1 Nephi 6
People in this chapter
Most of 1 Nephi moves fast. Chapter 6 stops. Nephi has just told how the brass plates were brought back, and before he goes on he turns to you and explains what kind of book you are holding.
He is writing on a special set of plates. They are not for family trees or the full story of his father. Those are kept somewhere else. These plates are for the things of God (v. 3).
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
1 Nephi 6:1-2We Are Descendants of Joseph
1And now I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of my fathers in this part of my record; neither at any time shall I give it after upon these plates which I am writing; for it is given in the record which has been kept by my father; wherefore, I do not write it in this work.
Nephi tells you what he is leaving out. The family tree is in his father's record. These plates have a different job.
2For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of Joseph.
Lehi's family comes from Joseph, the son of Jacob who was sold into Egypt. The Lord used that Joseph to save his family, and He will use Joseph's descendants to bless many more.
1 Nephi 6:3-4That I May Write of the Things of God
3And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full account of all the things of my father, for they cannot be written upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may write of the things of God.
Space on metal plates was limited, so Nephi had to choose. He chose to save his room for the things of God.
4For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.
1 Nephi 6:5-6Things Pleasing unto God
5Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.
Nephi writes for God's approval, not the world's. He writes what pleases God and those who are not of the world.
6Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men.
Nephi tells his descendants not to fill the plates with things that are not of worth. They obeyed, and that is why the small plates are so full of Christ.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- Why Did Nephi Write His Small Plates?Explains Nephi's two records. He made the large plates first and the small plates later, and he set the small plates apart for spiritual things.
- A Brief Explanation about the Book of MormonThe short guide at the front of the Book of Mormon that lists the sets of plates the book was made from, including the small and large plates of Nephi.
- “For a Wise Purpose” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)Elder Holland on why the small plates were kept, and how the first books of the Book of Mormon open with three witnesses of Christ: Nephi, Jacob, and Isaiah.
Where this echoes in Scripture
We Are Descendants of Joseph
- 1 Nephi 19:1-2The record of my father, and the genealogy of his fathers… are engraven upon those first plates.Where the genealogy actually is.
- 1 Nephi 5:14He knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt.
- Alma 10:3Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh.The tribe within Joseph's line.
- Genesis 45:5-7God did send me before you to preserve life.Joseph's brothers meant harm; the Lord used it to save them.
- Ezekiel 37:16-19Take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph… and they shall be one in mine hand.
That I May Write of the Things of God
- 1 Nephi 19:10The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself… to be crucified.Nephi names the God of verse 4.
- Jacob 4:1-2I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates.Why room on the plates mattered.
- 2 Nephi 25:26We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ.What Nephi used his room for.
- John 8:58Before Abraham was, I am.
- Moroni 10:32Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.The same invitation at the end of the book.
Things Pleasing unto God
- 2 Nephi 5:32I engraved that which is pleasing unto God.
- Jacob 1:2-4A few of the things which I considered to be most precious… for Christ's sake.Jacob follows Nephi's rule.
- Words of Mormon 1:4The things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ.
- John 17:14-16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.