Salvation is release from the guilt and power of sin through God's gift of grace. At the end of the twenty years, the knife would be withdrawn and again stabbed into us, with the resulting excruciating pain lasting another twenty years; this process would then be repeated for all eternity. 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. In Mormonism, it depends. An in depth look at the Mormon doctrine of hell. Jesus proclaimed to Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against the rock upon which He would build the Church (Matt. The ex-mortal sons of perdition will be resurrected, as will everyone else; but they will finally suffer the second death, the spiritual death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. (Hel. . . 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). 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). But Mormons do not believe that just because a Prophet said it, that it makes it true. This is a place very close in nature to the biblical hell. 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. They go too far, and the Spirit leaves themYou cant renew them to repentancyou cannot save them. (Joseph Smith Jr., King Follett Discourse). And, if you havent come into relationship with the Jesus of the Bible, I encourage you to do some homework and meet Him. 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). Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). outer darkness | Some Mormon Stuff 1:13), gates of hell (2 Ne. Usually, when one is going to hell, the unspoken caveat is unless they repent. FAIRMormon says on this page even: When any man, except the President of the Church, undertakes to proclaim one unsettled doctrine, as among two or more doctrines in dispute, as the settled doctrine of the Church, we may know that he is not moved upon by the Holy Ghost, unless he is acting under the direction and by the authority of the President. It honors and glorifies Satan. The Book of Mormon provides another testament concerning the existence of hell, and explains how one can escape the chains of hell in this life, and an everlasting hell in the next life, through application of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. But unofficial prophets speaking at BYU or in their own books say no, except Brigham in the Journal of Discourses which is unofficial. 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. 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. One of these guests, however, appeared without the proper wedding attire. (Conference Reports, October 1958, p. 21. 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). (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. 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 there you go, the souls who end up in Outer Darkness are clearly apostates, or not. 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. outer darkness. By EntropyJustKillUsNow, March 29, 2017 in Social Hall. Your generous support makes the work of MRM possible. Grant Building 9:4. 20:1314). So I found one, by Joseph F. Smith, Thus we see that the first death which came into the world is also the last death which shall be pronounced upon the sons of perdition. 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. Outer Darkness - Social Hall - Mormon Dialogue & Discussion Board. It occurs in a doctrinal discussion Alma conducted with his son Corianton. 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). You'll need to do a few things to get the most out of your ex-Mormon candle. I was taught that to be condemned to outer darkness you would have to deny Christ to his very face and that could occur . 2:8-10) Jesus' atonement provided immortality for all people. 6:8). 8:13). The kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory is called outer darkness. 15:2830). 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. 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. The Book of Mormon presents several significant insights concerning the lake of fire and brimstone of which John spoke. What do Mormons believe happened in the pre-existence? 10:28). 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. To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. Johns references to the second death testify of its existence but do not offer any explanatory information that instructs those readers who do not already understand the doctrine. 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). 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. Outer darkness is not a kingdom of glory. 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 ). So get what they deserve. Yet how many sins and wrong choices has every humanincluding me and youmade? That night not one boy was interested in going to hell! A representation of the tree degrees of glory and outer darkness. Jesus warned that those who mocked their brothers by saying Thou fool were in danger of hell fire (Matt. Both Luther, who taught soul sleep till the resurrection of the dead, and Calvin, who taught the immortal soul, considered the "outer darkness" references in Matthew to refer to the last judgment. Each person must reap the harvest of the seeds sown in this life. However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. But to pass it off as a belief of an entire Church, organization and people is wrong. Thus the Book of Mormon does seem to contain a reference to the degrees of glory and outer darkness. Why practically nobody-including you, former Mormon-will ever end up in In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the tormented rich man in hell . 5:22), as were those who failed to cast away their sins (JSM 5:34; cf. 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. Jesus also referred to outer darkness in two parables he gave during the last week of his life. These spirits never received a mortal body necessary to progress to a kingdom of glory. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), s.v. The extent of this punishment none will ever know except those who partake of it. It's not as simple as you make it out to be. Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church. 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. From its beginnings, it taught that very few people would go to "outer darkness" the Mormon concept of hell. However, not once have I ever suspected such a person to be a closet believer in Mormonism. Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap. Italics in original). 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. Are the devils before the world created sons of perdition? The question is, what exactly does full knowledge entail? Clearly fire is used as a metaphor for sufferingnot a literal fire but a state of misery. Outer Darkness Definition - Mormonism Research Ministry One of the messages of the Book of Mormon is that people sometimes lose the desire to repent. 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. 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. 6:28), hell fire (3 Ne. Outer Darkness - Social Hall - Mormon Dialogue & Discussion Board 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 . The use of the term exterior darkness is in Jesus' parable of the wedding feast (also known as the parable of the marriage of the king's son). To the Church in Smyrna the Apostle John wrote: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev. The views expressed . 23:33). In Mormonism, it depends. Even Nazi dictator Adolph Hitler will get nothing less than the telestial kingdom since he was never baptized/confirmed into the church; work was done in proxy for him in the London, England temple several decades ago. 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. You have to be pretty bad to go to the Teresita's kingdom, and horrendous to go to outer darkness. Here, like John and Samuel, Alma equated the second death with the lake of fire and brimstone. This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition. [2] For a discussion of the New Testament words that translate hell, see The Oxford Companion to the Bible, ed. Can you explain what Outer Darkness is and who will spend eternity there? Hence the saying: They will go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Return to the Crash Course Mormonism Index. 22:13) if it is also a place of perpetual fire (Matt. It also adds insight that, when blended with other essential doctrines, offers a more complete understanding of the plan of salvation. Any person who inherits one of the . 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. ). Historic Christianity. 20:6). (To see the differences between the three kingdoms of glory, click here.) it could be a reference for the resurrected who gain inheritance on other worlds but without the fulness of Ellipsis mine). Another name for Outer Darkness is hell. ; Mormon Temple Worship. 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. Hell - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 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. Who goes to Outer Darkness, a handy guide - Exploring Mormonism The Book of Mormon contains one reference to outer darkness. 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. Thank you! 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. 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). 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 ). After the millennium, after the last great battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan, Satan and his followers will be cast into Outer Darkness. hell.. Hell is a state of suffering, both temporary and permanent. 8 - 14 are for safety. 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. 801-422-6975. Mormon theology ultimately portrays Outer Darkness as heaven, and Satan as the God of that realm.