The priests of Noah were a corrupt group instituted by King Noah after he deposed the priests consecrated by his father Zeniff. Chosen for their propensity towards pride and flattery, these priests played pivotal roles in the spiritual decay that plagued their society. They supported and participated in the sins of King Noah, which included idolatry, whoredoms, and the propagation of false teachings (Mosiah 11:5-7). Funded by the heavy burdens of taxation imposed upon the people, they lived in decadence and indolence, misleading the Nephites and leading them away from the commandments of God (Mosiah 11:6).
Their confrontation with the prophet Abinadi marked one of the most dramatic encounters in Nephite history. Abinadi, sent by God to call the people to repentance, faced intense questioning from the priests. However, they were confounded by his answers and could not withstand his reproof, which exposed their hypocrisy and failure to keep the law of Moses they claimed to teach (Mosiah 12:17-37; Mosiah 17:1-20).
Following the martyrdom of Abinadi, only one of Noah’s priests, Alma, heeded the call to repentance and thus was forced to flee for his life (Mosiah 17:2-4). The remaining priests continued their wicked practices, even to the point of kidnapping twenty-four daughters of the Lamanites, which precipitated a battle with the Lamanites and contributed to ongoing strife (Mosiah 20:1-5). When their leader, Amulon, took control among the Lamanites, the priests became oppressors over Alma’s people in the land of Helam. Amulon particularly sought to repress Alma, prohibiting prayer and harshly exercising his authority (Mosiah 23:30-39; Mosiah 24:8-11).
The legacy of Noah’s priests was one of destruction and affliction, reflecting the prophecy of Abinadi, who foretold that as they had caused him to suffer, their own seed would cause many to suffer death by fire. This prophecy was fulfilled as many of their progeny were slain by the Nephites and those who remained were hunted by the Lamanites due to their iniquity (Alma 25:4-12). The story of Noah’s priests serves as a cautionary tale within the Nephite record, a stark representation of the consequences of leading lives contrary to the commandments of God.