Spirit world (Latter Day Saints)

First, LDS Church scripture uses the term outer darkness to refer to a condition in the spirit world. The Book of Mormon teaches that after death, the spirits of those who "chose evil works rather than good" in mortality will be "cast out into outer darkness".[9] This is considered to be a condition of great torment, where there will be "weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth".[10] In this sense, outer darkness and spirit paradise are the two possible destinations for individuals immediately after death. This place of torment in the spirit world is much more commonly referred to by modern Latter-day Saints as spirit prison.

Second, in modern Latter-day Saint vernacular, outer darkness usually refers to an eternal state of punishment.[11] Mortals who during their lifetime become sons of perdition—those who commit the unpardonable sin—will be consigned to outer darkness.[11] It is taught that the unpardonable sin is committed by those who "den[y] the Son after the Father has revealed him".[12] However, according to Mormon faith, since most humans lack such an extent of religious enlightment, they cannot commit the Eternal sin,[13] and the vast majority of residents of outer darkness will be the "devil and his angels ... the third part of the hosts of heaven" who in the pre-existence followed Lucifer and never received a mortal body.[14] The residents of outer darkness who received a mortal body, while being resurrected like the rest of mankind, are the only children of God that will not receive one of three kingdoms of glory at the Last Judgment, remaining in that state of suffering for their own sins, for eternity. This state shares some similarities with certain Christian views of hell. On this subject, Joseph Smith taught that those who commit the unpardonable sin are "doomed to Gnolaum—to dwell in hell, worlds without end."[15] The word gnolaum is used elsewhere by Smith to mean "eternal" (in the sense of 'everlasting' or 'forever' with perpetuity in time, and likely not "eternal" as 'outside of time' or having no relationship with the temporality).[16] It is believed by Latter-day Saints that "few" people who have lived on the earth will be consigned to this state,[17] but Latter-day Saint scripture suggests that at least Cain will be present.[18]

It is unclear in the teachings of Mormonism whether both the temporary and permanent uses of outer darkness refer to physical places or if both are merely descriptions of personal states of suffering and torment. The uncanonized LDS Church Bible Dictionary suggests that biblical "expressions about 'hell-fire' are probably ... figurative of the torment of those who willfully disobey God."[19] It is also unclear whether sons of perdition will ultimately be redeemed; of outer darkness and the sons of perdition, Latter-day Saint scripture states that "the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof."[20]