Nephi was writing upon (and we are now reading from) the small plates, a record which, incidentally, was written in retrospect, thirty years after the fact. Nephi desired the limited room on this smaller set of plates for “the things of God,” the things of greatest worth unto the children of men. Such matters as genealogy-certainly of importance-are to be found on the large plates.
Nephi's hope and intent? “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.” Some things simply are more valuable and more conducive to bringing men to Jehovah, who is Christ the Lord. Nephi and those of his descendants who have editorial responsibilities for these plates were solemnly selective in what they recorded, always considering the overall purpose for which this set of plates was written and preserved.