Outer Darkness

Overview

The term Outer Darkness is based on the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus gives the parable of the wedding feast (also known as the parable of the marriage of the king's son):

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be a weeping and gnashing of teeth.^[1]

The context is Jesus' parable of the wedding feast. In this passage a guest at the feast is discovered without the proper clothing, and the master of the feast casts him into 'outer darkness.' Since the parable is clearly about admission into the Kingdom of God, many interpreters consider Outer Darkness to mean Hell. Others consider it simply a place outside of God's presence.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to as Mormons) typically refer to Outer Darkness as the place where Sons of Perdition will go in the afterlife. It is considered to be a place of great torment and lacks the presence of God or Jesus Christ. However, the term is not used in this context by Church leaders or scriptures, and Joseph Smith called the name of the place "Gnolom" or "Gnolaum." The difference between the two terms (the official church statements and common Latter-day Saint perceptions) has been clarified in many LDS Church publications over the years, and was one reason for the addition of Doctrine and Covenants Section 138 to the Church Canon.

Latter-day Saints believe that those in Outer Darkness or Gnolom have committed unpardonable sins and will remain in Outer Darkness for eternity, similar to the common Christian view of Hell. On the other hand, those who have committed lesser sins are believed to go to Spirit Prison—similar to the Catholic concept of Purgatory—to pay for their sins and then continue to a Kingdom of God. Latter-day Saints base these beliefs, in part, on a revelation given through Joseph Smith where Jesus Christ said:

And the righteous shall be gathered on my right hand unto eternal life; and the wicked on my left hand will I be ashamed to own before the Father;

Where I will say unto them—Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

And now, behold, I say unto you, never at any time have I declared from mine own mouth that they should return, for where I am they cannot come, for they have no power.^[2]

References

1. Gospel of Matthew 22:13. http://scriptures.lds.org/matt/22/13#13
2. Doctrine and Covenants 29:27-29. http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/29/27-29#27

Referenced By