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InMormonism, the termspirit world refers to the realm where the spirits of the dead await theresurrection. In LDS thought, this spirit world is divided into at least two conditions:Paradise and spirit prison:
Paradise includes "the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony ofJesus while they lived in mortality."[1]
Spirit prison is the condition of the spirits of "the wicked ... the ungodly and the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh ... the rebellious who rejected the testimonies and the warnings of theancient prophets".[2] The latter will continue to receive instruction in theGospel and be allowed torepent, though their disposition toward repentance will only change as they recognize and accept the Gospel as true and develop faith inJesus.
The spirit world is believed to be a place of continued spiritual growth for all spirits who embrace the teachings of Jesus. The LDS Church declares that Jesus organized this teaching process betweenhis crucifixion andresurrection in the company of those who had followed him so that they could teach those who had not heard his message after his death.[3]
Brigham Young stated,
Where is the spirit world? It is right here...Do [spirits of the departed] go beyond the boundaries of the organized earth? No, they do not...Can you see it with your natural eyes? No. Can you see spirits in this room? No. Suppose the Lord should touch your eyes that you might see, could you then see the spirits? Yes, as plainly as you now see bodies.[4]
Joseph Smith taught:
The spirits of the just ... are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and are often pained therewith.[5]
Latter-day Saints conceptualize the spirit prison as both a literal location and a condition experienced by souls between death and resurrection. This state pertains to individuals who have not received knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus or those who have been taught it but chosen to reject it. The spirit prison is regarded as a temporary state within the spirit world. Individuals who have rejected the Gospel after it has been presented to them may experience a condition referred to as Hell.[6] The suffering associated with the spirit prison refers to the anguish of the soul because of acute knowledge of one's sins and unclean state.
Latter-day Saints believe that spirit prison (a name based on the phrase "thespirits in prison" in theKJV translation of 1 Peter 3:19) is a place in the post-mortal spirit world for those who have "died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected theprophets".[3] This is a temporary state in which spirits will be taught the Gospel and have the opportunity to repent and accept ordinances of salvation that are performed for them intemples.[3] Those who accept the Gospel may dwell in Paradise until the resurrection. Those who choose not to repent but who are notsons of perdition will remain in spirit prison until the end of theMillennium, when they will be freed from Hell and punishment and be resurrected to atelestial kingdom.[7][8]
In the teachings of theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), "outer darkness" has two separate meanings.
First,LDS Church scripture uses the termouter darkness to refer to a condition in the spirit world. TheBook of Mormon teaches that after death, the spirits of those who "chose evil works rather than good" in mortality will be "cast out into outer darkness".[9] This is considered to be a condition of great torment, where there will be "weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth".[10] In this sense, outer darkness andspirit paradise are the two possible destinations for individuals immediately after death. This place of torment in the spirit world is much more commonly referred to by modern Latter-day Saints asspirit prison.
Second, in modern Latter-day Saint vernacular,outer darkness usually refers to an eternal state of punishment.[11] Mortals who during their lifetime becomesons of perdition—those who commit theunpardonable sin—will be consigned to outer darkness.[11] It is taught that the unpardonable sin is committed by those who "den[y] the Son after the Father has revealed him".[12] However, according to Mormon faith, since most humans lack such an extent of religious enlightenment, they cannot commit theEternal sin,[13] and the vast majority of residents of outer darkness will be the "devil and his angels ... the third part of the hosts of heaven" who in thepre-existence followedLucifer and never received a mortal body.[14] The residents of outer darkness who received a mortal body, while being resurrected like the rest of mankind, are the only children of God that will not receive one of threekingdoms of glory at theLast Judgment, remaining in that state of suffering for their own sins, for eternity. This state shares some similarities with certainChristian views of hell. On this subject,Joseph Smith taught that those who commit the unpardonable sin are "doomed toGnolaum—to dwell in hell, worlds without end."[15] The wordgnolaum is used elsewhere by Smith to mean "eternal" (in the sense of 'everlasting' or 'forever' with perpetuity in time, and likely not "eternal" as 'outside of time' or having no relationship with the temporality).[16] It is believed by Latter-day Saints that "few" people who have lived on the earth will be consigned to this state,[17] but Latter-day Saint scripture suggests that at leastCain will be present.[18]
It is unclear in the teachings ofMormonism whether both the temporary and permanent uses of outer darkness refer to physical places or if both are merely descriptions of personal states of suffering and torment. The uncanonizedLDS ChurchBible Dictionary suggests that biblical "expressions about 'hell-fire' are probably ... figurative of the torment of those who willfully disobey God."[19] It is also unclear whether sons of perdition will ultimately be redeemed; of outer darkness and the sons of perdition, Latter-day Saint scripture states that "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."[20]
