In the April 2025 general conference Camille N. Johnson made an important observation. She pointed out that the five virgins were not wicked, but foolish. Like the five wise virgins, the foolish five knew that the Bridegroom was coming, but failed to prepare. This is a parable told by the Savior illustrating conditions that will exist when He comes again at His Second Coming.

The foolish virgins were unwise. Another word for unwise is stupid or ignorant. If you know that something as momentous as the Second Coming is immanent, why would you not prepare? The signs of the immanence of the Second Coming are all around us, yet we are surrounded by many foolish, stupid, and ignorant people.

Being ignorant is not nearly as bad as being stupid. Ignorance might be excusable, but stupidity is not.

Years ago I gave a Book of Mormon and my testimony to my nephew. Years later he told me that he'd read it. As a result of that reading he said that "I decided that I'd live the best life that I could, and then sit back and see what happens."

"Brent, that's stupid," I said. "You're so close, and yet so far away." Such a person has the clear-cut choice of eternal happiness or eternal misery placed before him, and opts not to choose. That's neither foolish nor ignorant, but stupid. Eternal regret will follow.