The replacing of the priests appointed by Zeniff brought a third change in the affairs of the kingdom. In a kingdom sustained by the Lord, the appointments should have been made by revelation. Those whom Zeniff appointed were probably so appointed, but Noah’s appointees were his fellow workers in iniquity, and would not have been called by revelation. Although these priests may have been a political body rather than a religious or spiritual group (see Mosiah 27:1), they would still have been appointed by revelation through Zeniff. Political appointments were one of the causes of the apostasy in the Church following the ministry of Christ in the flesh. When Constantine made Christianity the state religion, he made the appointments rather than the church leaders.
The fourth change came when the people became idolatrous, worshipping things other than God, because of the vain and flattering words of the king and his priests (Mosiah 11:7). Vain means useless and flattery is an overstatement of truth for ulterior motives. The priests did “preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion” or their community. Such practice is called priestcraft and is a frequent problem among the Nephites (2 Nephi 26:29; see also Jacob 7:4; Alma 1:3–6; 48:1).
The fifth change was the building of many elegant and spacious buildings (Mosiah 27:8). These monuments were surely intended to become memorials to the leaders so they might boast of their accomplishments. The adorning of the king’s throne and the seats of the high priests was not for comfort but for an extension of the idolatrous authority from which they spoke lying and vain words (Mosiah 11:9–11).
The tower near the temple and the one in the land of Shilom were probably for protection from the Lamanites (vv. 12–13). Being able to see them approaching would give them an advantage in preparing to defend themselves. The construction of many buildings in the land of Shilom, which had been a resort town, suggests that the king and his priests wanted a place to go for pleasure. The report of riotous living and spending time with harlots supports this theory.
The consumption of alcohol was the sixth and final change in the affairs of the kingdom that adversely affected the people. The priests are not mentioned, but they most likely were wine bibbers as well as the king (v. 15). Alcohol has destroyed or weakened many nations in the past and is a major problem in the latter days. Thus in just a few years, the Nephites turned from a prosperous and peaceful people who depended upon the Lord to an idolatrous people (v. 7) filled with all manner of wickedness (v. 2).