According to John Welch, King Noah's projects are reminiscent of typical ancient Near Eastern kings who built and maintained magnificent administrative complexes, complete with a temple, palace, and fortifications, to enhance and solidify their political power over their territory. As was the case during the monarchy in Israel, where "priests were civil servants appointed by the king," the priests who served in the temple [of Nephi?] under King Noah were likewise his appointees (see Mosiah 11:5). [John W. Welch, "The Temple in the Book of Mormon," in Temples of the Ancient World, pp. 340-341]
Mosiah 11:9 And [king Noah] also built him . . . a throne ([Illustration]): Maya and other rulers made a big show of their sanctity and power by sitting on ornate thrones like that shown with this Late Classic figurine. However, the newly deciphered inscriptions make clear that their power constantly had to be justified in the eyes of the public. [John L. Sorenson, Images of Ancient America, p. 111]
“He Built a Tower”
From the top of Noah's "very high tower" near the temple (Mosiah 11:12), he could apparently "overlook" the lands of Shilom and Shemlon and "even look over all the land round about." The distance implied from the viewing tower to, or even across, Shemlon could not be great. [Adapted from John Sorenson, Source Book, p. 223]
Mosiah 11:12 He could stand upon the top [of the tower] and overlook the land of Shilom, and also the land of Shemlon ([Illustration]): This view is of the lower portion of the Valley of Guatemala. [According to John Sorenson] it meets the textual requirements to have been the land of Shilom of the Nephites. This section occupies several square miles and lies only about ten miles from Nephi, thought to have been at Kaminaljuyu. At the city of Nephi, King Noah climbed on a tower or pyramid where he could "overlook the land of Shilom" (Mosiah 11:12). [John L. Sorenson, Images of Ancient America, p. 195]
Mosiah 11:12 He could stand upon the top [of the tower] and overlook the land of Shilom, and also the land of Shemlon ([Illustration]): [According to John Sorenson] the near shore of Lake Amatitlan seen in this photograph qualifies as the Lamanite land of Shemlon. What could be the land of Shilom lies above the bluffs across the lake. According to Mosiah chapters 11 and 19 through 22, Lamanite forces consistently went "up" (roughly five hundred feet in elevation here) from Shemlon through Shilom to attack Nephi. [John L. Sorenson, Images of Ancient America, p. 198]