Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smitha general authority who spoke more about this issue than any other leaderstated. Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. The conclusion: You (former Mormon), despite being baptized into this church, are not a son of perdition! It clarifies how using an obscure quote does not define LDS doctrines or dogmas. 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. Another manual states, Baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). Sons of Perdition are to be cast out with the devil and his angels into outer darkness. Note the Book of Mormons addition of the words is as. If Lucifer had not known the effects of his rebellion, how would he ever become perdition? 12:22; Morm. In a general conference talk, Joseph Fielding Smith further explained that. 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. 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". Those who followed Lucifer in his rebellion in the premortal life and those who in mortality sin against the Holy Ghost are sons of perdition. What is the Mormon plan of salvation? It is simply his opinion. 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. Because reasons. Well thats wrapped up as long as no other prophets said oh. 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. Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? . 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. Hell is outer darkness; it is the lake of fire; and it is the second death. It also adds insight that, when blended with other essential doctrines, offers a more complete understanding of the plan of salvation. He wrote: 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. So there you go, the souls who end up in Outer Darkness are clearly apostates, or not. 801-422-6975. From its beginnings, it taught that very few people would go to "outer darkness" the Mormon concept 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. Hence, the term outer darkness. Outer Darkness. . 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. Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? 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. Divine Love in the Fathers Plan (Dallin H. Oaks, April 2022). 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. [3] Larry E. Dahl, The Concept of Hell, in Doctrines of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992), 4243. Banishment from the joys of heaven. New Testament [ edit] We believe that after the final judgment there are four places to which a person may be sent. The Nephites became so wicked, that contemplating murder was a source of happiness. Temporary abode of the wicked. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the tormented rich man in hell . Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). Though we have this clarity in the scriptures that we carry with us daily, few members are aware that this insight is there." Big Love's episode "Outer Darkness" Summary: It is not our intention to discuss details of the portrayal of the temple ceremony here. Mormonism. 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. This is the second death. 23:15). Banishment into outer darkness. Some Christians have believed the lake of fire John spoke of to be a literal lake. 14:34), awful hell (1 Ne. As explained in D&C 88:11-13: The sinner must deal with the self-created gulf on his own, with the help of the Savior and his Atonement. Alma 40. In Outer Darkness, there is endless lamentation and no divine presence. If this is the case, the worst fate any former Latter-day Saint can anticipate is the telestial kingdom. Thus, the only mortals who can possibly become sons of perdition must be Latter-day Saints who fall/fell away. The Book of Mormon clarifies that the lake of fire and brimstone is a metaphor for the suffering of the wicked. Additionally it provides helpful commentary on New Testament passages concerning hell. What qualifies a person to be a Son of Perdition? As soon as you define doctrine in a way that includes wikipedia, get back to me. Which means that really, no one knows anything about this. Continuous suffering, however, is reserved only for sons of perditionthose who are still unclean after the final judgment. The filthy would be more miserable to dwell with God than to dwell in hell, Morm. 6:28), hell fire (3 Ne. Italics in original). Cain is a Son of Perdition. (2) We believe in allowing our candles to burn for a maximum of four hours at a time. 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. While this is true, please define Mormon Doctrine before saying I did not quote Mormon Doctrine. One example would not be human since they were cast out of heaven with Satan before they could receive a body. 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. So lets turn to that bastion of all wisdom that Jeremy Runnells was blamed for not believing and turning to with questions: FAIRMormon: The church has no official position on this issue. Unfortunately, Apple's iOS doesn't support home screen shortcuts in the Chrome browser. John did not define the second death other than to make it synonymous with the lake of fire and brimstone that awaits the wicked. Even the regular Wikipedia seems confused: Sons of Perdition are: The pre-mortal spirit followers of Satan. 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. 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). To the Church in Smyrna the Apostle John wrote: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 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. The extent of this punishment none will ever know except those who partake of it. 4:32; 3 Ne. 15:29, 35; Alma 19:29; 54:7), sleep of hell (2 Ne. Just because Hitler, Mao, and Stalin along with Judas Iscariot (as mentioned above) never became Latter-day Saints apparently provides them with a much higher privilegea life in the telestial kingdom over those who once believed but left the true fold, kicking and screaming in their continued fight against the restored church of Jesus Christ. This is what was taught by several important church leaders, including founder Joseph Smith. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 758. Your email address will not be published. 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 ). 20:13). Here is one more thing to think about: I work full time with a Christian ministry aimed at converting Mormons. You'll need to do a few things to get the most out of your ex-Mormon candle. 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. 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.. So get what they deserve. Yet how many sins and wrong choices has every humanincluding me and youmade? But unofficial prophets speaking at BYU or in their own books say no, except Brigham in the Journal of Discourses which is unofficial. According to the Doctrine and Covenants, this will be a place that even in outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth (Doctrine and Covenants 101:91; also see 133:73). (Matt. 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. 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). Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. One fire certainly shall be the lot of both. [4]. 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. 22:13). 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. It honors and glorifies Satan. 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. Also, you can read this too. That ought to bring a sigh of relief to many who are reading this article! Becoming a son of Perdition is hard therefore going to outer darkness is hard. At the end of the twenty years, the knife would be withdrawn and again stabbed into us, with the resulting excruciating pain lasting another twenty years; this process would then be repeated for all eternity. For most, outer darkness, the lake of fire, and the second death have an end, but for the sons of perdition these states continue eternally. ", 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. 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. [2] For a discussion of the New Testament words that translate hell, see The Oxford Companion to the Bible, ed. Oh yes they did: after a man has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for himlike many of the apostates of Christof the 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. [Discourse given on 20 January 1895.] https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22. What do Mormons believe happened in the pre-existence? Hence the saying: They will go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. In Mormonism, it depends. and they were judged every man according to their works (Rev. 1. The term "outer darkness" refers to the place to where Satan will be banished. And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment (Mosiah 2:3839). That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. Additional doctrinal truth concerning the great gulf can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 138:1837). 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.