Circumcision. The Nephites became so wicked, that contemplating murder was a source of happiness. And I said unto them that it was a representation of that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked. 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). Here, like John and Samuel, Alma equated the second death with the lake of fire and brimstone. [DS 2:225.] 3. 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). https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22. This is the second death. If you want to make the point that Mormon Prophets have said some weird stuff, I am all for it. (Selections of Doctrines of Salvation, p. 462. and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). Therefore repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second death (Hel. The opposition gospel twists the title of Adversary into a positive thing. And since we know that prophets speaking define it, this is the definition we should use. 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. Ray L. Huntington and Terry B. 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. 21:8; see also 19:20). Italics in original). 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). They have said things much stranger and I am sure you know of them. I was taught that to be condemned to outer darkness you would have to deny Christ to his very face and that could occur . Can someone get out of this state of Perdition once they are in it? 6:8). 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. To become a church member, baptism and confirmation are required. 15:29, 35; Alma 19:29; 54:7), sleep of hell (2 Ne. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the tormented rich man in hell . To the Church in Smyrna the Apostle John wrote: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 20:14). 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. 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. [1], Other views include those of Zane C. Hodges who controversially suggested that it represents a place for those who make it to heaven based on their faith, but have failed to perform good works during their time on the earth.[2]. Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. 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. Okay so clearly we have billions of souls who qualify as perdition and go to outer darkness according to one prophet in his personal books and not officially speaking as a prophet. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Additionally it provides helpful commentary on New Testament passages concerning hell. ", 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. (To see his baptism for the dead record and other temple work done for him, click here.). For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord. 5:22), burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt. I wonder if the language is tripping people up here. We will, however, address some of the portrayals of other LDS beliefs and practices that were depicted in this episode. An in depth look at the Mormon doctrine of hell. 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. Provo, UT 84602 Which means that really, no one knows anything about this. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. Jesus declared that this exalted city would be brought down to hell (Matt. The apostle James taught that the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity . 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). 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. 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. Unless someone has rejected love, like the Nephites, I believe there is still hope that they will repent. Even Nazi dictator Adolph Hitler will get nothing less than the telestial kingdom since he was never baptized/confirmed into the church; work was done in proxy for him in the London, England temple several decades ago. 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. A lot of people wanted a source on that. Banishment into outer darkness. It occurs in a doctrinal discussion Alma conducted with his son Corianton. No exact details are given. He had a sure witness of the Lord and willfully chose to follow Satan instead. Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. 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. The manual Gospel Principles sheds additional light: There is no forgiveness for them, for they denied the Holy Spirit after having received it. 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. Yet I an certainly exempt from outer darkness, no questions asked. 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. In this parable, a king arranged a wedding for his son, but the normal guests did not come; therefore, the king sent his servants to gather guests from off the street. 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 . Mormons also believe that those on Earth with bodies can become a Son of Perdition, tho this is difficult to do. 21:8; cf. Additional doctrinal truth concerning the great gulf can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 138:1837). 10 reasons why a person ought to consider becoming a Christian. So a heads up, this does not include you or any one who has ever been or will be born on Earth. 185 Heber J. 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. New Testament [ edit] . 18:8)? 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). 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. Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). 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. . Outer Darkness. No Mormon since the 1890 change has had the authority to marry any man to more than one woman. Continuous suffering, however, is reserved only for sons of perditionthose who are still unclean after the final judgment. First, LDS Church scripture uses the term outer darkness to refer to a condition in the spirit world. 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. So apostates from the church are clearly included in this list. 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). He also saw a pale horse with a rider whose name was Death, and Hell followed with him (Rev. Clearly you dont know what is and is not doctrine, and are trying to throw shade. Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie have rejected the idea that those in perdition can ultimately be redeemed, which contradicts Brighams speculations. In Mormonism, it depends. Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? 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. The Book of Mormon text confirms the truth of New Testament teachings on hell, second death, lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness. With the exception of those who left the church and later rejoined, every other former Mormon left the church because they believed it is not true. 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. . it could be a reference for the resurrected who gain inheritance on other worlds but without the fulness of 6:28), hell fire (3 Ne. 14:1819). 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 (Ibid.). 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.. Outer darkness is not a kingdom of glory. From its beginnings, it taught that very few people would go to "outer darkness" the Mormon concept of hell. And as such I would qualify. A Vision, Times and Seasons 4 (1 Feb 1843) 6:82-5. 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. These spirits never received a mortal body necessary to progress to a kingdom of glory. It also teaches that the Atonement ransoms humankind from physical death through the resurrection and from spiritual death, or hell, through repentance. And, if you havent come into relationship with the Jesus of the Bible, I encourage you to do some homework and meet Him. The first death is physical death, and everyone but the devil and his angels will overcome physical death through Resurrection. Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smitha general authority who spoke more about this issue than any other leaderstated. You quoted a website (Wikipedia) which is not doctrine and another website (FAIRMormon) which directly says it is not doctrine. Your email address will not be published. As soon as you define doctrine in a way that includes wikipedia, get back to me. What is the Mormon plan of salvation? 2. I can give you more than plenty of examples of that. One of these guests, however, appeared without the proper wedding attire. The Book of Mormon contains six references to the second death: one reference by Jacob (Jacob 3:11), three by Alma (Alma 12:16, 32; 13:30), and two by Samuel the Lamanite (Hel. Those consigned to hell or outer darkness are partakers of the second death, and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone. 9:16; emphasis added). The righteousness of some (Abraham or Lazarus) cannot erase the consequences of anothers sins (the rich man). You'll need to do a few things to get the most out of your ex-Mormon candle. Today, interpretation of these "outer darkness" verses are a subset of Protestant discussion on hell and annihilationism. 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. 20:13). Does this description of God make it sound as if he is just (at least according to an LDS context)? 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. In Outer Darkness, there is endless lamentation and no divine presence. (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.). 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. The kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory is called outer darkness. . 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. In short, Outer Darkness is eternal torture. Delving into the interesting bits about any religion to stem from Joseph Smith Jr. Joseph F. Smith,The Second Death,inBrian H. Stuy (editor). For example, Alma the Younger was delivered from the intensity of his hellish pain when he cried to the Lord for mercy. Hell is a state of suffering, both temporary and permanent. In Mormonism, it depends. Only a handful of "sons of perdition" would go. 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. 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. Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? [Discourse given on 20 January 1895.] 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? Please note that FAIRMormon states it is not doctrine on the website. 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. 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. Alma 40. Even if I did, I still am not eligible for outer darkness. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Rev. lucifer. According to tenth President Joseph Fielding Smith. ( 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. 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. He was not ignorant, and therefore he became perdition, and they who followed him were sons of perdition, because he and they sinned knowingly. (-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? [3]. 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. Polygamy with tons more men than women sounds ill-thought out. Thus, the only mortals who can possibly become sons of perdition must be Latter-day Saints who fall/fell away. The Plan of Salvation kind of negates the reason for missionary work. 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. 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. It is doubtful if even Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was sufficiently enlightened to become a son of perdition (Gospel Doctrine,p. 545). A person would have to be very wicked to know the church was true yet still fight against it! In this state of torment Alma remembered his fathers teachings about Jesus Christ and his redemptive mission. 16:811)meaning to be left with those who would partake of that permanent hell reserved only for those who, as Jacob stated, are filthy still.. Thus, by the definition given by the leaders cited above, these people cannot be considered sons of perdition. 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. The Book of Mormon provides another testament of the reality of a designated place called hell, where the wicked are consigned. Following this introduction will be a discussion of the usage of these termsfirst in the New Testament, then in the Book of Mormon. This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. Marcus Dods (New York: Random House, 1950), 781. 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. Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. These men and women cannot be redeemed, and will be the only ones who will suffer the second death. 1:13), gates of hell (2 Ne. The followers of Satan who will suffer with him in eternity. https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Outer_Darkness&oldid=27067. 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). 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. This is the choice of an individual to reject God. Thus the Book of Mormon does seem to contain a reference to the degrees of glory and 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. Each differing in Glory but all great places to go. Jesus warned that those who mocked their brothers by saying Thou fool were in danger of hell fire (Matt. A church manual reports, 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). 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. A representation of the tree degrees of glory and 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. 14:1519). The celestial, terrestrial, and telestial are kingdoms of glory. Return to the Crash Course Mormonism Index. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism). 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. 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. Latter-day Saints understand hell to be a literal place and/or stateeither the temporary hell in the spirit world where the unjust suffer in a state of torment until they are resurrected to a telestial glory (D&C 76:8185, 98112), or the permanent hell where the wicked (the sons of perdition) continue to suffer eternally after the resurrection (D&C 76:37, 4548).