2 Nephi 9:42-43

When we arrive at the gate, we will knock and the Savior will choose for whom he will open the gate.  Jacob is specific who will not have the gate opened for them, “the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth” (2 Nephi 9:42).  “The wicked flaunt their riches and their learning in the highly visible manner; ‘they are they whom he [God] despises.’ To be righteous they must ‘consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility’ (2 Nephi 9:42), with no photo opportunities whatever.”[1]

Once again, Jacob reminds us that the wise will be ignored unless they humble themselves.  The Savior taught, “I thank [GR praise] thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes [GR innocent people]” (Matthew 11:25).

The Lord revealed to Isaiah, “I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid” (Isaiah 29:14).  The prophet Jeremiah taught the word of the Lord, “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches” (Jeremiah 9:23).

Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

Let no man deceive himself.  If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness [GR cunning, villainy].

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain [GR deceptive, fruitless].

1 Corinthians 3:18-20

Whose plan is it for the wise to be arrogant and turn from the Lord?

Here is the devil's plan, and it is devilishly clever, the best possible way to turn men's minds against the plan of salvation being the appeal to their vanity. The two things people want are to be successful and to be smart—The Elite: "and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches," are the ones who think they are putting God in his place, while it is He who is rejecting them: "yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them" (2 Nephi 9:42).[2]

Ultimately, the things the wise value will be hid from them forever; that which is hidden is “that happiness which is prepared for the saints” (2 Nephi 9:43).  We will close this post with the words of Paul:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth [GR explores, investigates] all things, yea, the deep things of God.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  even so the things of God knoweth no man, but [JST 1 Cor. 2:11 ... except he has the Spirit of God].

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned [GR examined, tried, judged].

But he that is spiritual judgeth [GR examines, tries, judges] all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:9 - 16

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[1] Last Call: An Apocalyptic Warning from the Book of Mormon, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed September 14, 2013.

[2] The Way of the "Intellectuals", Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed September 14, 2013.