“Once elected, [Alma] never again submitted himself to the people. After being proclaimed chief judge by the voice of the people, Alma enjoyed life tenure. When he chose to resign because of internal difficulties he selected his own successor (see Alma 4:16). That seems to have been the beginning of a dynasty. In the next succession, the judgeship passed to the chief judge’s son and thence ‘by right’ to the successive sons of the Judges (see Alma 50:39; Hel. 1:13). Although democratic elements were there—the Judges were confirmed by the voice of the people—the ‘reign of the Judges,’ as the Book of Mormon calls the period, was a far cry from the republican government Joseph Smith knew” (Bushman, “Book of Mormon and the American Revolution,” 14–16).
How was time reckoned by the Nephites? (29:44) “After Lehi left Jerusalem, time was reckoned according to the date of his departure—e.g., ‘fifty years after Lehi left Jerusalem.’ … With the establishment of the system of the judges we encounter a new reckoning of time among the Nephites—the ‘first year of the reign of the judges,’ the ‘fifteenth year of the reign of the judges,’ and so on. This system would be in effect until the sign of the birth of Christ would be given, when they would begin reckoning their time from that point (see 3 Nephi 2:8)” (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary, 2:320).