This is a Son of perdition. It is simply his opinion. 20:1314). Think along the lines of a religious leader serving God but the opposite. They will not have a kingdom of glory. 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. 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. 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. First, LDS Church scripture uses the term outer darkness to refer to a condition in the spirit world. Dennis L. Largey was an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University when this was published. Everyone is already going to the terrestrial kingdom by default. How many people. Jesus warned that those who mocked their brothers by saying Thou fool were in danger of hell fire (Matt. Just one sin. In Mormonism, it depends. 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. Return to the Crash Course Mormonism Index. 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. 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. 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. You dont believe it is true, which is the reason why you left. There are possible characteristics of a son of perdition. According to the churchs website: The followers of Satan who will suffer with him in eternity. In Mormonism, it depends. Delving into the interesting bits about any religion to stem from Joseph Smith Jr. Joseph F. Smith,The Second Death,inBrian H. Stuy (editor). Did I really have full knowledge? 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). John did not define the second death other than to make it synonymous with the lake of fire and brimstone that awaits the wicked. 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 . 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. 67, LDS Church Archives. 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. 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 (Ibid.). 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. We believe that after the final judgment there are four places to which a person may be sent. Who of the following is NOT eligible for Outer Darkness. A Vision, Times and Seasons 4 (1 Feb 1843) 6:82-5. what about that 1/3 the host of heaven who didnt follow Gods plan Joseph F. Smith was so sure qualify as Sons of Perdition were NONE of them women? Those who have never received the light are not to become Sons of Perdition. Mormon Doctrine Lecture, #2, Brigham Young University, 1967.). Many of the apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Second, it is the permanent location of Satan and his followers and the sons of perdition, who are not redeemed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 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). 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. 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. D&C 76 does say telestial people are the ones thrust down to hell and not redeemed until the last resurrection. 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 the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), "outer darkness" has two separate meanings.. Also, the whole thing about Daughters 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). 8:1112). Which means that really, no one knows anything about this. Joseph Fielding Smith who said that this class is composed of all who have known the power of God in this mortal life and then, having full knowledge of the power and purposes of God,rebel against him, putting Jesus Christ to open shame (Doctrines of Salvation 2:219-220. Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. In Jesus parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus contrasted the afterlife state of the lowly Lazarus with that of the self-absorbed rich man. Outer Darkness. and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). Banishment from the glory of God. The first death is physical death, and everyone but the devil and his angels will overcome physical death through Resurrection. He called the Pharisees and scribes vipers and questioned, How can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matt. 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. Who will partake of it, and what is the nature of the eternal torment? In each New Testament passage that speaks of hell (the word hades is neutralneither a place of punishment nor reward but the place of departed spirits) the context associates it with suffering and punishment. 20:14), or the outer darkness (Matt. Clearly you dont know what is and is not doctrine, and are trying to throw shade. The city of Capernaum was upbraided for its lack of faith in view of the miracles Jesus performed there. I can give you more than plenty of examples of that. To look closer at this possibility, lets break humans into two categories: 1) Those who have never been Mormon; 2) Those who are or once were Mormon. The Plan of Salvation kind of negates the reason for missionary work. (2) We believe in allowing our candles to burn for a maximum of four hours at a time. 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. 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. For those who once were baptized and confirmed into Mormonism, what is your status? 22:13-14, D-R.). 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. Those mortals who never join the LDS Church (through baptism) cannot become sons of perdition. . Mormons believe that there Prophets are fallible and in no way perfect. 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. It is impossible for those who never joined Mormonism to become sons of perdition. In each of the New Testament references to outer darkness, Christ declared the punishment that awaits faithless and wicked people. Yet I never was baptized and confirmed into this church. 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. Making the LDS Church Slightly Better: A Members Wish List. [2]. However, based on the teaching of church leaders, I believe it is utterly impossible for any mortal to become this despised son of perdition. 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. As a young boy, I attended a two-week Christian camp. New Testament [ edit] For example, Alma the Younger was delivered from the intensity of his hellish pain when he cried to the Lord for mercy. 28:2223). 5:30). (see Rom. 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). This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition (Doctrines of Salvation 2:220). 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). 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. 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. 9:16), unquenchable fire (Mosiah 2:38), and hell fire (3 Ne. However, Lucifer did not know all the purposes of the Father as we learn from the Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:6. Another name for Outer Darkness is hell. 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). 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. Smith described these spirits who were the first to display rebellious ways: Lucifer became perdition by rebellion. 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. They go too far, and the Spirit leaves themYou cant renew them to repentancyou cannot save them. (Joseph Smith Jr., King Follett Discourse). 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. In this context, outer darkness is the spirit prison, or that part of the spirit world that the wicked inhabit prior to their resurrection. 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. Again Mormons think this is a very hard place to get into. 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. 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. It also adds insight that, when blended with other essential doctrines, offers a more complete understanding of the plan of salvation. kingdoms of glory. 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. A representation of the tree degrees of glory and outer darkness. The Prophet Joseph Smith would not countenance the teaching of this doctrine, and sanctioned the decision of the bishop that any who taught it should be barred from communion (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 125). They must have had a fullness of knowledge; a testimony which cannot be destroyed. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire [i.e., overcome or defeated by Christs Atonement]. Hence the saying: They will go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. It is the closest Mormon analogy to the concept of hell in most other Christian traditions. . They place themselves beyond the power of repentance and beyond the mercies of God. Johns announcement of death and hell releasing their dead for judgment is augmented by the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob, who taught the same doctrine but provided significantly more detail. ; Mormon Temple Worship. 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. 8:13). 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. In Mormonism, it depends. In the Book of Mormon the phrase lake of fire and brimstone is used as a metaphor for the suffering that awaits the wicked. 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. 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. 2. In this parable, a king arranged a wedding for his son, but the normal guests did not come; therefore, the king sent his servants to gather guests from off the street. It honors and glorifies Satan. Following this introduction will be a discussion of the usage of these termsfirst in the New Testament, then in the Book of Mormon. lift[ed] up his eyes and saw Abraham and Lazarus across an impassable gulf (Luke 16:23). If Lucifer had not known the effects of his rebellion, how would he ever become perdition? 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. These men and women cannot be redeemed, and will be the only ones who will suffer the second death. 1. and they were judged every man according to their works (Rev. They knew better but still chose wrong, one told me. 21:8; cf. Nephis words can thus be applied to Jesus parable: the reason the rich man could not cross the great gulf to Abrahams bosom, or the reason the wicked could not join the Saints of God at the tree of life, is because the justice of God does not permit it.