“The figurative usage of the terms blind and blindness in the scriptures refers to the spiritual blindness of men—the inability to see the truth. … Amulek spoke of those with blind eyes who ‘will not understand the words which are spoken’ by the prophets (Alma 10:25). Nephi asked of his brothers Laman and Lemuel, ‘How is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds?’ (1 Ne. 7:8.)
“According to the scriptures, the devil blinds the spiritual eyes of man (1 Ne. 12:17; 3 Ne. 2:1–2), as do the practices of wicked men (D&C 76:75; 123:12)” (McConkie and Parry, Guide to Scriptural Symbols, 21).