Obedience brings blessings, disobedience cursings. Because of their jealousy and wickedness, Laman, Lemuel, and all of like spirit cut themselves off from the heavens.
Nephi and the faithful fled, taking with them the scriptures and the divine compass through which the Lord had directed and instructed the family (see verse 12).
The followers of Laman rejected Christ as their king and his chosen servant as his earthly counterpart. Their allegiance is with the prince of darkness; their nation will become one of darkness.