The Nephite Calendar Systems

Church Educational System

Throughout the course of the Book of Mormon, the Nephites used three different points of reference for measuring time with their calendars:

Reference Point

When Used

Scripture Block

From the time when Lehi left Jerusalem

600–92 B.C.

1 Nephi 1–Mosiah 29

From the time when the government changed from kings to judges

92 B.C.–A.D. 1

Mosiah 29–3 Nephi 1

From the time of the sign of the birth of Jesus Christ

A.D. 1–421

3 Nephi 1–Moroni 10

Note: The sign was given at Jesus’s birth. However, they did not start using it as a point of reference until A.D. 9.

Book of Mormon Student Manual (2009 Edition)

References