Is Hell a Part of LDS Doctrine ??? (Kingdom, salvation, soul)

[FFH]

You judge

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by FFH

You judge

Who said it wasn't?

[Katzpur]

Sure it is. But I believe the references to fire and brimstone are figurative and not to be taken literally. We know that only the Sons of Perdition will have no forgiveness in the next life. I can well imagine that for them, literal fire and brimstone would be welcome relief to what they will suffer. If you're speaking of anything less than the Celestial Kingdom as being "Hell," you would definitely need to qualify your statement. We have been told that only within the Celestial Kingdom is there true eternal progression. In that sense, anyone who does not receive the highest degree of glory is "damned." Again, though, I don't believe that "damned" has anything to do with an actual, physical lake of fire. To dam a body of water means to hold it back. Damnation for many will be nothing more than being held back from attaining all that our Father in Heaven had hoped we would be able to attain.

[FFH]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Sure it is. But I believe the references to fire and brimstone are figurative and not to be taken literally.

So explain this scripture then.

Doctrine and Covenants 63: 34
And the saints also shall hardly escape; nevertheless, I, the Lord, am with them, and will come down in heaven from the presence of my Father and consume the wicked with unquenchable fire.

If you're speaking of anything less than the Celestial Kingdom as being "Hell," you would definitely need to qualify your statement.

Hell is the opposite end of the spectrum, the highest degree of the Celestial kingdom being the other end of the spectrum. with a huge/massive grey area in between. Those who fall short of the glory of God.

We have been told that only within the Celestial Kingdom is there true eternal progression.

True

In that sense, anyone who does not receive the highest degree of glory is "damned."

True

Again, though, I don't believe that "damned" has anything to do with an actual, physical lake of fire.

True

To damn a body of water means to hold it back. Damnation for many will be nothing more than being held back from attaining all that our Father in Heaven had hoped we would be able to attain.

Again, no disagreements here from me. This is standard LDS doctrine which I agree with.

So I can understand why we would not completely agree with the idea of purgatory. Threw that out there to see if I could get some clarification from others. Somehow it seems to fit into God's plan, but we don't know all the details of the next life yet of course.

The purgatory teaching may just be convoluted a bit, from it's original teaching, that's all, but the basic ideas is there, suggesting progression/salvation from sins in the next life, if perhaps we don't get it all together in this life, while in the mortal body.

[FFH]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

Who said it wasn't?

Many, including LDS, don't believe in a literal lake of fire and brimstone, called hell, in which the devil and his angels will be cast into for eternity.

Is it a permanent place for anyone else but the devil and his angels or are there others who will spend an eternity there. Our doctrine suggests (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that even the son's of perdition won't spend an eternity there, but will rather be sent to outer darkness, possibly after having spent time in hell (along with many others), but then are possibly redeemed from it, then sent to outer darkness or the Telestial kingdom or even possibly the Terrestrial or Celestial kingdoms, if they do what is required in the next life.

Just something that I need to clarify in my own mind.

[FFH]

I believe the references to fire and brimstone are figurative and not to be taken literally.

Many who have temporarily died (NDE accounts) have claimed they have seen the literal flames of hell that do not consume.

[Scott C.]

The way I understand it is:

The wicked go to hell when they die. They will stay there until the final resurrection when they will be redeemed from hell and be heirs of salvation in the Telestial Kingdom. The Telestial Kingdom is not hell. Those who inherit the Telestial Kingdom have become descent people through lessons learned in hell and through the grace of God are now allowed a degree of glory for all eternity. The sons of perdition are the only ones who stay in hell forever and will not be redeemed. This is explained in D&C 76 and by Alma (B of M), who explains the state of the soul between death and the resurrection.

[Scott C.]

Originally Posted by Scotty

The way I understand it is:

The wicked go to hell when they die. They will stay there until the final resurrection when they will be redeemed from hell and be heirs of salvation in the Telestial Kingdom. The Telestial Kingdom is not hell. Those who inherit the Telestial Kingdom have become descent people through lessons learned in hell and through the grace of God are now allowed a degree of glory for all eternity. The sons of perdition are the only ones who stay in hell forever and will not be redeemed. This is explained in D&C 76 and by Alma (B of M), who explains the state of the soul between death and the resurrection.

More thoughts...

I once heard an LDS educator teach that "Hell" is God's "alternative school". Even the most evil of men (excluding the sons of perdition) will learn to love through the process of hell. He explained that God prepares hell, not Satan. God designed it as a learning place, a very painful learning experience, but one that teaches even those with the hardest of hearts to love. This makes sense to me.