this issue up with some Latter-day Saints, I sometimes get defensive arguments. 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. 1. This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. Another name for Outer Darkness is hell. 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). 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). 10 reasons why a person ought to consider becoming a Christian. 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. . 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). 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". 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. 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.). (To see his baptism for the dead record and other temple work done for him, click here.). And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire [i.e., overcome or defeated by Christs Atonement]. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), s.v. Thank you! The second possible sons of perdition are mortals. For example: everlasting fire (Matt. They will not have a kingdom of glory. Conclusion Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. Mormon doctrines are often contradictory and inconsistent. 12:16), hell which hath no end (1 Ne. These are they who do two very specific things. 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. A Vision, Times and Seasons 4 (1 Feb 1843) 6:82-5. How unfair is this scenario? A representation of the tree degrees of glory and outer darkness. 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. . Twenty-nine times the word hell is used with descriptive modifiers, for example, depths of hell (1 Ne. 2:4). Italics in original). Consistently, hell is associated with fire. Return to the Crash Course Mormonism Index. Many of the apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Later in the same discourse Alma blended the doctrines of the Fall, agency, and the second death together as an admonition to keep the commandments of God (see Alma 12:3137). This is in contrast to the VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, who will receive a kingdom of glory after the Final Judgment, and enter into one of three degrees of glory after the resurrection: celestial, terrestrial, or telestial kingdoms. Though we have this clarity in the scriptures that we carry with us daily, few members are aware that this insight is there." And since we know that prophets speaking define it, this is the definition we should use. 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. Please note that FAIRMormon states it is not doctrine on the website. This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition. That last part of the previous sentence is very important. Their theology was turned upside down! Just because Hitler, Mao, and Stalin along with Judas Iscariot (as mentioned above) never became Latter-day Saints apparently provides them with a much higher privilegea life in the telestial kingdom over those who once believed but left the true fold, kicking and screaming in their continued fight against the restored church of Jesus Christ. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. (To see the differences between the three kingdoms of glory, click here.) The views expressed . Thus, by the definition given by the leaders cited above, these people cannot be considered sons of perdition. The followers of Satan who will suffer with him in eternity. Sorry ladies, you cant actually apostatize from the church, I guess (Someone tell Kate Kelly her excommunication is not valid!). 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). 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. 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. There are two categories for those who should be considered sons of perdition. Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? It doesnt matter because I never joined. 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. 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. 18:8)? In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. 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. 4. 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. The Book of Mormon also teaches that by coming unto Christ, one can escape the pains of hell experienced in this life. spirit prison. 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. While this is true, please define Mormon Doctrine before saying I did not quote Mormon Doctrine. Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition. The Book of Mormon text confirms the truth of New Testament teachings on hell, second death, lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness. Smith described these spirits who were the first to display rebellious ways: Lucifer became perdition by rebellion. Did I really have full knowledge? - 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. . What is Outer Darkness?