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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. Horror Short Film "Outer Darkness" | ALTER | Online Premiere 31,262 views Mar 31, 2022 Subscribe to ALTER on YouTube: https://goo.gl/LnXRC3 .more .more 1K Dislike Share Save Description. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire [i.e., overcome or defeated by Christs Atonement]. Smith said this will be practically indescribable: The extent of this punishment none will ever know except those who partake of it. Sons of Perdition are to be cast out with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. 8:1112). 22:13). But unofficial prophets speaking at BYU or in their own books say no, except Brigham in the Journal of Discourses which is unofficial. Hell - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints However, Lucifer did not know all the purposes of the Father as we learn from the Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:6. 801-422-6975. I wonder if the language is tripping people up here. Jesus declared that this exalted city would be brought down to hell (Matt. . Mormons believe that a majority of people on this Earth will go to one of these three heavens. Which would be a sure-fire way to know that a spirit is headed to Outer Darkness? 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. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the tormented rich man in hell . This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). What do Mormons mean by 'outer darkness'? - Quora (To see his baptism for the dead record and other temple work done for him, click here.). They have said things much stranger and I am sure you know of them. You have to be pretty bad to go to the Teresita's kingdom, and horrendous to go to outer darkness. 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. It is doubtful if even Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was sufficiently enlightened to become a son of perdition (Gospel Doctrine,p. 545). 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. 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. 20:1314). All missionaries are doing is trying to upgrade people to a premium plan of ruling over planets and polygamy. Each person must reap the harvest of the seeds sown in this life. 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. In the Book of Mormon the phrase lake of fire and brimstone is used as a metaphor for the suffering that awaits the wicked. 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. 9:710, 19, 26). 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. Those who must suffer with Satan for the deeds done in mortality will go with him into outer darkness. Hell - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 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. 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. According to tenth President Joseph Fielding Smith. 34:3435; note Almas repetitive use of the word state in Alma 40:1112; see also D&C 101:9091; 133:7073). Other sources used in composing this topic: http://en.fairmormon.org/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_darkness#Usage_in_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement, http://en.fairmormon.org/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Eventual_fate, http://emp.byui.edu/satterfieldb/quotes/Sons%20of%20Perdition.htm. 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. 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. Also, Mormons believe in three Heavens. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 758. Brigham Young University Professor Larry E. Dahl reported: The word hell appears sixty-two times in the text of the Book of Mormon. The celestial, terrestrial, and telestial are kingdoms of glory. In each of the New Testament references to outer darkness, Christ declared the punishment that awaits faithless and wicked people. [4] Augustine, The City of God, trans. 8:13). Smith described these spirits who were the first to display rebellious ways: Lucifer became perdition by rebellion. Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. GOSH. He once said that a person. And thats why men alone get, I mean need the priesthood. . However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. ", Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Outer_darkness&oldid=1136269337, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 15:14. Twenty-nine times the word hell is used with descriptive modifiers, for example, depths of hell (1 Ne. 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? Well thats wrapped up as long as no other prophets said oh. We found these portrayals to be highly inaccurate. They once held membership in the church (through baptism/confirmation); They had full knowledge of their apostasy from the true and restored church of Jesus Christ; They continue to fight against the LDS Church despite their knowledge. (To see the differences between the three kingdoms of glory, click here.) In the Bible, the phrases lake of fire and lake of fire and brimstone, describing the fate of the wicked, are unique to the book of Revelation. The second possible sons of perdition are mortals. Utterly turn against god. St. Augustine wrote: Hell, which also is called a lake of fire and brimstone, will be material fire, and will torment the bodies of the damned, whether men or devilsthe solid bodies of the one, aerial bodies of the others; or if only men have bodies as well as souls, yet the evil spirits, though without bodies, shall be so connected with the bodily fires as to receive pain without imparting life. 5:22), burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt. So I thought Id get it all out there in one simple post. One example would not be human since they were cast out of heaven with Satan before they could receive a body. By EntropyJustKillUsNow, March 29, 2017 in Social Hall. Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever; and then is the time that they shall be chained down to an everlasting destruction, according to the power and captivity of Satan, he having subjected them according to his will. . First of all, to become a son of perdition, you need to have been baptized into the church, then turned from the religion in order to fight against it, all the while knowing it is true. 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. kingdoms of glory. 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. 2:8-10) Jesus' atonement provided immortality for all people. Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). 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). . Who of the following is NOT eligible for Outer Darkness. 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. 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. Outer Darkness - The 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. Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church. 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. The Nephites became so wicked, that contemplating murder was a source of happiness. 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. Banishment from all progress. 1. Source. But suppose, deep down, I do believe the church is true. (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220-221). Now go take a nap and rest well! They will not have a kingdom of glory. The followers of Satan who will suffer with him in eternity. 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. In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. 21:8; see also 19:20). Requirements for Outer Darkness : r/exmormon - reddit.com Thus, the second death is taught in conjunction with the first death, which came as a consequence of the Fall of Adam and Eve, and also with the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which redeems all of humankind from the first death through resurrection and the second death through repentance. Additionally it provides helpful commentary on New Testament passages concerning hell. 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. No Mormon since the 1890 change has had the authority to marry any man to more than one woman. It is true that the only mortals who had once been members are eligible to become sons of perdition, a fact that may worry some former Mormons who wonder if they might be destined for outer darkness. Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. FAIRMormon says on this page even: When any man, except the President of the Church, undertakes to proclaim one unsettled doctrine, as among two or more doctrines in dispute, as the settled doctrine of the Church, we may know that he is not moved upon by the Holy Ghost, unless he is acting under the direction and by the authority of the President. Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. 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. 20:1315). It is impossible for those who never joined Mormonism to become sons of perdition. 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). In Outer Darkness, there is endless lamentation and no divine presence. 9:16), unquenchable fire (Mosiah 2:38), and hell fire (3 Ne. Why practically nobody-including you, former Mormon-will ever end up in So the prophet, meeting with apostles is clear on this, there are women. Italics in original). The ExMo Candle Co. - lighting outer darkness together Unless someone has rejected love, like the Nephites, I believe there is still hope that they will repent. 21:8; cf. 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. outer darkness. 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. Another name for Outer Darkness is hell. If Lucifer had not known the effects of his rebellion, how would he ever become perdition? 5. They go too far, and the Spirit leaves themYou cant renew them to repentancyou cannot save them. (Joseph Smith Jr., King Follett Discourse). Bad as they may suffer, and awful as their punishment may be, they are not among that group which is to suffer the eternal death and banishment from all influence concerning the power of God (Conference Reports, October 1958, 21). 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. Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap. Here is one more thing to think about: I work full time with a Christian ministry aimed at converting Mormons. 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. But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. . 16:18). The manual Gospel Principles sheds additional light: There is no forgiveness for them, for they denied the Holy Spirit after having received it. The "authority" to marry a man to one wife is not the same as the "authority" to marry a man to more than one wife. The views expressed . 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). Articles 1 - 7 will help your candle last longer and perform its best. lucifer. 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). However, not once have I ever suspected such a person to be a closet believer in Mormonism. What is it? Rev. There are two categories for those who should be considered sons of perdition. [3] Larry E. Dahl, The Concept of Hell, in Doctrines of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992), 4243. . 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. 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. 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). Matt. The extent of this punishment none will ever know except those who partake of it. Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition. 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. Are the Three Degrees of Glory Mentioned in the Book of Mormon? Yes 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). 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). 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. There are ten references to the lake of fire and brimstone in the Book of Mormon. 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). 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. When I was Mormon, I was taught that in order to be sent to Outer Darkness (I'm a woman, that will be relevant in a second) you had to have an UNMISTAKABLE KnOwLeDgE of Christ, and then turn your back on God and deny him. But as with anything, that doesnt stop prophets from talking about it like they knew. Those mortals who never join the LDS Church (through baptism) cannot become sons of perdition. First, it is another name for spirit prison, a temporary place in the postmortal world for those who died without a knowledge of the truth or those who were disobedient in mortality. 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). Chapter 40. Source: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/sons-of-perdition. 28:2223). 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. 15:2830). [2]. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. Yea, Alma wrote, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell (Alma 36:13). He had a sure witness of the Lord and willfully chose to follow Satan instead. 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. 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 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. (Joseph F. Smith,The Second Death,inBrian H. Stuy (editor), Collected Discourses: Delivered by Wilford Woodruff, his two counselors, the twelve apostles, and others, 18681898, 5 vols., (Woodland Hills, Utah: B.H.S. Latter Day Saint beliefs on hell are connected with the movement's doctrines of the plan of salvation, the degrees of glory and the telestial kingdom. Outer darkness - Wikipedia (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 125). Is outer darkness reserved for apostate LDS? - Ask Gramps Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. 18:8), hell fire (Matt. Can you explain what Outer Darkness is and who will spend eternity there? Mormons believe that there Prophets are fallible and in no way perfect. 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). Another manual states, Baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). 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. 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. Their theology was turned upside down! Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. Thus, many would say I fight against the church. In my last post, I claimed that I might be a candidate for outer darkness. Even if a person had once been a Latter-day Saint, Kimball said it still was practically impossible for a human to become a son of perdition: The sin against the Holy Ghost requires such knowledge that it is manifestly impossible for the rank and file to commit such a sin (Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 123) (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual Religion 324 and 325, p. 161). The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. It doesnt matter because I never joined. 14:18.) 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.