In abridging the records of the Nephites, Mormon included a translation of what were called "the small plates of Nephi."
Of the contents of those plates, he said, "They are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren." (Words of Mormon 1:6.) But beyond that, he could not explain why he was including the small plates of Nephi in the record, except to say, "I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will." (verse 7.)
Of course, the "wise purpose" became apparent in latter days after Joseph Smith had translated Lehi's writings. He gave the manuscript of his translation, comprising 116 pages, to Martin Harris. Brother Harris' desire was to show them to his family and friends, but he lost them. Joseph was instructed through revelation not to re-translate that portion of the record because of the fraudulent intent of persons who had stolen the manuscript. Instead, Joseph translated the small plates of Nephi, which included the same time period as the record of Lehi. (See Doctrine and Covenants 10:8-14.)
The large plates of Nephi were the basis of Mormon's abridgment that we have today as Mosiah, Alma, Helaman and 3 and 4 Nephi. But 1 and 2 Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Jarom and Omni came from the small plates of Nephi.
President Boyd K. Packer, now acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve and, at the time, a member of the quorum, analyzed the large and small plates of Nephi during a sermon he delivered at April 1986 general conference:
"Nephi succeeded his father, Lehi, as keeper of [the] record which became known as the large plates of Nephi.
"Nephi wrote that 'upon [these] plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people.' (1 Nephi 9:4; italics added.)
"Later, when they grew to be a numerous people this account was kept by the kings.
". . . But it was not the most valuable record, for Nephi was commanded to keep yet another account — not a secular account this time, but a record of the ministry. This record, the small plates of Nephi, was kept by the prophets rather than by the kings.
"This account of their ministry became the foundation for what is now the Book of Mormon.
"Perhaps the best insight into the purpose for keeping this record is from Jacob, who received the plates from his brother Nephi.
" 'And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these [small] plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people. . . .
" 'For he said that the history of this people should be engraven upon his other [large] plates, and that I should preserve these [small] plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.
"And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven. . . them upon these [small] plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our people." (Jacob 1:2-4; italics added.)
