True to the Faith: Hell

Latter-day revelations speak of hell in at least two ways.

First, it is another name for spirit prison, a place in the postmortal

spirit world for those who have “died in their sins,

without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having

rejected the prophets” (D&C 138:32). This is a temporary

state in which spirits will be taught the gospel and have the

opportunity to repent and accept ordinances of salvation that

are performed for them in temples (see D&C 138:30–35).

Those who accept the gospel may dwell in paradise until the

Resurrection. After they are resurrected and judged, they will

receive the degree of glory of which they are worthy. Those

who choose not to repent but who are not sons of perdition

will remain in spirit prison until the end of the Millennium,

when they will be freed from hell and punishment and be

resurrected to a telestial glory (see D&C 76:81– 85).

Second, the word hell is used to refer to outer darkness,

which is the dwelling place of the devil, his angels, and the

sons of perdition (see D&C 29:36–38; 76:28–33). Sons of

perdition are those who receive “no forgiveness in this world

nor in the world to come—having denied the Holy Spirit

after having received it, and having denied the Only

Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves

and put him to an open shame” (D&C 76:34–35; see

also verses 31–33, 36–37). Such individuals will not inherit a

place in any kingdom of glory; for them the conditions of hell

remain (see D&C 76:38; 88:24, 32).