This is what was taught by several important church leaders, including founder Joseph Smith. Do "apostates" go to outer darkness or telestial kingdom? The term second death refers to spiritual death or separation from God. However, Lucifer did not know all the purposes of the Father as we learn from the Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:6. 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). Just one sin. So, in the Mormon view, none of these so-called polygamist marriages are valid, religiously or legally. 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 . Mormon Hell, Sons of Perdition and Outer Darkness - YouTube 4:32; 3 Ne. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). 9:4. When the king asked, "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. The Book of Mormon presents several significant insights concerning the lake of fire and brimstone of which John spoke. To the Church in Smyrna the Apostle John wrote: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. The views expressed . Hell is a state of suffering, both temporary and permanent. 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). . 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. Can you explain what Outer Darkness is and who will spend eternity there? Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever. Though we have this clarity in the scriptures that we carry with us daily, few members are aware that this insight is there." The punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, D&C 19:10-12. 185 Heber J. It clarifies how using an obscure quote does not define LDS doctrines or dogmas. 20:1314). The Book of Mormon provides another testament of the reality of a designated place called hell, where the wicked are consigned. Their theology was turned upside down! 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. (2) We believe in allowing our candles to burn for a maximum of four hours at a time. The celestial, terrestrial, and telestial are kingdoms of glory. Note the Book of Mormons addition of the words is as. Yea, Alma wrote, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell (Alma 36:13). 22:13-14, D-R.). 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. 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 contrast, Book of Mormon references to the second death are embedded in sermons that teach it in context with other essential elements of the plan of salvation. 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. He once said that a person. These pains are similar to the state of suffering experienced by the ungodly who after mortality are assigned to hell. Bold and italics in original). Conclusion 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. 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. 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. I did cite sources spoken from the pulpit by a prophet. 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). 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). 23:15). ( 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. Outer Darkness - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints One memorable night, he instructed us about the pains of hell. He asked us to imagine being stabbed and having that initial intense pain of the insertion of the knife last for twenty years. Christians have debated for centuries the nature of the hell fire of which Jesus spoke (Matt. It is provided through Christ's atonement and received by personal faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. 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). [3]. 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. 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). The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. 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. Twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball wrote. 11:3940; 18:13), pains of hell (Jacob 3:1112; Alma 14:6; 26:13; 36:13), chains of hell (Alma 5:7, 910; 12:11; 13:30; 26:14), child of hell (Alma 11:23; 54:11), powers of hell (Alma 48:17), everlasting hell (Hel. How many people. [2]. 40 talks in 40 days for General Conference, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 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. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. Even the regular Wikipedia seems confused: Sons of Perdition are: The pre-mortal spirit followers of Satan. 8 - 14 are for safety. 1. This objection is inconsistent since Mormonism teaches that Lucifer's demon forces, which are clearly destined for "outer darkness," make up one-third of God's "children" (Bruce R. McConkie,Mormon Doctrine, p. 195). 1:13), gates of hell (2 Ne. Dennis L. Largey was an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University when this was published. 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. While Christianity affirms that many people who were created by God will perish in hell, Mormonism also espouses this . 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. The manual Gospel Principles sheds additional light: There is no forgiveness for them, for they denied the Holy Spirit after having received it. Jesus warned that those who mocked their brothers by saying Thou fool were in danger of hell fire (Matt. Source: https://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/What_is_Mormon_Doctrine.pdf. Possibly but there is no citation there either. 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. Crash Course Mormonism: Outer Darkness - Mormonism Research Ministry Who will partake of it, and what is the nature of the eternal torment? 5:30). 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. Horror Short Film "Outer Darkness" | ALTER | Online Premiere Your email address will not be published. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 125). (Matt. 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 . How impossible would it be for a former Mormon (with full knowledge, even!) One fire certainly shall be the lot of both. [4]. 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.