These are they who do two very specific things. . Mormons believe that there Prophets are fallible and in no way perfect. 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). T F It is practically impossible for those who were human to ever be sent to Outer Darkness. Your email address will not be published. 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.. Here, like John and Samuel, Alma equated the second death with the lake of fire and brimstone. Other sources used in composing this topic: http://en.fairmormon.org/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Can_women_be_%22Sons_of_Perdition%22, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_darkness#Usage_in_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement, http://en.fairmormon.org/Plan_of_salvation/Sons_of_Perdition/Eventual_fate, http://emp.byui.edu/satterfieldb/quotes/Sons%20of%20Perdition.htm. Mormon theology ultimately portrays Outer Darkness as heaven, and Satan as the God of that realm. Historic Christianity. It is, therefore, important to examine carefully the context of each reference. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. This is not an easy thing to do unless you are choosing to do so while being fully aware that you are doing so. By EntropyJustKillUsNow, March 29, 2017 in Social Hall. The views expressed . About 74 B.C. This page was last edited on 17 September 2010, at 20:26. 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. 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. The Book of Mormon also teaches that by coming unto Christ, one can escape the pains of hell experienced in this life. This is a Son of perdition. 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. If he were ignorant, he could not have become perdition. The sinner must deal with the self-created gulf on his own, with the help of the Savior and his Atonement. 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. Woman must atone for sins committed by the volition of her own choice, but she will never become an angel to the devil, and sin so far as to place herself beyond the reach of mercy. Brigham Young Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. 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. But suppose, deep down, I do believe the church is true. Bold and italics in original). In the parable of the wedding of the kings son, the king discovered that a guest was not properly attired in the required wedding garment, i.e., righteousness. 4:32; 3 Ne. They have said things much stranger and I am sure you know of them. 21:8; cf. Thus the Book of Mormon does seem to contain a reference to the degrees of glory and outer darkness. Chapter 40. There are ten references to the lake of fire and brimstone in the Book of Mormon. And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever (Mosiah 3:2427; emphasis added). Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. 18:8), hell fire (Matt. These pains are similar to the state of suffering experienced by the ungodly who after mortality are assigned to hell. 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. Also, the whole thing about Daughters of Perdition. We will, however, address some of the portrayals of other LDS beliefs and practices that were depicted in this episode. - 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. . When I was Mormon, I was taught that in order to be sent to Outer Darkness (I'm a woman, that will be relevant in a second) you had to have an UNMISTAKABLE KnOwLeDgE of Christ, and then turn your back on God and deny him. . Hence, the term outer darkness. 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. However, I think the breakdown I have above is accurate because outer darkest is a place of permanence for the filthy. How impossible would it be for a former Mormon (with full knowledge, even!) Each person must reap the harvest of the seeds sown in this life. Which would be a sure-fire way to know that a spirit is headed to Outer Darkness? [1] See also Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. Everyone is already going to the terrestrial kingdom by default. 13:40), cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matt. In this realm, as the name implies, there will be no light, and consequently no heat. 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. 3:20; 10:9- 10; Eph. 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. 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. The Lord said no man knoweth So, theres probably a good reason that there is some debate and confusion on it. It is the closest Mormon analogy to the concept of hell in most other Christian traditions. 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. 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. Outer darkness is not a kingdom of glory. What do Mormons believe happened in the pre-existence? Banishment into outer darkness. (To see the differences between the three kingdoms of glory, click here.) As soon as you define doctrine in a way that includes wikipedia, get back to me. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. [4] Augustine, The City of God, trans. So the prophet, meeting with apostles is clear on this, there are women. 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. Therefore the Lord used Satans evil acts to accomplish his own purposes. 6:8). 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. It doesnt matter because I never joined. How unfair is this scenario? 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. 9:710, 19, 26). 5:30). I was taught that to be condemned to outer darkness you would have to deny Christ to his very face and that could occur . 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. Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition (Conference Reports, October 1958, p. 21). The Book of Mormon does not teach the doctrinal truth that hell will end for the majority of those who suffer in the spirit prison prior to being resurrected and entering the telestial kingdom; however, this truth is clearly taught in the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 76:3638, 106). 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. 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). But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. So a heads up, this does not include you or any one who has ever been or will be born on Earth. This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220). Thank you! So only a prophet can put the matter to rest well, thats nice that Brigham said there were no women, Joseph F. said there were no women, but Wilford Woodruff said there was no debate and there must be women. 40 talks in 40 days for General Conference, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The wicked, or in this particular context, the sons of perdition who are filthy still after judgment and resurrection, are assigned to everlasting punishment (see 2 Ne. (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220-221). Note the Book of Mormons addition of the words is as. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). Women or not. 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. 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. For example: everlasting fire (Matt. However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. 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. In Mormonism, Outer darkness is described as "those who are unfaithful, those who will listen to Satan, who will lend a willing ear to his blandishments and to his allurements, when they go from this state of existence, they go into a condition where they are subject to his power. 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. 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. 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 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, 78, 98 ). You'll need to do a few things to get the most out of your ex-Mormon candle. 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. All missionaries are doing is trying to upgrade people to a premium plan of ruling over planets and polygamy. To qualify, a person would not only have to leave the Mormon church but also vehemently speak against it. 22:13). But wait! It is true that the only mortals who had once been members are eligible to become sons of perdition, a fact that may worry some former Mormons who wonder if they might be destined for outer darkness. 20:14), or the outer darkness (Matt. 185 Heber J. The manual Gospel Principles sheds additional light: There is no forgiveness for them, for they denied the Holy Spirit after having received it. D&C 133:73 says, These shall go away into outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Humans who never heard about Mormonism will not go there, as tenth President Joseph Fielding Smith said, That is a punishment that will not come to those who have never known the truth. In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. They place themselves beyond the power of repentance and beyond the mercies of God. It must be emphasized that the witness described means that the person has had the heavens opened unto him and has personally seen, and even spoken with, the Savior, and then has turned against Him, bringing him to open shame. 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt.