We Believe: Doctrines of Mormonism: Sons of Perdition

List of Doctrines on "Sons of Perdition"

790. Those who have received the Holy Ghost, had the heavens opened unto them and know God, who thereafter deny the Holy Ghost and sin against God, become sons of perdition and their sin shall have no forgiveness.

791. Satan is called Perdition.

792. Those in mortality who sink to the level of perdition (and the premortal hosts of heaven who followed Satan) are sons of perdition.

793. Sons of perdition will suffer the wrath of God and partake of the Second Death.

794. Those who become sons of perdition after having lived in mortality will be resurrected, but they will not be received into a kingdom of glory.

795. Only those who become sons of perdition will be able to comprehend the magnitude of their misery.

790. Those who have received the Holy Ghost, had the heavens opened unto them and know God, who thereafter deny the Holy Ghost and sin against God, become sons of perdition and their sin shall have no forgiveness.

Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
President Brigham Young
Jesus
Charles W. Penrose
James E. Talmage
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Stephen L. Richards
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Joseph Smith
Paul
Paul
Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith

All sins shall be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Ghost; for Jesus will save all except the sons of perdition. What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin? He must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against him. After a man has sinned against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for him. He 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; and from that time he begins to be an enemy. This is the case with many apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (To the Church in general conference—to a congregation of 20,000—"King Follett Sermon," April 7, 1844) (See HC6:302-17, also see The Words of Joseph Smith, pp. 340-62) HC6:314; DGSM:93

Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord

Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power—
32. They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born;
33. For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity;
34. Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come—
35. 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 an open shame.
36. These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels— (Vision to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, Feb. 16, 1832) D&C 76:31-36

President Brigham Young

How much does it take to prepare a man, or woman, or any being, to become angels to the devil, to suffer with him to all eternity? Just as much as it does to prepare a man to go into the celestial kingdom, into the presence of the Father and the Son, and to be made an heir to His Kingdom, and all His glory, and be crowned with crowns of glory, immortality, and eternal lives. Now who will be damned to all eternity? Will any of the rest of mankind? No; not one of them. (In Tabernacle, Aug. 8, 1852, JD3:93) TLDP:634

Jesus,
recorded in Matthew

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Jesus speaks to the people about blasphemy against the Holy Ghost) Matthew 12:31-32

Charles W. Penrose

The "sons of perdition" are those who have received the Gospel, those to whom the Father has revealed the Son; those who know something concerning the plan of salvation; those who have had keys placed in their hands by which they could unlock the mysteries of eternity; those who received power to ascend to the highest pinnacle of the celestial glory; those who received power sufficient to overcome all things, and who, instead of using it for their own salvation, and in the interest of the salvation of others, prostituted that power and turned away from that which they knew to be true, denying the Son of God and putting Him to an open shame. All such live in the spirit of error, and they love it and roll it under the tongue as a sweet morsel; they are governed by Satan, becoming servants to him whom they list to obey, they become the sons of perdition, doomed to suffer the wrath of God reserved for the devil and his angels. (In Assembly Hall, March 4, 1883, JD24:93) TLDP:634

James E. Talmage

Consider the word of the Lord regarding those whose sin is the unpardonable one, whose transgression has carried them beyond the present horizon of possible redemption; those who have sunk so low in their wickedness as to have lost the power and even the desire to attempt reformation. Sons of Perdition they are called. These are they who, having learned the power of God afterward renounce it; those who sin wilfully in the light of knowledge; those who open their hearts to the Holy Spirit and then put the Lord to a mockery and a shame by denying it; and those who commit murder wherein they shed innocent blood; these are they of whom the Savior has declared that it would be better for them had they never been born. These are to share the punishment of the devil and his angels—punishment so terrible that the knowledge is withheld from all except those who are consigned to this doom, though a temporary view of the picture is permitted to some. These sinners are the only ones over whom the second death hath power: "Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord." AF:54-55

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith

[Hell is] a place where those who cannot be redeemed and who are called sons of Perdition will go into outer darkness. This is the real hell where those who once knew the truth and had the testimony of it and then turned away and blasphemed the name of Jesus Christ, will go. These are they who have sinned against the Holy Ghost. For them there is no forgiveness, and the Lord said he had prepared a place for them. (Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:210) TLDP:127

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith

[I]t is only those who have the light through the priesthood and through the power of God and through their membership in the Church who will be banished forever from his influence into outer darkness to dwell with the devil and his angels. That is a punishment that will not come to those who have never known the truth. Bad as they may suffer, and awful as their punishment may be, they are not among that group which is to suffer the eternal death and banishment from all influence concerning the power of God. CR1958Oct:21

Stephen L. Richards

It is a tremendous responsibility to bear the Holy Priesthood. I wish all of you—perhaps all did not—had heard what President Joseph Fielding Smith told us yesterday, something I have long believed, and I was glad to have sanction for my belief. He said in substance that there will be no Sons of Perdition who do not hold the Priesthood. I have believed that for years because I do not think that the Lord in his mercy would ever condemn a man to that indescribable penalty of being put out entirely from the Kingdom and from all grace unless that man knew that Jesus was the Christ, unless he knew the power of the Christ, and he could only know that, I think by holding the Priesthood. I believe that in the main that can be said to be true—that only men who hold the Priesthood of God stand in danger of that terrible penalty of being classed as outcasts. CR1958Oct:86

Related Witnesses:

Elder Spencer W. Kimball

The sin against the Holy Ghost requires such knowledge that it is manifestly impossible for the rank and file to commit such a sin. Comparatively few Church members will commit murder wherein they shed innocent blood, and we hope only few will deny the Holy Ghost. (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 23) TLDP:635

Joseph Smith

[O]ur Savior says, that all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men wherewith they shall blaspheme; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven, neither in this world, nor in the world to come, evidently showing that there are sins which may be forgiven in the world to come, although the sin of blasphemy [against the Holy Ghost] cannot be forgiven. (Editorial in "Times and Seasons," April 15, 1842) HC4:596

Paul

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Paul writes to the Jewish members of the Church, about A.D. 60) Hebrews 6:4-6

Paul

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Letter to the Jewish members of the Church, about A.D. 60) Hebrews 10:26-27

Joseph Smith

No man can commit the unpardonable sin after the dissolution of the body, not in this life, until he receives the Holy Ghost but they must do it in this world. (To the Church in general conference—to a congregation of 20,000—"King Follett Sermon," April 7, 1844) (See HC6:302-17, also see The Words of Joseph Smith, pp. 340-62) HC6:314; TPJS:357

791. Satan is called Perdition.

Joseph Smith
James E. Talmage

Joseph Smith

And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,
26. And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.
27. And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen is fallen, even a son of the morning 28. And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision; for we beheld Satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ—
29. Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about.
30. And we saw a vision of the sufferings of those with whom he made war and overcame, for thus came the voice of the Lord unto us:
31. Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power—
32. They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born; (Vision to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, Feb. 16, 1832) D&C 76:25-32

James E. Talmage

We learn of another class of souls whose sins are such as to place them beyond the present possibility of repentance and salvation. These are called sons of Perdition, children of the fallen angel who was once a Son of the Morning, Lucifer, now Satan, or Perdition. AF:371-72

792. Those in mortality who sink to the level of perdition (and the premortal hosts of heaven who followed Satan) are sons of perdition.

James E. Talmage
Joseph Smith
Charles W. Penrose
Joseph Smith
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
President Brigham Young
Joseph Smith
John
Peter
Recorded in Jude

James E. Talmage,

also quoting Joseph Smith
The Sons of Perdition—We learn of another class of souls whose sins are such as to place them beyond the present possibility of repentance and salvation. These are called sons of Perdition, children of the fallen angel who was once a Son of the Morning, Lucifer, now Satan, or Perdition. These are they who have violated truth in the light of knowledge; who, having received the testimony of Christ, and having been endowed by the Holy Spirit, then deny the same and defy the power of God, crucifying the Lord afresh and putting Him to an open shame. This, the unpardonable sin, can be committed by those only who have received knowledge and conviction of the truth, against which they then rebel. Their sin is comparable to the treason of Lucifer, by which he sought to usurp the power and glory of his God. Concerning them and their dreadful fate, the Lord has said: "They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born; For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity; Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come. . . . And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power; . . . they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment—And 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 76:31-48] AF:371-72

Joseph Smith

Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him.
44. Wherefore, he saves all except them—they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment— (Vision to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, Feb. 16, 1832) D&C 76:43-44

Charles W. Penrose

Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord

Related Witnesses:

Elder Spencer W. Kimball

In the realms of perdition or the kingdom of darkness, where there is no light, Satan and the unembodied spirits of the pre-existence shall dwell together with those of mortality who retrogress to the level of perdition. These have sunk so low as to have lost the inclinations and ability to repent, consequently the gospel plan is useless to them as an agent of growth and development. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 125) DGSM:93

President Brigham Young,
quoted by John A. Widtsoe

Jesus will redeem the last and least of the sons of Adam, except the sons of perdition, who will be held in reserve for another time. They will become angels of the Devil. (In Bowery, Aug. 26, 1860, JD8:154) DBY:29

Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord

And it came to pass that Adam, being tempted of the devil—for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency;
37. And they were thrust down, and thus came the devil and his angels;
38. And, behold, there is a place prepared for them from the beginning, which place is hell. (Revelation, Sept. 1830) D&C 29:36-38

John

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8. And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (The Apostle John sees the War in Heaven) Revelation 12:7-9

Peter

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (Peter writes to members of the Church, about A.D. 60-64) 2 Peter 2:4

Recorded in Jude

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. (Letter of Jude, brother of James ) Jude 1:6

793. Sons of perdition will suffer the wrath of God and partake of the Second Death.

Joseph Smith
George Q. Cannon
James E. Talmage
Joseph Smith
President Brigham Young
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Marion G. Romney
Joseph Smith
Charles W. Penrose

Joseph Smith,
quoted by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith

There have been remarks made concerning all men being redeemed from hell; but I say that those who sin against the Holy Ghost cannot be forgiven in this world or in the world to come; they shall die the second death. Those who commit the unpardonable sin are doomed to Gnolom—to dwell in hell, worlds without end. As they concoct scenes of bloodshed in this world, so they shall rise to that resurrection which is as the lake of fire and brimstone. Some shall rise to the everlasting burnings of God; for God dwells in everlasting burnings, and some shall rise to the damnation of their own filthiness, which is as exquisite a torment as the lake of fire and brimstone. (To the Church in general conference—to a congregation of 20,000—"King Follett Sermon," April 7, 1844) (See HC6:302-17, also see The Words of Joseph Smith, pp. 340-62.) TPJS:361

George Q. Cannon

A careful reading of these verses [D&C 76:38-39, however, and especially of the preceding paragraphs, will show that the Lord does not, in this language, exclude even the sons of perdition from the resurrection. It is plain that the intention is to refer to them explicitly as the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power: "for all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb." This excluded class are the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power, and "the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord after the sufferings of his wrath." ("The Resurrection As Affecting the Sons of Perdition," Juvenile Instructor, Feb. 15, 1900, p. 123) TLDP:635-36

James E. Talmage

Consider the word of the Lord regarding those whose sin is the unpardonable one. . . . These are to share the punishment of the devil and his angels—punishment so terrible that the knowledge is withheld from all except those who are consigned to this doom, though a temporary view of the picture is permitted to some. These sinners are the only ones over whom the second death hath power: "Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord." AF:54-55

Joseph Smith

For they [the sons of perdition] are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity. . . .
37. And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power;
38. Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath. (Vision to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, Feb. 16, 1832) D&C 76:33,37-38

Related Witnesses:

President Brigham Young

What is that we call death, compared to the agonies of the second death? If people could see it, as Joseph and Sidney saw it, they would pray that the vision be closed up; for they could not endure the sight. (At Logan, Utah, Aug. 15, 1876, JD18:217) TLDP:647

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith

As all things have their opposites, there is a punishment which is the opposite to eternal life, which punishment is the "heaviest of all cursings." [See D&C 41:1.] This is the second or spiritual death, which is banishment from the presence of God and from his light and truth forever. (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:218) TLDP:647

Marion G. Romney

Spiritual death means banishment from God. It was the first death which passed upon Adam. It will be the last death to pass upon the still unrepentant at the days of final judgment. It is infinitely more far-reaching and terrible than physical death. . . . (Look to God and Live, p. 90) TLDP:646

Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord

Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me; and ye that hear me not will I curse, that have professed my name, with the heaviest of all cursings. (Revelation received Feb. 4, 1831) D&C 41:1

Charles W. Penrose

"Well, now," say some persons, "won't they [the sons of perdition] be redeemed some time? How do you know?" Why the Lord does not tell you and He says He will not do it. He says it is not revealed; the height and depth and the extent and the end thereof is not revealed, so do not try to find out for yourselves, without the Lord reveals something about it; and if He does He will not reveal it to you or me for the Church, but will reveal it to us, if at all, for our own enlightenment. CR1922Apr:31

794. Those who become sons of perdition after having lived in mortality will be resurrected, but they will not be received into a kingdom of glory.

George Q. Cannon
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Recorded in Jude
Elder Joseph F. Smith

George Q. Cannon

In many minds there has been a great misapprehension on the question of the resurrection. Some have had the idea, and have taught it, that the sons of perdition will not be resurrected at all. They base this idea, and draw this conclusion, from the 38th and 39th paragraphs of section 76 of the book of Doctrine and Covenants. . . .
A careful reading of these verses [D&C 76:38-39], however, and especially of the preceding paragraphs, will show that the Lord does not, in this language, exclude even the sons of perdition from the resurrection. It is plain that the intention is to refer to them explicitly as the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power: "for all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb." This excluded class are the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power, and "the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord after the sufferings of his wrath."
This is by no means to say that they are to have no resurrection. Jesus our Lord and Savior died for all, and all will be resurrected. ("The Resurrection As Affecting the Sons of Perdition," Juvenile Instructor, Feb. 15, 1900, p. 123) TLDP:635-36

Joseph Smith

And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory. . . .
32. And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received. (Revelation, Dec. 27/28, 1832; obedience to celestial, terrestrial, or telestial law prepares men for those respective kingdoms and glories) D&C 88:24,32

Joseph Smith

Related Witnesses:

Recorded in Jude

Elder Joseph F. Smith

Every creature that is born in the image of God will be resurrected from the dead. . . . But just as sure as we go down into the grave, through the transgression of our first parents, by whom death came into the world, so sure will we be resurrected from the dead by the power of Jesus Christ. It matters not whether we have done well or ill, whether we have been intelligent or ignorant, or whether we have been bondsmen or slaves or freemen, all men will be raised from the dead. (Millennial Star, March 1896, p. 162) DGSM:88

Author's Note: However, the devil and his angels who rebelled in the premortal existence obtained no body, were not born on the earth and will never receive a resurrection.

The phrase "save all except the sons of perdition," [DGSM:93] and "saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition" (D&C 76:43) refers, I believe, to "saving from sin," as opposed to saving from the death of the body. Likewise, the phrase "the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord," [D&C 76:38] must refer to redemption from sin, not redemption from death. James E. Talmage writes: "Yet all who receive of any one of these orders of glory [the telestial, terrestrial and celestial kingdoms] are at last saved, and upon them Satan will finally have no claim." (See AF:84.) Hence the statement by Joseph F. Smith: "Every creature that is born in the image of God will be resurrected from the dead. . . . But just as sure as we go down into the grave, through the transgression of our first parents, by whom death came into the world, so sure will we be resurrected from the dead by the power of Jesus Christ. It matters not whether we have done well or ill, whether we have been intelligent or ignorant, or whether we have been bondsmen or slaves or freemen, all men will be raised from the dead." (Millennial Star, March 1896, p. 162) (DGSM:88)

795. Only those who become sons of perdition will be able to comprehend the magnitude of their misery.

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Smith
James E. Talmage
President Brigham Young

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith

The extent of this punishment none will ever know except those who partake of it. That it is the most severe punishment that can be meted out to man is apparent. 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.
This extreme punishment will not be given to any but the sons of perdition. Even the wicked of the earth who never knew the power of God, after they have paid the price of their sinning—for they must suffer the excruciating torment which sin will bring—shall at last come forth from the prison house, repentant and willing to bow the knee and acknowledge Christ, to receive some influence of the Spirit of God in the telestial kingdom. . . .
With the sons of perdition, however, even this blessing is denied. They have wilfully made themselves servants of Satan and servants to him shall they remain forever. They place themselves beyond the power of repentance and beyond the mercies of God. (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:220-21) TLDP:636

Joseph Smith

Wherefore, he saves all except them—they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment—
45. And the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows;
46. Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof;
47. Nevertheless, I, the Lord, show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again;
48. 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. (Vision to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, Feb. 16, 1832) D&C 76:44-48

James E. Talmage

Related Witnesses:

President Brigham Young

We Believe: Doctrines and Principles

Friday, December 6, 2013

Sons of Perdition

790. Those who have received the Holy Ghost, had the heavens opened unto them and know God, who thereafter deny the Holy Ghost and sin against God, become sons of perdition and their sin shall have no forgiveness.

Related Witnesses:

791. Satan is called Perdition.

792. Those in mortality who sink to the level of perdition (and the premortal hosts of heaven who followed Satan) are sons of perdition.

Related Witnesses:

793. Sons of perdition will suffer the wrath of God and partake of the Second Death.

Related Witnesses:

794. Those who become sons of perdition after having lived in mortality will be resurrected, but they will not be received into a kingdom of glory.

Related Witnesses:

795. Only those who become sons of perdition will be able to comprehend the magnitude of their misery.

Related Witnesses: