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". This article is becoming very long. ... The Gospel of Matthew (literally, according to Matthew; Greek, Κατά Μαθθαίον or Κατά Ματθαίον) is one of the four Gospel accounts of the New Testament. ... Medieval illustration of Hell in the Hortus deliciarum manuscript of Herrad of Landsberg (about 1180) Hell, according to many religious beliefs, is a place or a state of pain and suffering. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Jesus (8–2 BC/BCE to 29–36 AD/CE),[1] also known as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity. ... The Second Coming or Second Advent refers to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ to fulfill the rest of the Messianic prophecy, such as the Resurrection of the dead, Last judgement and establishment of the Kingdom of God. ... The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Christian Bible which is the most popular of the modern translations of the Bible made in the twentieth century. ...

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.) The word Bible refers to the canonical collections of sacred writings of Judaism and Christianity. ... Jesus (8–2 BC/BCE to 29–36 AD/CE),[1] also known as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity. ... The New American Standard Bible (NASB) an English translation of the Holy Bible. ...

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). This article is becoming very long. ... Medieval illustration of Hell in the Hortus deliciarum manuscript of Herrad of Landsberg (about 1180) Hell, according to many religious beliefs, is a place or a state of pain and suffering. ... Heaven is an afterlife concept found in many religions or spiritual philosophies. ... Faith is commonly known as a belief, trust, or confidence, not based merely on Logic, Reason, or empirical data, but based fundamentally on volition often associated with a transpersonal relationship with God, a higher power, a person, elements of nature, and/or a perception of the human race as a...

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)

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. Image File history File links PlanofSalvationedit. ... Image File history File links PlanofSalvationedit. ... The plan of salvation as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Plan of Salvation is a concept in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - the plan that the Heavenly Father created to save, redeem, and exalt humankind. ... This is the current Mormon collaboration of the month! Please help improve it to meet the Featured Article standard. ... This is the current Mormon collaboration of the month! Please help improve it to meet the Featured Article standard. ... Mormonism is a term used to describe religious, ideological, and cultural aspects of the various Latter Day Saint churches. ...

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. This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

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." Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Son of Perdition found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and is a name commonly associated with the Antichrist mentioned in 1 and 2 John. ...

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. The Standard Works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) consists of several books that constitute its open, scriptural canon, and include the following: The Holy Bible (King James version)* The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ The Doctrine and Covenants The Pearl...

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. Spirit Prison is believed by Latter-Day Saints to be the place where people who have not accepted their gospel on earth will be able to receive it in the afterlife, preceding the second coming of Jesus Christ. ... Purgatory commonly refers to a doctrine in the Roman Catholic Church, which posits that those who die in a state of grace undergo a purification in order to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven. ...

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. Doctrine and Covenants The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes referred to as the D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of Mormonism. ...

References

• Matthew 22:13
• The Doctrine and Covenants, Section 29:27-29
• Zane C. Hodges, Grace in Eclipse: A Study on Eternal Rewards (2d ed. 1987) (ISBN 0-9607576-7-8)