According to Joseph Allen, the great apostasy in the Book of Mormon correlates in detail to the time period when the apostasy began in Mesoamerica. No place tells the story of the apostasy in Mesoamerica better than at the Maya ruins of Uxmal in Yucatan, Mexico. However, Uxmal is not the only place. We need only to look at the stone monuments and the written codices to realize that the priests controlled everything. They wore elaborate clothing. Did you catch that? In 4 Nephi we are told that there were those who were "lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel." The archaeological record illustrates how the priests who wore the elaborate and costly apparel looked. Such apparel became a mark of class distinction. [Joseph L. Allen, Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon, p. 392]
4 Nephi 1:24 The wearing of costly apparel ([Illustration]): Depiction of priest wearing elaborate apparel. [Joseph L. Allen, Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon, p. 392]