If their Prophet wrote in a journal, or said to someone in passing, or gave a talk a local school saying that, Eating toast without butter is a sin worthy of hell! that does not make it a Mormon Doctrine. 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. They are the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. 40 talks in 40 days for General Conference, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In Mormonism, it depends. The wicked are cast into outer darkness until the time of their resurrection, Alma 40:13-14. 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. He stated that converts made by the Pharisees became twofold more the child of hell than their teachers (Matt. And the definition contains all of the pre-mortal spirits who followed Lucifer, which would imply that God created a lot more male spirits than women spirits and maybe thats why there was a war in Heaven. About 74 B.C. We will, however, address some of the portrayals of other LDS beliefs and practices that were depicted in this episode. What is the Mormon plan of salvation? Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Why Practically NobodyIncluding You, Former MormonWill Ever End up In Outer Darkness, Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). 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 wait! 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. ABCs of Science and Mormonism now available in Print from Amazon! These spirits never received a mortal body necessary to progress to a kingdom of glory. Sorry ladies, you cant actually apostatize from the church, I guess (Someone tell Kate Kelly her excommunication is not valid!). A lot of people wanted a source on that. 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. He wrote. 20:1315). 20:1314). No exact details are given. ", 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. . Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition. A person would have to be very wicked to know the church was true yet still fight against it! 15:29, 35; Alma 19:29; 54:7), sleep of hell (2 Ne. As soon as you define doctrine in a way that includes wikipedia, get back to me. The Book of Mormon clarifies that the lake of fire and brimstone is a metaphor for the suffering of the wicked. . Grant Building This is what was taught by several important church leaders, including founder Joseph Smith. 2:8-10) Jesus' atonement provided immortality for all people. 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. 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). 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. Ellipsis mine). In my last post, I claimed that I might be a candidate for outer darkness. Alma 40. Marcus Dods (New York: Random House, 1950), 781. Christians have debated for centuries the nature of the hell fire of which Jesus spoke (Matt. 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 second death refers to spiritual death or separation from God. . Just one rebellion. 6:8). Utterly turn against god. As with anything in Mormon doctrine, theres a lot of confusion, contradictory information and just all around ignoring a topic that should be as simple as asking a question and getting an answer. 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). Required fields are marked *. A representation of the tree degrees of glory and outer darkness. You have to be pretty bad to go to the Teresita's kingdom, and horrendous to go to outer darkness. I can give you more than plenty of examples of that. But the children of the kingdom [i.e., covenant breakers] shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 14:1819). 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). Becoming a son of Perdition is hard therefore going to outer darkness is hard. 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. The Book of Mormon also teaches that by coming unto Christ, one can escape the pains of hell experienced in this life. The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. Yes, they were said by Prophets of their church. 21:8; cf. 20:14). 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. So a heads up, this does not include you or any one who has ever been or will be born on Earth. This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. 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. Outer darkness is a eternal place of torment reserved for those who are "sons of perdition." According to LDS scripture, this will be a place that "where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth" (Doctrine and Covenants 101:91; also see 133:73). This is serving Satan. 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 . Banishment from the presence of God. Banishment from the joys of heaven. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The. (1) We believe in trimming our wicks to 1/4 between each burn. 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. He called the Pharisees and scribes vipers and questioned, How can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matt. Satan and his followers are beings of spirit who were denied bodies and cast out of heaven during pre-mortal existence (see Plan of Salvation ). 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. 9:16) after the final judgment. 18:8), hell fire (Matt. The celestial, terrestrial, and telestial are kingdoms of glory. The Book of Mormon provides another testament of the reality of a designated place called hell, where the wicked are consigned. Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. One of the messages of the Book of Mormon is that people sometimes lose the desire to repent. 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. 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. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. 28:2223). 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. Possibly but there is no citation there either. The kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory is called outer darkness. 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. 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.). The righteousness of some (Abraham or Lazarus) cannot erase the consequences of anothers sins (the rich man). The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. Jacob taught that the lake of fire is not a literal fire but a figurative representation of torment: And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end (2 Ne. Unless someone has rejected love, like the Nephites, I believe there is still hope that they will repent. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22. It is taught that, in the pre-mortal life, they chose to follow a plan proposed by Satan, rather than that presented by God the Father. Jesus proclaimed to Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against the rock upon which He would build the Church (Matt. Usually, when one is going to hell, the unspoken caveat is unless they repent. The latter meaning is a place where the glory of God is completely absent, and is the place where Satan and his angels will reside. The question is, what exactly does full knowledge entail? 10 reasons why a person ought to consider becoming a Christian. Banishment from the glory of God. 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). Jesus warned that those who mocked their brothers by saying Thou fool were in danger of hell fire (Matt. 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. Conclusion The Book of Mormon text confirms the truth of New Testament teachings on hell, second death, lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness. to become a son of perdition? Thus, the only mortals who can possibly become sons of perdition must be Latter-day Saints who fall/fell away. That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. 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. This is the final destination of Satan himself. Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie have rejected the idea that those in perdition can ultimately be redeemed, which contradicts Brighams speculations. You are taking quotes that are not Mormon Doctrine. 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. 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. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), s.v. What is it? 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. 3:20; 10:9- 10; Eph. However, sons of perdition cannot achieve forgiveness and will be completely cast outside of the light of God. 22:13). 22:13-14, D-R.). What do Mormons believe happened in the pre-existence? 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. 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. Youll never regret it. 20:13). All missionaries are doing is trying to upgrade people to a premium plan of ruling over planets and polygamy. 34:3435; note Almas repetitive use of the word state in Alma 40:1112; see also D&C 101:9091; 133:7073). Now go take a nap and rest well! 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. Smith told a general conference audience: I think I am safe in saying that no man can become a Son of Perdition until he has known the light. and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). Conclusion Plagiarism and The Globe a comparative analysis, The Shunning Key by bwv549 - Mormon Bandwagon, https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/sons-of-perdition, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_perdition_(Mormonism), https://www.fairmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/What_is_Mormon_Doctrine.pdf, https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22, LDS Church and Same Sex Marriage Timeline, The Pump LDS film and the original source, Ethan Smith, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Solomon Spaulding connections. 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. 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. Those mortals who never join the LDS Church (through baptism) cannot become sons of perdition. Jesus also referred to outer darkness in two parables he gave during the last week of his life. 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. 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. . 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. Consistently, hell is associated with fire. 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. Matt. ( 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. (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. Clearly you dont know what is and is not doctrine, and are trying to throw shade.