Do Mormons go to Hell?

[Blank123]

hi, everyone!

A little while ago I went to a seminar the mormon church in my area was putting on. Afterwards I had a chance to speak with a wife of one of the ministers. She said something I thought was very interesting. She was saying how the purpose of mormonism is to make a bad man good and a good man even better. When I pointed out that that is basically the goal of all religions, she agreed readily with me. So I asked her how she knows she has found the one faith that will save her. She told me with no hesitation at all that she in fact is not saved, and believes there's a very good chance she will go to Hell.

This conversation raised a few questions.

1. Is the main purpose of Mormonism to be a good person?
2. Do Mormons believe in a Hell that exists for eternal punishment?
3.What is the Mormon definition of salvation?

 

[Shekinahs]

She told me with no hesitation at all that she in fact is not saved, and believes there's a very good chance she will go to Hell.

Blessings,

Maybe she was joking with you. True that would be a kinda odd joke but maybe she was just being light hearted with you. Yea I know it's a big maybe But most people who go to some kind of church would not just simply say they are going to hell. Either they do not believe they are going or they do not believe in one.

~ShekinahMoon~

 

[Toms777]

Blessings,

Maybe she was joking with you. True that would be a kinda odd joke but maybe she was just being light hearted with you. Yea I know it's a big maybe But most people who go to some kind of church would not just simply say they are going to hell. Either they do not believe they are going or they do not believe in one.

~ShekinahMoon~

I think that little_tigress has a good point. I would not assume that it was a joke. Not all people have the same concept of hell. Some think of it as kind of a temperorary very warm trpicakl vacation for God to sort of "rap" your knuckles so that you can atone atone for your own sins, rather than a place of etwernal punishment.

I am interested in hearing what Mormons have to say in response to her questions.

 

[Living4Him03]

As far as I know they do believe in the existence of hell. I can't remember what the LDS hell is like though. I can tell ya what the real one is like though! That's found in the bible

yah she could have been joking. i know they do believe in different levels of heaven, so maybe one of those levels is actually hell? I think it's pretty different from the Christian hell.

 

[Shekinahs]

I think it's pretty different from the Christian hell.

Blessings,

And what would exactly that be since even Christians do not have the same idea of hell?

~ShekinahMoon~

 

[Living4Him03]

"From a revelation given in 1832 we learn that three great kingdoms or degrees of glory are established, known as the Celestial, the Terrestrial, and Telestial. Far below the last and least of these, is the state of eternal punishment prepared for the sons of Perdition."



James E. Talmage
Articles of Faith p405





Regardless of denomination, Christians, if they are truly Christians and not a cult, believe hell is eternal punishment and that it is far from a place to just "chill"

Some do believe in different levels, however

The above is what the LDS believe, according to the articles of faith, but don't take my word for it go and read for yourself.

 

[Living4Him03]

in other words, heave is far from being hell

 

[Living4Him03]

The goal of Christianity is not to make people good. The goal of being a Christian is to be become Christ like, not to just be a good person. So, not ALL religions believe the main purpose of life is to become a good person...without God's saving grace and the gift of the sacrifice of His Son we have no good in us at all! Good can't be earned through works.

 

[msjones21]

1. Is the main purpose of Mormonism to be a good person?

No, I believe the main purpose of Mormonism is to attain literal perfection here on earth so that you can achieve a certain level of Heavenly placement.

2. Do Mormons believe in a Hell that exists for eternal punishment?

No. Mormons believe in levels of Heaven. They believe there is a type of purgatory for people who didn't believe at all, a spiritual "waiting room" for people who were saved but not baptized who are waiting for a family member to perform a baptism for the dead ritual, and then levels of heaven depending on how "good" you were on earth, ad then of course the priests and bishops will attain some sort of god-hood.

3.What is the Mormon definition of salvation?

I'm not sure but the Mormon home page may be able to tell you (as vague as the information may be)

 

[Living4Him03]

"One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief is Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation."

Spencer W. Kimball
The Miracle of Forgiveness, p206

Obviously not by grace alone...there is a mormon verse that says something like we are saved by God's grace AFTER all we can do...something like that. so yah works and grace intertwined. But then that gets into do they believe that Christ's death on the cross was sufficient to cover all sin? And also, do we even believe in the same Christ? I think not, but I would like to hear what the LDS people out there have to say in regard to answering your questions.

 

[Toms777]

Blessings,

And what would exactly that be since even Christians do not have the same idea of hell?

~ShekinahMoon~

Jude 6-8
He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
NKJV

The Bible is clear.

 

[Toms777]

The goal of Christianity is not to make people good. The goal of being a Christian is to be become Christ like, not to just be a good person. So, not ALL religions believe the main purpose of life is to become a good person...without God's saving grace and the gift of the sacrifice of His Son we have no good in us at all! Good can't be earned through works.

John 3:3-4
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
NKJV

Just being good enough is not enough. We need to receive Jesus as saviour, but realizing that we are sinners without any hope without His sacrifice on the cross paying the price for our sins. When we receive Jesus as Saviour, we are born again.

Mormonism teaches a different Jesus, and a different gospel. Paul warns against this:

Gal 1:6-9
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
NKJV

 

[Toms777]

No, I believe the main purpose of Mormonism is to attain literal perfection here on earth so that you can achieve a certain level of Heavenly placement.

Let's be direct. They eblieve that men become gods, and thus believing in exalting themselves to God, the same lie as Satan used to deceive Adam and Eve in the garden.

No. Mormons believe in levels of Heaven. They believe there is a type of purgatory for people who didn't believe at all, a spiritual "waiting room" for people who were saved but not baptized who are waiting for a family member to perform a baptism for the dead ritual, and then levels of heaven depending on how "good" you were on earth, ad then of course the priests and bishops will attain some sort of god-hood.

This goes back to the first question. Where is purgatory found in scripture? And second, how good one is does not help because it is not by works lest we should boast:

Titus 3:3-8
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
NKJV

 

[Shekinahs]

"From a revelation given in 1832 we learn that three great kingdoms or degrees of glory are established, known as the Celestial, the Terrestrial, and Telestial. Far below the last and least of these, is the state of eternal punishment prepared for the sons of Perdition."



James E. Talmage
Articles of Faith p405





Regardless of denomination, Christians, if they are truly Christians and not a cult, believe hell is eternal punishment and that it is far from a place to just "chill"

Some do believe in different levels, however

The above is what the LDS believe, according to the articles of faith, but don't take my word for it go and read for yourself.

Blessings,

Well I know a lot of mainstream Christians who do not believe in an eternal punishment. This is what I was talking about. Not all mainstream Christians believe in an eternal lake of fire. And the Bible talks about heavens as in plural so there is more than one level.

~ShekinahMoon~

 

[MormonFriend]

the same lie as Satan used to deceive Adam and Eve in the garden.


NKJV

May I cut in? What lie are you referring to?
Thanks,
M.F.

 

[Shekinahs]

Jude 6-8
He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
NKJV

The Bible is clear.

Hell is described in the Bible many ways. Maybe tomorrow I'll post some of the scriptures. And how can Sodom and Gomorrah be in an eternal fire before judgement anyway.

~ShekinahMoon~

 

[Toms777]

Blessings,

Well I know a lot of mainstream Christians who do not believe in an eternal punishment. This is what I was talking about. Not all mainstream Christians believe in an eternal lake of fire. And the Bible talks about heavens as in plural so there is more than one level.

~ShekinahMoon~

It does not matter what individuals believe, but rather what the word of God in the Bible teaches.

Rev 14:9-12
If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
NKJV

 

[Toms777]

Hell is described in the Bible many ways. Maybe tomorrow I'll post some of the scriptures. And how can Sodom and Gomorrah be in an eternal fire before judgement anyway.

~ShekinahMoon~

Note Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth as an example. Those who died in sin will of course be subjected to eternal punishment, having condemned themselves by not receiving the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for their sins.

John 3:18-21
18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
NKJV

 

[Toms777]

May I cut in? What lie are you referring to?
Thanks,
M.F.

Gen 3:1-5
3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
NKJV

Mormons teach that men can become gods.

 

[MormonFriend]

The goal of Christianity is not to make people good. The goal of being a Christian is to be become Christ like, not to just be a good person. So, not ALL religions believe the main purpose of life is to become a good person...without God's saving grace and the gift of the sacrifice of His Son we have no good in us at all! Good can't be earned through works.

I think that you are reading a little more into that statement than was intended. Everything that we do as LDS revolves around Jesus Christ. The same Jesus? No, there are significant differences but the common intention is to serve the Son of God.

To become like Christ, in either of our views of Him, Christ is good, not bad. So, "to make bad men good, and good men better" is not to equate the entire purpose and philosophy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That statement is a general statement indicating the direction we go. Do you know specifically what it means to "prime the pump?" When you make men and women good or better, they are better prepared to pursue their potential.

And please, ...please don't be mislead that Mormons believe that works have saving characteristics. Works have a relationship to Salvation, but far, far from the essence.