Book of Mormon (Plain English Version)/1 Nephi/Chapter 6
Purpose of making plates is explained...
(compare 1 Nephi, chapter 6)
I, Nephi, am not including the genealogy of my forefathers in my record, for it's already engraved on the brass plates, kept by my father.
It is enough to say we are descendants of Joseph. I don't have room on these small plates to write everything my father did. I want to save room to write about the things of God.
I desire to persuade people to surrender their hearts to Christ--the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and thereby be saved.
The things I write are not pleasing to those who are of the world, but they are pleasing to God and to those who are not of the world.
I will tell my children, who will continue to engrave this record, only to include things of value--things that will persuade their children to come to Christ.