Question
Dear Gramps,
My mother-in-law believes that the spirits that were cast out and followed Satan can be forgiven and have an opportunity to obtain a mortal body simply by letting Heavenly Father know they are sorry. I disagree, but I cannot convince her that this is not the case. She heard a man say it once and she believes him. I have searched and cannot find any quotes from the Prophets or General Authorities that directly state these spirits will never receive physical bodies. Can you help me? Thanks!
Cheryl
Answer
Dear Cheryl,
It’s strange how many people hear some wild story, and because it contains a pleasing element accept it for the truth. Repentance is much more than sorrow for sin. It involves a complete change of character, such that the propensity to sin is no longer a part of the person’s make-up.
As you have stated, there is not one shred of evidence from the scriptures or from the words of the prophets that such a thing as the followers of Satan repenting, being forgiven and then being allowed to progress through the eternities with immortal bodies.
There are a couple of scriptures that, although they do not declare in a direct statement that the imps of Satan cannot be forgiven, make clear that this is the case–D&C 88:112-114
And Michael, the seventh angel, even the archangel, shall gather together his armies, even the hosts of heaven.
And the devil shall gather together his armies; even the hosts of hell, and shall come up to battle against Michael and his armies.
And then cometh the battle of the great God; and the devil and his armies shall be cast away into their own place, that they shall not have power over the saints any more at all..
That is a definite statement. any more at all.. means that it will never happen.
The prayer of Alma in Alma 13:30, is also instructive in this regard—
And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death.
The second death is to die as to things pertaining to righteousness. Alma’s plea is that his brethren (mortals) would repent before they are captivated by Satan, and are then beyond the opportunity for repentance–they die the second death. Could anyone imagine that the unclean spirits who elected in the pre-existence to follow Satan rather than the Savior, who were not cast there because of their disobedience, but who CHOSE to follow Satan because their philosophy agreed with his, would actually repent and be forgiven by the Lord before those who fell from disobedience after having elected in the pre-mortal spirit world to follow the Savior? GIVE ME A BREAK!
Gramps
