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. 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. 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. Ellipsis mine). Mormons believe that only a Son of Perdition will go to Outer Darkness, their version of most Christian religions understanding of Hell. to become a son of perdition? 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. T F It is practically impossible for those who were human to ever be sent to Outer Darkness. It is provided through Christ's atonement and received by personal faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. 9:16) after the final judgment. 15:29, 35; Alma 19:29; 54:7), sleep of hell (2 Ne. Return to the Crash Course Mormonism Index. Additional doctrinal truth concerning the great gulf can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 138:1837). Here is one more thing to think about: I work full time with a Christian ministry aimed at converting Mormons. 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. This is the second death. 40 talks in 40 days for General Conference, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. One of the messages of the Book of Mormon is that people sometimes lose the desire to repent. 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. What is the Mormon plan of salvation? 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). 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.. Jesus disciples were told not to fear those who could kill the body but to fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 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. 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. 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. I said: I dont know and he said, How can I find outI just called Spencer Kimball and he told me he didnt know either. When the lights were out and we were on the verge of sleep, our camp counselor took advantage of the moment and endeavored to imprint his teachings upon the minds of his captive audience. It also adds insight that, when blended with other essential doctrines, offers a more complete understanding of the plan of salvation. There are two categories for those who should be considered sons of perdition. He once said that a person. Alma the Younger contributed even more insight on the second death when he gave the wicked people of Ammonihah a detailed description of the fate of those who harden their hearts against the word of God: Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned. 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. Thank you! If this is the case, the worst fate any former Latter-day Saint can anticipate is the telestial kingdom. 8:1112). They have said things much stranger and I am sure you know of them. 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. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 758. 13:40), cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matt. The views expressed . 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. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. The New Testament contains four references to the second death, all located in the Revelation of John. Then, I say unto you, they shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to Gods justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption (Alma 12:13,1618). Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). Mormon theology ultimately portrays Outer Darkness as heaven, and Satan as the God of that realm. But to pass it off as a belief of an entire Church, organization and people is wrong. 9:4. 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. The Book of Mormon contains one reference to outer darkness. Conclusion 5:22), and the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone of which the apostle John wrote (Rev. 15:2830). How unfair is this scenario? - 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. . Outer darkness is something which cannot be described, except that it is to be placed beyond the benign and comforting influence of the Spirit of Godbanished entirely from his presence. Another name for Outer Darkness is hell. hell.. I was taught that to be condemned to outer darkness you would have to deny Christ to his very face and that could occur . Those mortals who never join the LDS Church (through baptism) cannot become sons of perdition. The righteousness of some (Abraham or Lazarus) cannot erase the consequences of anothers sins (the rich man). Because reasons. The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. Also, the whole thing about Daughters of Perdition. 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. The opposition gospel twists the title of Adversary into a positive thing. there are two answers, one is being cast out of the presence of God which would be a form of darkness and the other is complete darkness without even the spirit of God in a spiritual realm as far as the light has an end, if thats possible. Delving into the interesting bits about any religion to stem from Joseph Smith Jr. Joseph F. Smith,The Second Death,inBrian H. Stuy (editor). The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. However, I think the breakdown I have above is accurate because outer darkest is a place of permanence for the filthy. If Lucifer had not known the effects of his rebellion, how would he ever become perdition? 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 . Banishment from all progress. 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 . But what is light? You quoted a website (Wikipedia) which is not doctrine and another website (FAIRMormon) which directly says it is not doctrine. Here, like John and Samuel, Alma equated the second death with the lake of fire and brimstone. 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. 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. You have to be pretty bad to go to the Teresita's kingdom, and horrendous to go to outer darkness. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. Jacob identified death and hell as temporal and spiritual death. 801-422-6975. 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. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. . 6:8). It is, therefore, important to examine carefully the context of each reference. ( 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. 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. 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. ; Mormon Temple Worship. Another manual states, Baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). Jesus marvelled at the faith of a centurion he met in Capernaum and proclaimed that many would come from the east and west, and [would] sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 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. As used in the New Testament, hell is an English word which is translated from two Greek words: hades (used ten times) and geenna (twelve times). https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Outer_Darkness&oldid=27067. 12:22). 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). 67, LDS Church Archives. 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). Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. 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. Yet I an certainly exempt from outer darkness, no questions asked. These pains are similar to the state of suffering experienced by the ungodly who after mortality are assigned to hell. Jesus declared that this exalted city would be brought down to hell (Matt. Outer Darkness. This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. 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. So we can clearly state no women are Sons of Perdition in outer darkness. In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. That night not one boy was interested in going to hell! 14:1819). 3:20; 10:9- 10; Eph. 18:8), hell fire (Matt. Italics in original). 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. Jesus warned that those who mocked their brothers by saying Thou fool were in danger of hell fire (Matt. T F According to a church manual, those who never were Mormon could never be sent to Outer Darkness. 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). outer darkness. 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. The conclusion: You (former Mormon), despite being baptized into this church, are not a son of perdition! An in depth look at the Mormon doctrine of hell. Those consigned to hell or outer darkness are partakers of the second death, and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone. Pingback: The Shunning Key by bwv549 - Mormon Bandwagon, A Son of Perdition is: But suppose, deep down, I do believe the church is true. To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. 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. These are they who do two very specific things. For example: everlasting fire (Matt. Bold and italics in original). Big Love's episode "Outer Darkness" Summary: It is not our intention to discuss details of the portrayal of the temple ceremony here. Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. Followers 0. 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. 5:30). 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). How many people. He wrote. Circumcision. 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. Thus, by the definition given by the leaders cited above, these people cannot be considered sons of perdition. They go too far, and the Spirit leaves themYou cant renew them to repentancyou cannot save them. (Joseph Smith Jr., King Follett Discourse). lift[ed] up his eyes and saw Abraham and Lazarus across an impassable gulf (Luke 16:23). 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. When I bring this issue up with some Latter-day Saints, I sometimes get defensive arguments. . Please note that FAIRMormon states it is not doctrine on the website. 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. Banishment into outer darkness. [Discourse given on 20 January 1895.] The Plan of Salvation kind of negates the reason for missionary work. In the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), "outer darkness" has two separate meanings.. 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). 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. Even the wicked of the earth who never knew the power of God, after they have paid the price of their sinningfor they must suffer the excruciating torment which sins will bringshall at last come forth from the prison house. 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. 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 manual Gospel Principles sheds additional light: There is no forgiveness for them, for they denied the Holy Spirit after having received it. They are the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. 21:8). The second possible sons of perdition are mortals. 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. WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL ANGELS WHO ARE INCAPABLE OF SINNING. 10:28). 2:8-10) Jesus' atonement provided immortality for all people. However, Lucifer did not know all the purposes of the Father as we learn from the Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:6. 22:13-14, D-R.). They place themselves beyond the power of repentance and beyond the mercies of God. 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. It honors and glorifies Satan. 1:13), gates of hell (2 Ne. In Christianity, the "exterior darkness" or outer darkness is a place referred to three times in the Gospel of Matthew (8:12, 22:13, and 25:30) into which a person may be "cast out", and where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth". 18:8)? 1:18). lucifer. 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. Everyone is already going to the terrestrial kingdom by default. 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. Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smitha general authority who spoke more about this issue than any other leaderstated. (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.). Does this description of God make it sound as if he is just (at least according to an LDS context)? For those who once were baptized and confirmed into Mormonism, what is your status? 2:4). The filthy would be more miserable to dwell with God than to dwell in hell, Morm. 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. Dennis L. Largey was an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University when this was published. 5:22), burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt. Outer darkness is not a kingdom of glory. The city of Capernaum was upbraided for its lack of faith in view of the miracles Jesus performed there. 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. 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. Italics in original). To qualify, a person would not only have to leave the Mormon church but also vehemently speak against it. 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. 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). They have wilfully (sic) made themselves servants of Satan and servants to him shall they remain forever. 9:16; emphasis added). It also teaches that the Atonement ransoms humankind from physical death through the resurrection and from spiritual death, or hell, through repentance. 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. And, if you havent come into relationship with the Jesus of the Bible, I encourage you to do some homework and meet Him. Over the 30 years in Christian ministry, I have met many former Mormons who once believed in Mormonism, but none has ever confessed that they still believe Mormonism to be true. 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. He also saw a pale horse with a rider whose name was Death, and Hell followed with him (Rev. According to Smith: It is very clear in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:30-37, that the only persons who will be completely overcome by this dreadful fate are the sons of perdition who go with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. (Answers to Gospel Questions 5:107-108). Unfortunately, Apple's iOS doesn't support home screen shortcuts in the Chrome browser. ). The Book of Mormon clarifies that the lake of fire and brimstone is a metaphor for the suffering of the wicked. Which means that really, no one knows anything about this. Who will partake of it, and what is the nature of the eternal torment? Chapter 40. And as such I would qualify. John identified specific sins that would lead to the lake of fire and brimstone: 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. 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. Only a handful of "sons of perdition" would go. 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). Mormons believe we existed before coming to Earth. 3. That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. 9:710, 19, 26). Ah yes, well with clarity like that, why would Jeremy ever doubt them and ask for official sources! 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). This is the choice of an individual to reject God. 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. Today, interpretation of these "outer darkness" verses are a subset of Protestant discussion on hell and annihilationism. (Conference Reports, October 1958, p. 21. Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap. Learn how your comment data is processed. . 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. Sorry ladies, you cant actually apostatize from the church, I guess (Someone tell Kate Kelly her excommunication is not valid!).

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