1 Nephi 9 in more depth

1 Nephi 9

Why did Nephi make two sets of plates?

The Lord’s “wise purpose” in having Nephi create two records became clear centuries later. After Joseph Smith translated the first 116 manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon, he gave the pages to Martin Harris, who lost them (see Doctrine and Covenants 10:1–23). But Nephi’s second set of plates covered the same time period, and the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to translate these plates rather than retranslate what had been lost (see Doctrine and Covenants 10:38–45).

For more about the plates mentioned in 1 Nephi 9, see “A Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon”; 1 Nephi 19:1–5; 2 Nephi 5:29–32; and Words of Mormon 1:3–9.

Scriptures

CHAPTER 9

Nephi makes two sets of records—Each is called the plates of Nephi—The larger plates contain a secular history; the smaller ones deal primarily with sacred things. About 600–592 B.C.

1 And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the ^avalley of Lemuel, and also a great many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates.

2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the ^aplates [IE the full account is on larger plates; the special account of his ministry is on the smaller plates of Nephi. See Jacob 3:13–14. See also 1 Ne. 1:17 (16–17); 6:1; 10:1; 19:2, 4; Omni 1:1; W of M 1:3 (2–11); D&C 10:38 (38–40).] upon which I make a full account of my people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of Nephi.

3 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special ^apurpose that there should be an account engraven of the ^bministry of my people.

4 Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people; wherefore these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the ^aother plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people.

5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a ^awise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.

6 But the Lord ^aknoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all ^bpower unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.

For Further Study I've copied sections from the Student Manuals for Seminary and Institute. These can be found in the Gospel Library App (where you can also make notes) or online, but if you want everything in one stop without opening multiple windows, I've provided them here.

Seminary Student Manual

1 Nephi 9

Nephi makes two sets of plates

In 1 Nephi 9 (see also chapter 6), Nephi explained that he was commanded to make two sets of records—these are known as the small plates and the large plates of Nephi. The small plates were to contain the sacred history of his people—the ministry of the prophets and the revelations of the Lord—and the large plates were to contain the secular history (see 1 Nephi 9:2–4). Nephi used the phrases “these plates” and “other plates” to refer to the two sets of plates the Lord commanded him to make. In the margin of your scriptures by 1 Nephi 9, write a note like the following to help you remember which set of plates Nephi was referring to: “these plates” = small plates (sacred); “other plates” = large plates (secular).

As you study the Book of Mormon you will come to understand why Nephi kept two sets of records. Nephi was inspired to make an abridgement, a shortened version, of his father’s account (found in 1 Nephi 1–8) on the small plates. Nearly 1,000 years later the prophet Mormon was directed by the Lord to include the small plates of Nephi with the gold plates (see Words of Mormon 1:7). Both men did not know why they were to do what they did (see 1 Nephi 9:5), but they followed the Lord’s command.

6. 
   As you read 1 Nephi 9 in your personal study, reflect upon and record in your scripture study journal why it is important to obey the Lord even when we don’t fully understand His reasons.

Institute Student Manual

1 Nephi 9:1–5. “A Wise Purpose”

• Although Nephi had already begun a record of the secular history of his people, the Lord inspired him to make a second record containing the religious history of his people. The following list clarifies the differences and similarities between the two accounts:
  1. Verses 1–5 in 1 Nephi 9 are an account taken directly from the small plates.
  2. When Nephi used the term these he was referring to the small plates.
  3. When Nephi used the term those or other he was referring to the large plates.
  4. The large plates were first made about 590 B.C.
  5. The small plates were made 20 years later, about 570 B.C.
  6. Nephi’s explanation of why the Lord commanded him to make a second record (the small plates) is in 1 Nephi 9:5.
  7. The large plates cover a period from 570 B.C.–A.D. 385 and cover the account of kings, wars, and history.
  8. The small plates cover a period from 570–130 B.C. and give an account of the Nephite ministry.
  Although Nephi did not know the reason for the duplicate record, he trusted that it was “for a wise purpose” (1 Nephi 9:5) that was known to the Lord (see commentary for Words of Mormon 1:7 on page 134).
• Elder Marvin J. Ashton (1915–94) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observed that we can obey as Nephi did, even when we do not understand the reason: “Sometimes when we are asked to be obedient, we do not know why, except the Lord has commanded. Nephi followed instructions even though he didn’t fully understand the wise purpose. His obedience resulted in blessings to mankind all over the world. By not obeying our present-day leaders, we plant our seeds in stony places and may forfeit the harvest” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1978, 76; or Ensign, Nov. 1978, 51).

1 Nephi 9:6. “The Lord Knoweth All Things”

• Elder Neal A. Maxwell testified that there is no limit to God’s knowledge:
  “Some have sincere faith in the existence of a God but not necessarily in a revealing and omniscient God. Other sincere individuals question God’s omniscience, wondering, even though respectfully, whether even God can know the future. But an omniscient and revealing God can at any present moment disclose things future. This is possible because ‘in the presence of God, … all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord’ (D&C 130:7). Thus God ‘knoweth all things, for all things are present before [his] eyes’ (D&C 38:2). He told Moses, ‘There is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all’ (Moses 1:6).
  “No qualifiers on the scope of God’s knowledge appear in holy writ. Instead, we read: ‘O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.’ (2 Nephi 9:20.)” (If Thou Endure It Well [1996], 46).