I was invited last Sunday to read the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. This invitation was an attempt to reclaim me from my false ideas regarding who the son of perdition are.
Admittedly I have some minority views on a few Plan of Salvation matters. I will here attempt to defend the views I have that are associated with identifying the sons of perdition.
The question was asked “what happens to a good gentile man who rejects the gospel and Christ in this life, and in the spirit world?”
First, there is a logical fallacy within the question itself. What makes one thing or person “good?” By definition, if one would reject Christ in the spirit world, he would not be “good.” There Christ is revealed unto every person. Nobody is condemned for choices they make in ignorance. The beauty of LDS theology is that everyone gets a fully informed choice to accept or reject the gift of Christ.
But since that is the way the question was asked, I responded the best I could, “that person would be a son of perdition.” To which a light roar of disapproving comments were made. This surprises me a bit. Is it not clear in LDS theology that without Christ, there is NO SALVATION?
Salvation, in LDS theology, is clearly a resurrection to any degree of glory. While we hope to be saved into the Celestial Kingdom, a Telestial resurrection is still salvation.
Second, we can not atone for our own sins. We may suffer for them, but that suffering is unto repentance, but does not atone one bit. The penalty for sin is eternal separation (forever) from God. When would a sinner ever complete the punishment? The answer is “never.” Only Christ’s atonement can meet the demands of justice.
“Behold, he [Christ] offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered” (2 Nephi 2:7)
I believe Christ died for the world.
“41 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;
42 That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;
43 Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him.
44 Wherefore, he saves all except them…” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:41-44)
Before every person’s final judgment, the Father will “reveal” Christ, in some way. We qualify as son’s of perdition if we reject Christ with a fully informed decision, after He has been “revealed,” whether in this life, the spirit world, or the resurrection.
The gift of Christ is offered to all.
“And they [son’s of perdition] who remain shall also be quickened [resurrected]; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.”
“For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.” (D&C 88:32&33)
So, upon conclusion, pursuant to my invitation, I did again read Doctrine and Covenants section 76 and remain of the opinion that salvation cometh only through Christ.
