bomcanon
1 Nephi 6
Nephi declares that his family are descendants of Joseph — not incidentally, but as the founding lineage-claim for all that follows. He then states the limiting principle governing the small plates: only what pertains to God and to salvation, nothing that is merely pleasing to the world. The record is not a chronicle; it is a covenant document, written to persuade men to come to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — Jehovah — and be saved. That editorial law is then bound upon Nephi's seed as a commandment, making the small plates themselves a covenanted instrument in the hands of the birthright tribe.
1
And 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.
2
For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of Joseph.
3
And 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.
4
For 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.
5
Wherefore, 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.
6
Wherefore, 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.
