(Isa. 5:13; 2 Ne. 32:7; John 4:10)
Satan gains power over people because they lack gospel knowledge … (2 Ne. 32:7). Without the gospel individuals are deprived of the “bread of life” and the “living water” (John 6:48, 4:10). Thus, they are spiritually “famished” and “dried up with thirst.” … Today individuals in the Church deceive others by their smooth words and scholarly language… . Some are led into inactivity and even apostasy because they do not search and understand the scriptures as they are illuminated by the light of the Spirit.
(Clyde J. Williams, Doctrines of the Book of Mormon,ed. Bruce A. Van Orden and Brent L. Top [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1992], 245–46.)
A person who has “no knowledge” is one who lacks intelligence or revelation. This is consistent with the statement that their honorable men are famished and their multitude dried up with thirst… . Without the constant rain from the heavens there is famine and thirst.
(Loren D. Martin, Isaiah: An Ensign to the Nations [Salt Lake City: Valiant Publications, 1982], 127.)