Yes, they were said by Prophets of their church. 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). It is, therefore, important to examine carefully the context of each reference. Salvation is release from the guilt and power of sin through God's gift of grace. 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. 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. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 758. In the Book of Mormon the phrase lake of fire and brimstone is used as a metaphor for the suffering that awaits the wicked. ; Mormon Temple Worship. 18:8)? what about that 1/3 the host of heaven who didnt follow Gods plan Joseph F. Smith was so sure qualify as Sons of Perdition were NONE of them women? John did not define the second death other than to make it synonymous with the lake of fire and brimstone that awaits the wicked. Following this introduction will be a discussion of the usage of these termsfirst in the New Testament, then in the Book of Mormon. 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. (p. 273). How impossible would it be for a former Mormon (with full knowledge, even!) Does this description of God make it sound as if he is just (at least according to an LDS context)? As soon as you define doctrine in a way that includes wikipedia, get back to me. T F According to a church manual, those who never were Mormon could never be sent to Outer Darkness. The Nephites became so wicked, that contemplating murder was a source of happiness. 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. 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. 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. 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. We probably do not want to know how horrible it is just like in this life, some things that are so horrible that happen (especially to children) wed rather not know about it, if possible. 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. The ex-mortal sons of perdition will be resurrected, as will everyone else; but they will finally suffer the second death, the spiritual death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. (Hel. 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. Samuel also confirms the relationship John spoke of between the second death and the wicked being cast into fire, but he adds this explanatory clause: For they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness.. Who of the following is NOT eligible for Outer Darkness. Christians have debated for centuries the nature of the hell fire of which Jesus spoke (Matt. Additionally it provides helpful commentary on New Testament passages concerning hell. 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). Many of the apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. First, LDS Church scripture uses the term outer darkness to refer to a condition in the spirit world. However, Lucifer did not know all the purposes of the Father as we learn from the Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:6. [2] For a discussion of the New Testament words that translate hell, see The Oxford Companion to the Bible, ed. But to pass it off as a belief of an entire Church, organization and people is wrong. 12:22; Morm. (-Joseph Smith in the King Follett Discourse), There is my definition I used in my previous post. 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. Which would be a sure-fire way to know that a spirit is headed to Outer Darkness? 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). 8:13). So apostates from the church are clearly included in this list. The New Testament contains four references to the second death, all located in the Revelation of John. (1) We believe in trimming our wicks to 1/4 between each burn. 21:8; cf. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels, D&C 29:37-38. 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. The punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, D&C 19:10-12. It also teaches that the Atonement ransoms humankind from physical death through the resurrection and from spiritual death, or hell, through repentance. Everyone is already going to the terrestrial kingdom by default. 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. 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. 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. I was taught that to be condemned to outer darkness you would have to deny Christ to his very face and that could occur . Italics in original). 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. Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. it could be a reference for the resurrected who gain inheritance on other worlds but without the fulness of 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. 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). [2]. Mormons believe that only a Son of Perdition will go to Outer Darkness, their version of most Christian religions understanding of Hell. Even if I did, I still am not eligible for outer darkness. There are ten references to the lake of fire and brimstone in the Book of Mormon. 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. Serve Satan. 67, LDS Church Archives. Then, I say unto you, they shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to Gods justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption (Alma 12:13,1618). the man was silent (Matt 22:12); therefore, the king said: "Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (See D&C 76:2835, 4448.) In Outer Darkness, there is endless lamentation and no divine presence. True, some former Mormons have expressed doubts and wondered if the church might possibly be true, which is a completely natural response after having left the one true church. If they decided they made a mistake because they still believed the church were true, they would be more apt to rejoin it rather than stay excommunicated and fight against it. Those mortals who never join the LDS Church (through baptism) cannot become sons of perdition. 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. Banishment from the presence 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. Another manual states, Baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). The Book of Mormon also makes reference to everlasting fire (2 Ne. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 195456), 31.; Bruce R. McConkie, Seven Deadly Heresies, 1 June 1980, BYU Marriot Center.). What is it? In this state of torment Alma remembered his fathers teachings about Jesus Christ and his redemptive mission. 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. What is the Mormon plan of salvation? Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), s.v. 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 . 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. What do Mormons believe happened in the pre-existence? (To see the differences between the three kingdoms of glory, click here.) Woman must atone for sins committed by the volition of her own choice, but she will never become an angel to the devil, and sin so far as to place herself beyond the reach of mercy. Brigham Young Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first deaththat spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. One fire certainly shall be the lot of both. [4]. Concerning the first resurrection John observed: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years (Rev. They have wilfully (sic) made themselves servants of Satan and servants to him shall they remain forever. There are three references to outer darkness in the New Testament, all contained in the Gospel of Matthew. These spirits never received a mortal body necessary to progress to a kingdom of glory. . Again Mormons think this is a very hard place to get into. 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. Hell is a state of suffering, both temporary and permanent. When I bring this issue up with some Latter-day Saints, I sometimes get defensive arguments. 9:16) after the final judgment. Dennis L. Largey was an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University when this was published. Source: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/sons-of-perdition. In each New Testament passage that speaks of hell (the word hades is neutralneither a place of punishment nor reward but the place of departed spirits) the context associates it with suffering and punishment. 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. spirit prison. 21:8; see also 19:20). 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. The righteousness of some (Abraham or Lazarus) cannot erase the consequences of anothers sins (the rich man). 6:8). (Selections of Doctrines of Salvation, p. 462. https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Outer_Darkness&oldid=27067. 6:28), hell fire (3 Ne. Outer Darkness. Can someone get out of this state of Perdition once they are in it? 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. Rev. Provo, UT 84602 In each of the New Testament references to outer darkness, Christ declared the punishment that awaits faithless and wicked people. That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. While many Latter-day Saints bristle at the doctrine of hell (i.e., How could a loving God send His children to such a place?), they may have not considered the fact that these spirits were never given the chance to have a physical body because of the wrong choice they made in the preexistence. 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. 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. 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. Some Christians have believed the lake of fire John spoke of to be a literal lake. 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. An in depth look at the Mormon doctrine of hell. 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.