Circumcision. Thirty-three times it stands alone, without modifiers or explanation of what it means, as in And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell (Alma 30:60). 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 . Finally, John saw that death and hell delivered up the dead to be judged according to their works, and death and hell were cast into [a] lake of fire (Rev. He had a sure witness of the Lord and willfully chose to follow Satan instead. 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. The kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory is called outer darkness. All missionaries are doing is trying to upgrade people to a premium plan of ruling over planets and polygamy. 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). In Mormonism, it depends. 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". 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. Any person who inherits one of the . 1:13), gates of hell (2 Ne. Hell is outer darkness; it is the lake of fire; and it is the second death. 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. 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. Outer Darkness - Social Hall - Mormon Dialogue & Discussion Board. 8:17), and endless hell (Moro. (See D&C 76:2835, 4448.) 20:13). 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. 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. So why dont we get outer darkness too? In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. 2. Because of their disobedience, these spirits ended up not receiving bodies, a necessary ingredient to progress to mortality and be qualified for one of the three kingdoms of glory. Their theology was turned upside down! (Selections of Doctrines of Salvation, p. 462. Those who must suffer with Satan for the deeds done in mortality will go with him into outer darkness. The filthy would be more miserable to dwell with God than to dwell in hell, Morm. hell.. We believe that after the final judgment there are four places to which a person may be sent. T F Once a spirit enters Outer Darkness, there will be no leaving there. Utterly turn against god. It occurs in a doctrinal discussion Alma conducted with his son Corianton. Delving into the interesting bits about any religion to stem from Joseph Smith Jr. Joseph F. Smith,The Second Death,inBrian H. Stuy (editor). (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Becoming a son of Perdition is hard therefore going to outer darkness is hard. Brigham Young University In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. 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. 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. 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. 12:22; Morm. 11:23). The Sons of Perdition are those who have lived as mortal men and women on the earth, have had the heavens opened to them and received a certain knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, and then have rejected the Savior, "having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:34-35; see also Doctrine and Covenants 76:3133, 3637). Just one rebellion. In this realm, as the name implies, there will be no light, and consequently no heat. 2:8-10) Jesus' atonement provided immortality for all people. 9:16), unquenchable fire (Mosiah 2:38), and hell fire (3 Ne. 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. 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. Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap. The phrase first occurs in Jesus' comment concerning the faith of the Centurion of Capernaum: And I say to thee that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven: But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 2:11). The followers of Satan who will suffer with him in eternity. Mormon doctrines are often contradictory and inconsistent. This is the final destination of Satan himself. Just one sin. A) Most humans B) Satan C) His angels D) Sons of Perdition. It is impossible for those who never joined Mormonism to become sons of perdition. 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 ). They believe that they are mortal men capable of mistakes just like the rest of us. 9:16; emphasis added). [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]. Smith taught: The sons of perdition are those who have had a knowledge of the truth, have known that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, have had the testimony of the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Ghost, and these things have all been revealed so that they know they are true; and then they turn against them and fight them knowingly. Mormons believe that only a Son of Perdition will go to Outer Darkness, their version of most Christian religions understanding of Hell. 22:13) if it is also a place of perpetual fire (Matt. 40 talks in 40 days for General Conference, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? The word hell is mentioned twenty-three times in the New Testament: fifteen times in the Gospels, twice in the book of Acts, once each in James and 2 Peter, and four times in the book of Revelation. 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. One fire certainly shall be the lot of both. [4]. Jesus warned that those who mocked their brothers by saying Thou fool were in danger of hell fire (Matt. Your email address will not be published. The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220-221). You have to be pretty bad to go to the Teresita's kingdom, and horrendous to go to outer darkness. How many people. 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. John did not define the second death other than to make it synonymous with the lake of fire and brimstone that awaits the wicked. It's not as simple as you make it out to be. No Mormon since the 1890 change has had the authority to marry any man to more than one woman. Note the Book of Mormons addition of the words is as. You not only need to have been a Mormon, but you have to have full knowledge that this is the restored church of God and still fought against it. In harmony with this doctrinal truth that death and hell will deliver up the spirits and bodies of their captives, King David received the promise that his soul would not be left in hell (see Ps. 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church. 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). 20:1315). Only a handful of "sons of perdition" would go. But unofficial prophets speaking at BYU or in their own books say no, except Brigham in the Journal of Discourses which is unofficial. Jacob identified death and hell as temporal and spiritual death. 21:8; see also 19:20). Dennis L. Largey, Hell Second Death, Lake of Fire and Brimstone, and Outer Darkness, inThe Book of Mormon and the Message of the Four Gospels, ed. 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). A representation of the tree degrees of glory and outer darkness. No exact details are given. As explained in D&C 88:11-13: 3:20; 10:9- 10; Eph. Chapter 40. ; Mormon Temple Worship. Marcus Dods (New York: Random House, 1950), 781. Although this is an obvious scare tactic, this accusation is not true according to important LDS leaders. 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. kingdoms of glory. When I bring this issue up with some Latter-day Saints, I sometimes get defensive arguments. Clearly, when it comes to perdition and outer darkness, I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me, and anyone who speaks on the matter has a dizzying intellect. T F It is practically impossible for those who were human to ever be sent to Outer Darkness. 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. 18:8), hell fire (Matt. . Thank you! He also saw a pale horse with a rider whose name was Death, and Hell followed with him (Rev. it could be a reference for the resurrected who gain inheritance on other worlds but without the fulness of Grant Building 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). 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. But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. But to pass it off as a belief of an entire Church, organization and people is wrong. . Jesus proclaimed to Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against the rock upon which He would build the Church (Matt. 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). 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. Polygamy with tons more men than women sounds ill-thought out. (p. 273). We probably do not want to know how horrible it is just like in this life, some things that are so horrible that happen (especially to children) wed rather not know about it, if possible. 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. 25:30). The views expressed . 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. After inspecting the intruder, the king instructed his servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. Big Love's episode "Outer Darkness" Summary: It is not our intention to discuss details of the portrayal of the temple ceremony here. 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. 22:13) that awaits the wicked? 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. 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.