The Reign of Judges was a time period in the
Book of Mormon. It began with the transition of government from a monarchy to a democratically-elected government in 91 B.C.
Mosiah, who was king over the Nephites, having no descendant to confer the kingdom on, opted for creating a democracy led by judges elected by the people.
Alma was elected the first chief judge over the people. From that time forward, the Nephites marked time not by how long it had been the since they first arrived in the promise land, but by the reign of judges. This continued until the sign of the birth of Christ took place in 3 Nephi 1. Soon thereafter, the Nephites began to track time by the coming of Christ.
[1]
