How could Joseph Smith maintain consistency while dictating the Book of Mormon when using multiple calendar systems?

The Book of Mormon contains three main calendar systems:

• From when Lehi left Jerusalem (over 10 references to specific dates)
• From the reign of the judges (around 170 references to specific dates)
• From when Jesus was born (around 90 references to specific dates)

It also contains other smaller systems:

• From Zeniff’s reign (4 references to specific dates)
• From when Ether hid in the cavity of a rock (4 references to specific dates)

Wouldn’t it have been much easier for Joseph Smith to have used just one system while dictating? Why make it so unnecessarily complex for himself? Wouldn’t we expect him to occasionally slip up and use the wrong calendar system at some point?

See:

• Evidence Central – Book of Mormon Evidence: Multiple Calendar Systems

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