Scripture Commentary — Doctrine and Covenants 76:25-26
Sons of Perdition
Doctrine and Covenants 76:25-26 — Sons of Perdition
- Perdition is defined as ruin, loss, loss of soul, loss of happiness, damnation.
- Lucifer and Cain are perdition itself (not ‘sons of’). See Doctrine and Covenants 76:25-26 and Moses 5:23-24.
- Judas is a son of perdition. See Psalm 69:25, Psalm 109:7-9, John 17:12, Acts 1:20, 3 Nephi 27:32, 3 Nephi 29:7.
- To become a son of perdition, one must
• Openly rebel against truth, light, and knowledge.
• Defy God (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Doctrine and Covenants 76:25-28, and Moses 4:1-4).
• Commit the unpardonable sin (see next section). - The Unpardonable Sin, characteristics of:
• It includes crucifying Christ afresh unto oneself (see Hebrews 6:6 and Doctrine and Covenants 76:35).
• It includes putting Christ to open shame (see scriptures listed in previous line)
• The offender must have previously received and embraced the Gospel with a witness of the Spirit.
• The offender must have previously gained, from the Holy Ghost, a revealed knowledge of Christ’s divinity, then DENY it! (see Hebrews 6:4, 2 Peter 2:20- 21, Jacob 7:19, Doctrine and Covenants 76:35 & 43, TPJS page 358, Doctrines of Salvation 1:47-49 and 2:218-225).
• The offender must deny the new and everlasting covenant by which he was sanctified (see TPJS page 128).
• The offender must lie unto God (Jacob 7:19).
• The offender must commit murder by assenting unto Christ’s death (see Hebrews 6:6, Doctrine and Covenants 76:35 and 132:27).
• The offender must deny the Holy Ghost after receiving it (see Matthew 12:32-32, Hebrews 6:4, Alma 39:6, and Doctrine and Covenants 76:35). - Further qualifications to become a son of perdition:
• He must know God’s power (see Hebrews 6:5, Doctrine and Covenants 76:31).
• He must be a partaker of God’s power (see Hebrews 6:5 and Doctrine and Covenants 76:31)
• He must allow himself to be taken over by Satan (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:31)
• He knowingly denies the truth (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:31)
• He denies God’s power (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:31) - What is the unpardonable sin? (see Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30, Luke 12:10, Doctrine and Covenants 132:27, DHC 6:313, TPJS p. 358)
- Sons of perdition = ‘followers’ of Perdition (see Mormon Doctrine, page 746)
- The one-third of the hosts of heaven who followed Lucifer are sons of perdition (see 3 Nephi 27:32 and Doctrine and Covenants 76:41)
- What is the ultimate destiny of the sons of perdition? (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:30-49)
• They will be resurrected (see 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, Mormon 9:13, Doctrine and Covenants 76:30-49, 76:38-39, 88:28-33, Moses 7:62)
• They will NOT be redeemed from Satan (see John 17:12, Doctrine and Covenants 76:38-44, 2 Nephi 9:14-16)
• Mercy will have no claim on them (see 3 Nephi 29:7)
• It would be better for them if they had not been born (see 2 Peter 2:20-22, Doctrine and Covenants 76:32)
• For them, there will be NO forgiveness (see Hebrews 6:4-8, Doctrine and Covenants 29:27-29, 76:34-38, 132:27)
• Their suffering will be exquisite (See Doctrine and Covenants 76:44-49)
Click here to return to the Commentaries index page