Twenty-five years had now gone by since the signs given by Samuel that were to tell of Christ's birth were beheld by the Nephites both in the heavens and upon the earth. During that time many other great and marvelous things transpired which to many were wonderful to witness. But in the record Mormon was making, only a small part of them could be told. He noted, almost in the same words, certainly with the same intent, what he said about the Nephites who lived seventy-five years previously and which we quoted near the beginning of this chapter, 4, (Helaman 3:13-16). Many records were made of the events of this period, but Mormon informs us that all the knowledge from which his record is made, comes from the incidents recorded by the historians who wrote upon the Plates of Nephi. Their account of such occurrences is short and true, which fact he verifies. Therefore, he makes plain to all who read his abridgment that the information contained therein is engraven upon plates which he made with his own hands. Said information was material which was engraved upon the Plates of Nephi.