To those who sincerely and faithfully knock, petition, and importune, the Savior will open up the mansions of his kingdom; but he will despise and turn away the wise and rich who are puffed up in the pride of their own learning and earning, unless they “consider themselves fools before God,” acknowledge their own nothingness, and humble themselves to the depths (Mosiah 4:11). If they do not, they will forever miss out on the happiness of the holy ones.
Despise is a strong word, but it is a carefully chosen word here—even ironic. It means “to look down on with contempt.” Those who, because of their learning or wealth, look down on others are looked down on by the Lord. President Ezra Taft Benson confirmed that the two groups of people who “have the greatest difficulty with pride are the ‘learned, and the rich.’ (2 Nephi 28:15.)” 24