Each person must reap the harvest of the seeds sown in this life. In the parable of the wedding of the kings son, the king discovered that a guest was not properly attired in the required wedding garment, i.e., righteousness. 20:1315). 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. 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. Thank you! To look closer at this possibility, lets break humans into two categories: 1) Those who have never been Mormon; 2) Those who are or once were Mormon. 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. Ray L. Huntington and Terry B. Now go take a nap and rest well! 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. 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. 23:33). The second death is a second separation from God, not because of Adams transgression (the first death) but because of ones own failure to repent of personal sin. 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. Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition. 801-422-6975. One of these guests, however, appeared without the proper wedding attire. When I bring this issue up with some Latter-day Saints, I sometimes get defensive arguments. It also teaches that the Atonement ransoms humankind from physical death through the resurrection and from spiritual death, or hell, through repentance. 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). 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). Everyone is already going to the terrestrial kingdom by default. 12:22; Morm. 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. 185 Heber J. The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. 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. Smith described these spirits who were the first to display rebellious ways: Lucifer became perdition by rebellion. Whats interesting is that there are many former Mormons who still believe Jesus Christ was the Son of God and have a testimony of the Spirit of the Lord. However, their faith no longer is in the Jesus of Mormonism but the Jesus of the Bible. 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. Thus, many would say I fight against the church. That night not one boy was interested in going to hell! Brigham Young University 22:13-14, D-R.). 1:18). Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. One example would not be human since they were cast out of heaven with Satan before they could receive a body. I was taught that to be condemned to outer darkness you would have to deny Christ to his very face and that could occur . Big Love's episode "Outer Darkness" Summary: It is not our intention to discuss details of the portrayal of the temple ceremony here. 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). This is not an easy thing to do unless you are choosing to do so while being fully aware that you are doing so. 10 reasons why a person ought to consider becoming a Christian. It is impossible for those who never joined Mormonism to become sons of perdition. The Book of Mormon contains one reference to outer darkness. 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. (Matt. It honors and glorifies Satan. 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. hell.. Some Christians have believed the lake of fire John spoke of to be a literal lake. It is provided through Christ's atonement and received by personal faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. The kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory is called outer darkness. spirit prison. 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. It occurs in a doctrinal discussion Alma conducted with his son Corianton. The sinner must deal with the self-created gulf on his own, with the help of the Savior and his Atonement. 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). When the king asked, "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" T F According to a church manual, those who never were Mormon could never be sent to Outer Darkness. Clear as mud. 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). 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. How impossible would it be for a former Mormon (with full knowledge, even!) But to pass it off as a belief of an entire Church, organization and people is wrong. 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. 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. They must have had a fullness of knowledge; a testimony which cannot be destroyed. 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. 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. WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL ANGELS WHO ARE INCAPABLE OF SINNING. 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. Death brought a reversal of their conditions wherein the rich man in hell became a beggar, longing for a drop of water from the finger of Lazarus, who was now in heaven, or Abrahams bosom. In the parable Abraham explained the impossibility of receiving his request, because between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence (Luke 16:1926). . These spirits never received a mortal body necessary to progress to a kingdom of glory. However, I think the breakdown I have above is accurate because outer darkest is a place of permanence for the filthy. 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. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the tormented rich man in hell . 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. Serve Satan. 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. But as with anything, that doesnt stop prophets from talking about it like they knew. 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. Cain is a Son of Perdition. 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. 14:1519). 5. In this realm, as the name implies, there will be no light, and consequently no heat. (You are not one of those spirits since you have a mortal body.). They will not have access to the Holy Ghost or Heavenly Father or Jesus. But wait! . They will live in eternal darkness, torment, and misery with Satan and his angels forever. No exact details are given. [1] The pains of hell can also be experienced in mortality (Jacob 3:11). The question is, what exactly does full knowledge entail? You'll need to do a few things to get the most out of your ex-Mormon candle. So, if you are directly listing to Satan, like Cain, and actively turning away from God, like Cain, then you can become a Son of Perdition. . 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. 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. If he were ignorant, he could not have become perdition. 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. Any person who inherits one of the . Whether Christians have believed hell to be literal or figurative, the New Testament metaphor of an unquenchable lake of fire has conjured up for believers in the Bible harsh images of souls consigned to never-ending punishment as recompense for their evil deeds done while on earth. The Book of Mormon also teaches that by coming unto Christ, one can escape the pains of hell experienced in this life. Sons of Perdition are to be cast out with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. There was a movement a few years ago to have people deny the holy spirit on Youtube, where many a youtuber claimed they would now go to Outer Darkness. Here, like John and Samuel, Alma equated the second death with the lake of fire and brimstone. 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 a heads up, this does not include you or any one who has ever been or will be born on Earth. But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism). 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. In Mormonism, it depends. Their theology was turned upside down! ABCs of Science and Mormonism now available in Print from Amazon! Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. 20:14). Joseph Fielding Smith who said that this class is composed of all who have known the power of God in this mortal life and then, having full knowledge of the power and purposes of God,rebel against him, putting Jesus Christ to open shame (Doctrines of Salvation 2:219-220. Often in the scriptures it is difficult to discern which helltemporary or permanentis being spoken of, since many references to hell in the scriptures are used in a nonspecific manner to simply designate a place or state of suffering for the wicked. As a young boy, I attended a two-week Christian camp. So we can clearly state no women are Sons of Perdition in outer darkness. Also, the whole thing about Daughters of Perdition. Continuous suffering, however, is reserved only for sons of perditionthose who are still unclean after the final judgment. He had a sure witness of the Lord and willfully chose to follow Satan instead. Outer Darkness. From its beginnings, it taught that very few people would go to "outer darkness" the Mormon concept of hell. Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap. Those consigned to hell or outer darkness are partakers of the second death, and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone. 10:28). The Book of Mormon text confirms the truth of New Testament teachings on hell, second death, lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness. 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! https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Outer_Darkness&oldid=27067. Another manual states, Baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). The conclusion: You (former Mormon), despite being baptized into this church, are not a son of perdition! 16:18). Unfortunately, Apple's iOS doesn't support home screen shortcuts in the Chrome browser. Required fields are marked *. There are three references that connect the judgment with a lake of fire and brimstone, and two references to a lake of fire. However, the use of the word fire in connection with judgment and the torment of the wicked is widespread throughout the Gospels. Jesus proclaimed to Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against the rock upon which He would build the Church (Matt. 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). Alma 40. 21:8; see also 19:20). The Book of Mormon provides another testament of the reality of a designated place called hell, where the wicked are consigned. 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. 2. 9:16; emphasis added). 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. 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. 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.