“The writings of Jacob and his descendants form part of the small plates, a section of the Book of Mormon that Mormon included intact. … After passing into Jacob’s hands, the small plates became increasingly focused on the history of Jacob’s family rather than on the history of the whole Nephite group. … From Jacob on, the plates were no longer kept by the rulers. … After Nephi, never again do the authors of the small plates occupy a central position in the government. Of course, the small plates were always set aside for spiritual things rather than secular matters” (Tanner, “Jacob and His Descendants as Authors,” 52–55).