NOM

As I understand it, the concept of Sons of Perdition popped up in Mormonism to create a shunning category for people who betrayed Joseph Smith. Is there any historical record of who any of these individuals are? I'm not talking about the 1/3 host of heaven and Cain, I mean the specific individuals who Joseph would have considered disloyal enough to get the label. The Three Witnesses? William Law? Thomas Marsh? Philastus Hurlbut?

I wonder how it came about. Section 76 was dictated in 1832 in Ohio. It all hit the fan in Kirtland in 1837. The Salt Sermon was given in 1838. I don't know that the title of son of perdition was applied to the big apostates, like the 3 Witnesses or the Laws or William McLellin because they were all still faithful at the time that the notion of outer darkness was created.

I remember discussing who might be a son of perdition with a seminary teacher. He was unaware of any official declaration that someone was a son of perdition, but he thought that the Laws and other like them were prime candidates. Now, I think those guys were gutsy to stand up to JS and whatever groups he was using at the time to enforce his authority.

Maybe it's just an intimidation category. You don't want to be a Son of Perdition do you? Then keep praising The Man. No one knows what exactly it means to deny the Holy Ghost but some people easily interpret it as having a testimony and later concluding that it wasn't a ghost that gave you those feelings.