. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 195456), 31.; Bruce R. McConkie, Seven Deadly Heresies, 1 June 1980, BYU Marriot Center.). (1) We believe in trimming our wicks to 1/4 between each burn. 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. The sinner must deal with the self-created gulf on his own, with the help of the Savior and his Atonement. 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. No Mormon since the 1890 change has had the authority to marry any man to more than one woman. 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. Smith described these spirits who were the first to display rebellious ways: Lucifer became perdition by rebellion. In addition, Alma defined the second death as dying as to things pertaining unto righteousness. These individuals are chained down to an everlasting destruction and are subject to the will of Satan. Following this introduction will be a discussion of the usage of these termsfirst in the New Testament, then in the Book of Mormon. has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 358). Mormons believe that there Prophets are fallible and in no way perfect. Ellipsis mine). to become a son of perdition? For example, Alma the Younger was delivered from the intensity of his hellish pain when he cried to the Lord for mercy. T F Once a spirit enters Outer Darkness, there will be no leaving there. 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. 3:12), the tares are gathered and burned in the fire (Matt. To qualify, a person would not only have to leave the Mormon church but also vehemently speak against it. About 74 B.C. In short, Outer Darkness is eternal torture. (To see his baptism for the dead record and other temple work done for him, click here.). Who will partake of it, and what is the nature of the eternal torment? Brigham Young University Professor Larry E. Dahl reported: The word hell appears sixty-two times in the text of the Book of Mormon. so we will be able to realistically discuss the likelihood that a person who left the church could ever end up in Outer Darkness. He had a sure witness of the Lord and willfully chose to follow Satan instead. Chapter 40. Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie have rejected the idea that those in perdition can ultimately be redeemed, which contradicts Brighams speculations. 1:18). Utterly turn against god. In the D&C, the definition of those who go to Outer Darkness is stated as: the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof;Nevertheless, I, the Lord, show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again; Wherefore, the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except those who are ordained unto this condemnation (D&C 76:45-48). In this realm, as the name implies, there will be no light, and consequently no heat. So we can clearly state no women are Sons of Perdition in outer darkness. The kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory is called outer darkness. To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. 9:16) after the final judgment. Source: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/sons-of-perdition. Mormon Wiki, for example has a pretty specific definition of who doesnt go there but lacks any citations: Sons of Perdition as those few souls who have been born on this earth who have been made partakers of Gods power, yet suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy God by denying the Holy Spirit after having received it, denying the Only Begotten Son and put him to an open shame. They openly and knowingly fight against God and Christ, having sided with Satan even though they had once tasted of full gospel knowledge by the power of the Holy Ghost.There are those who fear that they have committed the unpardonable sin, because they have not been faithful members of the Church. [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]. [Discourse given on 20 January 1895.] The Book of Mormon provides another testament of the reality of a designated place called hell, where the wicked are consigned. Thank you! What is the Mormon plan of salvation? Thus, many would say I fight against the church. Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever. 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. You quoted a website (Wikipedia) which is not doctrine and another website (FAIRMormon) which directly says it is not doctrine. 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. Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels, D&C 29:37-38. 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). Your email address will not be published. Women or not. 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. . 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.). But the children of the kingdom [i.e., covenant breakers] shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 21:8; cf. Discourse delivered October 8, 1861, pp. In the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), "outer darkness" has two separate meanings.. He stated that converts made by the Pharisees became twofold more the child of hell than their teachers (Matt. 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. 25:30). (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.). Salvation is release from the guilt and power of sin through God's gift of grace. King Benjamin also taught that the fiery suffering was a state of misery one encounters when viewing ones sinfulness: They shall be judged, every man according to his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil. How many people. They once held membership in the church (through baptism/confirmation); They had full knowledge of their apostasy from the true and restored church of Jesus Christ; They continue to fight against the LDS Church despite their knowledge. By taking 2 Nephi 2:25 to its logical conclusion, we learn that Satan also fell that men might be, and that they might have joy! 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. 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. I wonder if the language is tripping people up here. They must have had a fullness of knowledge; a testimony which cannot be destroyed. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 125). The second death is spiritual and is separation from God. Often in the scriptures it is difficult to discern which helltemporary or permanentis being spoken of, since many references to hell in the scriptures are used in a nonspecific manner to simply designate a place or state of suffering for the wicked. 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. 12:16), hell which hath no end (1 Ne. There are two categories for those who should be considered sons of perdition. 5. So there you go, the souls who end up in Outer Darkness are clearly apostates, or not. Banishment into outer darkness. hell.. That there will also be daughters of Perdition there is no doubt in the minds of the brethren. (Matt. Yes, they were said by Prophets of their church. Yet I an certainly exempt from outer darkness, no questions asked. From its beginnings, it taught that very few people would go to "outer darkness" the Mormon concept of hell. For example: everlasting fire (Matt. The Book of Mormon text confirms the truth of New Testament teachings on hell, second death, lake of fire and brimstone, and outer darkness. 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. 9:16; emphasis added). and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). It is doubtful if even Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was sufficiently enlightened to become a son of perdition (Gospel Doctrine,p. 545).
Angela Cartwright Book, Articles O