What Happens To Souls Of People Who End Their Own Life?

[VideoGameJunkie]

In the Lord's eyes isn't suicide premeditated murder since you are planning out and killing a life? So do people who commit suicide go to where murderers go?

[Rivers]

People who take their own lives usually do so because they are severely depressed. I can't imagine God would continue to punish these people after their lives are over. That is pretty cruel and sadistic if you ask me. Suicide can be thought of as a symptom or result of a mental disorder. Nobody but God can judge those who commit suicide.

[Rivers]

Here is what Elder Ballard has to say on the subject.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/10/suicide-some-things-we-know-and-some-we-do-not?lang=eng

[Ahab]

In the Lord's eyes isn't suicide premeditated murder since you are planning out and killing a life? So do people who commit suicide go to where murderers go?

No, since they're basically just choosing to travel. It's not our place to send other people on to the next life, or next phase of life, unless it's for self defense or to defend somebody else, and God wants us to overcome our challenges instead of just giving up and leaving this life, but we will have nobody but ourselves to blame if we choose to end our mortal life while someone who is murdered can blame somebody else.

[JLHPROF]

In the Lord's eyes isn't suicide premeditated murder since you are planning out and killing a life? So do people who commit suicide go to where murderers go?

 

I don't think anybody knows.  To me, there are basically two issues with suicide:

 

1. Is it a sin?  The answer is yes, it is a grievous sin.  Before the understanding of mental illness that we have today it was considered an unforgivable sin.

It is so serious that the church used to deny endowed people who commit suicide a temple clothes burial or even a Church funeral, but this policy has long since changed with the understanding of mental illness.

 

2. Did the person have actual agency to choose suicide?  A mental condition would remove that agency so they are probably not as accountable as used to be thought.

 

Only God can judge, but in the unlikely event they were fully accountable for their actions the sin is pretty much unforgivable however,  if they weren't accountable (which is much more likely) then I am sure God will show mercy and we should too.

[VideoGameJunkie]

Nice link!

[The Nehor]

Their souls are chopped into confetti and thrown on a crowd of serial killers and coffee drinkers.

[seriously honestly]

Their souls are chopped into confetti and thrown on a crowd of serial killers and coffee drinkers.

 

That sounds like something Dr. House would say

[saemo]

I don't think anybody knows.  To me, there are basically two issues with suicide:

 

1. Is it a sin?  The answer is yes, it is a grievous sin.  Before the understanding of mental illness that we have today it was considered an unforgivable sin.

It is so serious that the church used to deny endowed people who commit suicide a temple clothes burial or even a Church funeral, but this policy has long since changed with the understanding of mental illness.

 

2. Did the person have actual agency to choose suicide?  A mental condition would remove that agency so they are probably not as accountable as used to be thought.

 

Only God can judge, but in the unlikely event they were fully accountable for their actions the sin is pretty much unforgivable however,  if they weren't accountable (which is much more likely) then I am sure God will show mercy and we should too.

Also the possibility that a suicide changes their mind, moments before their death. And even possible there is a moment to think, "forgive me". Only God knows.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

In the Lord's eyes isn't suicide premeditated murder since you are planning out and killing a life? So do people who commit suicide go to where murderers go?

It is not for us to judge...but for a loving God who understands their pain, for he alone can see into their hearts and he alone is worthy to judge.

[Gohan]

Here is what Elder Ballard has to say on the subject.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/10/suicide-some-things-we-know-and-some-we-do-not?lang=eng

Fantastic talk, we read it in one of my classes last semester.

 

Some portions that I appreciated:

...In the Lord’s mercy, perhaps the words of Alma will apply:

 

“The plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself.

 

“And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.” (Alma 41:2-3.)

 

I feel that judgment for sin is not always as cut-and-dried as some of us seem to think. The Lord said, “Thou shalt not kill.” Does that mean that every person who kills will be condemned, no matter the circumstances? Civil law recognizes that there are gradations in this matter—from accidental manslaughter to self-defense to first-degree murder. I feel that the Lord also recognizes differences in intent and circumstances: Was the person who took his life mentally ill? Was he or she so deeply depressed as to be unbalanced or otherwise emotionally disturbed? Was the suicide a tragic, pitiful call for help that went unheeded too long or progressed faster than the victim intended? Did he or she somehow not understand the seriousness of the act? Was he or she suffering from a chemical imbalance that led to despair and a loss of self-control?

 

Obviously, we do not know the full circumstances surrounding every suicide. Only the Lord knows all the details, and he it is who will judge our actions here on earth.

 

When he does judge us, I feel he will take all things into consideration: our genetic and chemical makeup, our mental state, our intellectual capacity, the teachings we have received, the traditions of our fathers, our health, and so forth.

 

We learn in the scriptures that the blood of Christ will atone for the sins of men “who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.” (Mosiah 3:11.)

 

...

 

Thankfully, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught this enlightening doctrine:

 

“While one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard. … He is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, not according to the narrow, contracted notions of men, but, ‘according to the deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil,’ or whether these deeds were done in England, America, Spain, Turkey, or India. … We need not doubt the wisdom and intelligence of the Great Jehovah; He will award judgment or mercy to all nations according to their several deserts, their means of obtaining intelligence, the laws by which they are governed, the facilities afforded them of obtaining correct information, and His inscrutable designs in relation to the human family; and when the designs of God shall be made manifest, and the curtain of futurity be withdrawn, we shall all of us eventually have to confess that the Judge of all the earth has done right.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, ed. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, p. 218.)

 

I draw an important conclusion from the words of the Prophet: Suicide is a sin—a very grievous one, yet the Lord will not judge the person who commits that sin strictly by the act itself. The Lord will look at that person’s circumstances and the degree of his accountability at the time of the act. Of course, this gives us no reason to excuse ourselves in committing sins, nor will the Lord excuse us, if I understand correctly. We must constantly strive to do our best in emulating the Savior in every aspect of our lives. At the same time, however, let us remember that spiritual growth comes “line upon line,” that the key—in the spirit world as well as in mortality—is to keep progressing along the right path.

[strappinglad]

Then we get into the debate of assisted suicide and end of life ethics. The world is moving slowly toward euthanasia for terminal illnesses. Medicine can now override the usual disorders that used to take the very ill and elderly. We can now ' play god' and decide when a person will die. Did I assist in the death of my father when I signed a DNR form? Those who have watched a loved one suffer pain for months with little relief before they passed know that gray is the only color available in those types of situations. Personally, I can see situations in which a perfectly sane individual should be able to choose when he leaves this life.

[DaddyB]

In the Lord's eyes isn't suicide premeditated murder since you are planning out and killing a life? So do people who commit suicide go to where murderers go?

The people of Ammon were more murderous than a person who takes their own life. Where will they go? Obviously a person who takes their own life will not have a chance in this life to learn from their mistake and repent as these Lamanites did. But we know there is repentance in the spirit world. It is just more difficult than in the flesh. It is clear to me that there is no way for any of us to judge one way or another on this. It is very much a case by case situation which can only be understood and dealt with by God.

[Ahab]

Their souls are chopped into confetti and thrown on a crowd of serial killers and coffee drinkers.

Why would coffee drinkers not like serial?

That doesn't make any sense.

[altersteve]

I read an article once that suggested suicide may be a natural response to intense sadness or depression. Get punched in the face enough times and eventually you'll start to collapse and soon you'll fall to the ground and won't be able to get back up. Same with life. When life throws enough crap at you -- and "enough," of course, is an amount that differs drastically from person to person -- eventually, over time, you'll emotionally and mentally break into pieces, and suicide may, for some, be the only path in sight. It's a very dark, tragic, complex place that's extremely difficult (and maybe even impossible for some people) to come out of. Obviously it's God's call, but it's something to think about. All we can do is mourn the loss of those who have done it, comfort their families and friends, and pray that God will be merciful to them -- and of course pray that he will comfort those who struggle with depression and do whatever we can to show that we love them, too.

Edited April 19, 2014 by altersteve

[Duncan]

I read an article once that suggested suicide may be a natural response to intense sadness or depression. Get punched in the face enough times and eventually you'll start to collapse and soon you'll fall to the ground and won't be able to get back up. Same with life. When life throws enough crap at you -- and "enough," of course, is an amount that differs drastically from person to person -- eventually, over time, you'll emotionally and mentally break into pieces, and suicide may, for some, be the only path in sight. It's a very dark, tragic, complex place that's extremely difficult (and maybe even impossible for some people) to come out of. Obviously it's God's call, but it's something to think about. All we can do is mourn the loss of those who have done it, comfort their families and friends, and pray that God will be merciful to them -- and of course pray that he will comfort those who struggle with depression and do whatever we can to show that we love them, too.

 

 

My G-Grandmas it's thought ended her own life, I don't get why God would allow crap to build up and up and up until it reached her breaking point. Same thing with people who just snap but don't kill themselves like Charlie Chaplin's Mum, and they live their lives as vegetables

[strappinglad]

I am not a philosopher, nor do I... never mind. A thought comes to mind. God intervenes in our lives, when requested, if when doing so, there will be no significant change to the overall plan. God also intervenes in the affairs of men when doing so significantly promotes the overall plan.

The question , " why does God allow ... ? " has been asked for millennia . Sorry, I'm no help.

[BCSpace]

Here's a (possibly) thought provoking question.

 

Is there any moral difference between jumping from a burning building to one's death to escape the heat and suicide to escape the pain of some medical condition?

[frank_jessop]

In the Lord's eyes isn't suicide premeditated murder since you are planning out and killing a life?

We do not know.

So do people who commit suicide go to where murderers go?

It is very possible some who do commit suicide will end be in Celestial or Terrestrial Kingdom. Please direct yourself to Church Handbook of Instruction book 2 which is found on lds.org, there is a short paragraph about suicide.

[frank_jessop]

1. Is it a sin? The answer is yes, it is a grievous sin.

Can you point out where the Church teaches it is a sin or even a grievous sin?

[thesometimesaint]

There are two unassailable facts in this life. We all die, and God is the one whom judges.

[Tacenda]

My G-Grandmas it's thought ended her own life, I don't get why God would allow crap to build up and up and up until it reached her breaking point. Same thing with people who just snap but don't kill themselves like Charlie Chaplin's Mum, and they live their lives as vegetables

I know a woman, love her to death, that tried killing herself by driving off a mountain road, ever since then she's suffered with several surgeries and lots of pain...if only she'd been able to just get through the pain before trying to take her life. She's in her 70's now and last year her own daughter committed suicide, even with a son on a mission. I think that is just too much to endure in a lifetime. Definitely think some major depression of some kind was involved with both women. Or chemical inbalance.

[JLHPROF]

Can you point out where the Church teaches it is a sin or even a grievous sin?

 

Exodus 20:13 - Thou shalt not kill.  

 

Also - https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/10/suicide-some-things-we-know-and-some-we-do-not?lang=eng

especially the quotes:

"Man has no right, therefore, to destroy that which he had no agency in creating. They who do so are guilty of murder, self-murder it is true; but they are no more justified in killing themselves than they are in killing others. What difference of punishment there is for the two crimes, I do not know; but it is clear that no one can destroy so precious a gift as that of life without incurring a severe penalty." George Q. Cannon

&

“It is a terrible criminal act for a person to go out and shorten his life by suicide,” - Spencer W. Kimball

[thesometimesaint]

Exodus 20:13 - Thou shalt not kill.  

 

Also - https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/10/suicide-some-things-we-know-and-some-we-do-not?lang=eng

especially the quotes:

"Man has no right, therefore, to destroy that which he had no agency in creating. They who do so are guilty of murder, self-murder it is true; but they are no more justified in killing themselves than they are in killing others. What difference of punishment there is for the two crimes, I do not know; but it is clear that no one can destroy so precious a gift as that of life without incurring a severe penalty." George Q. Cannon

&

“It is a terrible criminal act for a person to go out and shorten his life by suicide,” - Spencer W. Kimbal

 

We should give the Death Penalty to those that succeed at committing suicide.

[frank_jessop]

Also - https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/10/suicide-some-things-we-know-and-some-we-do-not?lang=eng

especially the quotes:

"Man has no right, therefore, to destroy that which he had no agency in creating. They who do so are guilty of murder, self-murder it is true; but they are no more justified in killing themselves than they are in killing others. What difference of punishment there is for the two crimes, I do not know; but it is clear that no one can destroy so precious a gift as that of life without incurring a severe penalty." George Q. Cannon

“It is a terrible criminal act for a person to go out and shorten his life by suicide,” - Spencer W. Kimball

Wow, I can't that is in the article cited in the Gospel topic on suicide, it is very harsh compared to the Handbook of Instructions.