1 Nephi 19:2-3

In about 588 B.C. Nephi was commanded to make a record of his life. These are the Large Plates of Nephi. In verse 2, he states that when he was commanded to make the Large Plates, he did not know about the future commandment to make the Small Plates, in about 569 B.C. So, he recorded a more particular account of everything that had transpired up to this point on those plates. Things like the record of his father, the genealogy of his fathers, and their proceedings in the wilderness. Then he makes a distinction or contrast between the Large Plates and the Small Plates, as he currently writes this on the Small Plates, which is that the Small Plates would contain the more plain and precious parts of their ministries and prophesies. They were to be kept for the instruction of the people. Jacob reiterates this commandment and desire in Jacob 4:1-6 or so.

I believe that many times people wonder what was contained in the record of these events on the Large Plates of Nephi. We do not have them. But I distinctly remember in Institute one time that our teacher put forth the argument that the content that we have now from the Small Plates is of greater worth to our souls that what was contained on the Large Plates. I believe these verses are one of the reasons why. On these plates, we have more plain and precious parts of the ministries and prophesies of the people of Nephi. Nephi delves into them deeper and deeper as he gets older and as we proceed through the rest of 1 Nephi and through 2 Nephi. It is amazing.