Alma 4:16

And he selected a wise man which was among the elders of the church, and gave him power according to the voice of the people, that he might have power to enact laws according to the laws which had been given, and to put them in force, according to the wickedness and the crimes of the people.

He chose a wise man who was a leader of the church. He gave him power that the people agreed to. This man could make laws based on the laws they already had. He could make people follow these laws when they did wrong things and crimes.

He chose a wise man from among the church elders and gave him authority—approved by the people—to make and enforce laws according to what had already been established, dealing with the people’s crimes and wickedness.