Do people who commit suicide go to hell?

Question

Dear Gramps,

My 24 year old son suffered for years with severe depression and finally took his own life. I feel that God forgave him and that he is in heaven. A woman that knows me keeps blogging about people who commit suicide and says that they all go to hell. Please help me to understand the truth about this. Warmest Regards,

Bonnie

Answer

Dear Bonnie,

I agree wholeheartedly with your feelings. Depression is a very specific illness–not easily diagnosed as such, and not often recognized, but nevertheless it can be as debilitating an illness as any other illness. How can we blame anyone for their actions when they suffer so?

Now about the woman who somehow wants to inflict pain and suffering on others by her harsh judgments, I wonder what her prospects are for escaping the wrath of God. I wonder how she would interpret the following words of the Savior that state that even murderers who repent of their sins may be numbered with the Lord’s people who are of the house of Israel rather than all going to hell.

Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel. (3 Nephi 30:2)

We should view such people with pity, and pray for their repentance so that they will not eventually be worse off than those that they so unjustly condemn.

Gramps