The first method was to determine the number of years since father Lehi left Jerusalem. This system was used from 600B.C. to 92B.C. (see Mosiah 29:44–47, Alma 1:1).
The second method used was to calculate the number of years from the beginning of the reign of the judges. This system was used for about one hundred years, from 92 B.C. toA.D. 9 (see 3 Nephi 2:5–7).
The last method used was “to reckon their time from [the] period when the sign was given, or from the coming of Christ” (3 Nephi 2:8). This system was used for the remainder of the Nephite record.