"The learning, pride, and precepts of men standing in opposition to the revelations of God cause apostasy. There is an immense difference between inquiring after religion with 'all the powers of both reason and sophistry' (Joseph Smith History 1:9), and humbly calling upon our Father in Heaven for light and truth as did Joseph. Men in a state of apostasy set themselves up for a light unto the world instead of holding up the Savior's light. 'Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up,' Christ taught the Nephites (3 Nephi 18:24).
"The Book of Mormon bears a multiple witness that this aspect of Gentile society is the principle cause of apostasy. In the allegory of the tame and wild olive tree, Zenos explains apostasy with the following words:
'Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard? And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard-have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?' (Jacob 5:47-48; emphasis added).
"Ironically the 'stumbling block' of the Gentiles is their own learning of which they are so proud. This learning replaces the plain and precious truths, causing them to stumble." (Book of Mormon Symposium Series, edited by PR Cheesman, MS Nyman, and CD Tate, Jr., 1988, p. 279-280)