Outer darkness

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In Christianity, the outer darkness (often capitalized as Outer Darkness) is a place referred to three times in the Gospel of Matthew (8:12, 22:13, and 25:30) into which a person may be "cast out", and where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth". 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. Translated literally, the Greek text of Matthew reads "into the darkness, the outer", with a definite article before both the noun and the adjective. For this reason, the New International Version translates this text as "outside, into the darkness".

The most detailed of the Biblical passages regarding the outer darkness is in Jesus' parable of the wedding feast (also known as the parable of the marriage of the king's son). 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. One of these guests, however, appeared without the proper wedding attire; therefore, the king said: "Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matt. 22:13-14, NASB.)

While many Christians equate the outer darkness to hell, some have 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. See, e.g., Zane Hodges (1987, p. 87).

[edit] Usage in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Plan of Salvation, as illustrated by some within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (not doctrinal)
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The Plan of Salvation, as illustrated by some within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (not doctrinal)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the largest denomination of Mormonism) has a somewhat different and more nuanced interpretation of the outer darkness. Specifically, outer darkness to most church members has two separate meanings.

Scripturally speaking, for Latter-day Saints Outer Darkness or hell is a condition in the Spirit world for those who "chose evil works rather than good" in mortality (see Alma 40:13). It is considered to be a place of great torment, and lacks the presence of God or Jesus Christ. In this sense, outer darkness is the opposite of paradise.

In the late 1800s members of the church began to confuse "outer darkness" with a place Joseph Smith called Gnolaum, but is scripturally unnamed. Most church members began to associate the term "Outer Darkness" (usually capitalized and referred to without the definite article the) to Gnolaum or the place where Sons of Perdition will go in the afterlife. The confusion likely arose as Smith described the place where sons of perdition go as having "no light."

However, Smith stated that those who commit the unpardonable sin are "doomed to Gnolaum, and must dwell in hell, worlds without end." The world gnolaum or "Gnolom" is used elsewhere by Smith to mean "eternal" (Abraham 3:18). There are no other names of this place in the LDS standard works.

Because of this most Latter-day Saints believe that those in Outer Darkness or Gnolom have committed the unpardonable sin of willfully denying and contending against the Holy Ghost after gaining a full knowledge of the Gospel. It is believed few have gained such a knowledge and committed this sin. They are believed to inherit no glory and after being reunited with their bodies at the resurrection, will remain in Outer Darkness for eternity, with Lucifer himself, who will never have a body. This view shares some similarities with certain Christian views of Hell.

On the other hand, those who have committed lesser sins are believed to go to a conditional state referred to as Spirit Prison—similar to the Catholic concept of Purgatory—where they learn about the Gospel and await the Resurrection and the Final Judgement and then continue to a kingdom of glory.

The use of the terms "Outer Darkness" and "Gnolaum" in their proper context have 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, however, the misperception still exists today.

[edit] References

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