The second group entered the path (were baptized), took hold of the rod (knew and understood some of the scriptures or the gospel), and clung to it through the mist of darkness (the temptations of the devil). To cling suggests that they did not have a real firm hold. They knew some basic principles, but did not continue to build upon their knowledge. They relied on their previous experiences and basic knowledge. After partaking of the fruit, suggesting they had had the Spirit bear witness to them of their basic truths, they were ashamed when the people in the great and spacious building mocked them.
The man in a white robe (angel) also identified the great and spacious building for Nephi. He called it “the world and the wisdom thereof.” Nephi then saw and bore record that it was “the pride of the world” (1Nephi 11:35–36). Still later the angel said it “was the vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men” (1Nephi 12:18). We will call it the pride and wisdom of the world. Because of the mocking and scoffing of those in the building, the people on the path “fell away into forbidden paths and were lost” (v.28). Forbidden suggests the breaking of God’s commandments. King Benjamin defines sin as “having transgressed the laws of God contrary to [their] own knowledge” (Mosiah 2:34). These people had tasted the fruit and knew what was right. The text says they “were lost” (v.28). Their eternal fate seems to fit the description of the telestial glory: they “received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant” (D&C 76:101).
The second group, described above, equates with the seeds in the Parable of the Sower that fell on stony ground.
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. [Matthew 13:5–6]
Jesus interpreted these to be those who were ashamed of the pride and wisdom of the world.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. [Matthew 13:20–21]
Perhaps they were returned missionaries, or former priesthood and women’s organization leaders who, upon being released, no longer studied, or served, or listened to the counsel of their Church leaders. They rely on what they previously memorized, or learned in former classes. They probably do not remember clearly, and are losing “even that which they have” (2 Nephi 28:30). As they continued their schooling or joined the working world they became ashamed of the word of God because they allowed the beliefs of their new environment to hold precedence over their involvement with the Church Educational System or their own personal study program. They relied on reasoning alone, and did not correlate it with revelation.