2 Nephi 9:26 - 9:30

2 Nephi 9:26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.

The atonement satisfies the demands for punishment even by those who didn’t know any better and did not know the laws. (If there are laws in place then they have to be obeyed. Ignorance is no excuse. If you brake a law you must be punished, period. You cannot get out of it. So in order to satisfy our desire for punishments because we think it would not be fair for one to escape punishment and another to be punished, Jesus stepped forward and said He would take the punishment for us). As a result of Jesus volunteering to take the punishment, even those who violated laws ignorantly are covered. They will escape damnation and return to our Father in Heaven because of Jesus’ sacrifice.

2 Nephi 9:27 But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!

But they who did know the laws and did brake them knowingly, have a big problem. He cannot escape punishment for his own sins and the net result is he has wasted his time in mortality. He could have gained so much but now must be punished rather than receiving more instruction and training to advance him towards godhood. Anyone who cannot advanced to this goal will feel bad for their actions forever.

2 Nephi 9:28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

The devil knows that man wants to go his own way. He wants to find out what to do without seeking God’s help or advice. So what they learn they think will get them what they want and they don’t need to ask God for anything. Jacob makes it very clear that man can never find out what he should do to have true and lasting happiness without God’s direct help. The devil continues to show man new ways and philosophies that he insists will get him what he wants. But as Nephi has stated previously, no system of personal discipline or any philosophy will get man back to God. Again the devil knows that man has this “I can do this myself attitude” and feeds it with new ideas all the time. (What I amaze at is that man is willing to try all sorts of strange philosophies or even bazaar life styles rather than try the gospel. He will do anything but what will actually work even thought the history of mankind continues to show that all systems will fail every time without exception).

2 Nephi 9:29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.

Jacob does point out that learning is not in itself bad or counterproductive. It is if the person does not look to God to know how to use such knowledge in the way God knows is the proper use of it. Used incorrectly it will hurt you, but it takes God to show you its proper application.

2 Nephi 9:30 But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also.

Likewise, the rich, as to the goods of this world, if they think they are superior to others and the poor deserve their fate and refuse to help them, they are in deep trouble. The problem is that the rick cannot take their stuff with them when they die. The will be just as naked at the judgment day as the poor. They spent their time in getting rich or acquiring more stuff instead of helping those in dire conditions. (Their knowledge of getting riches will be of no use in the spirit world where the activity is helping others gain salvation which does not require money. It requires service which the rich did not supply but only engaged in selfish activities).