Nephi's attention to things of the spirit hits a chord with his spiritual equal, Mormon. The two men were called in their youth to be prophets and leaders of their people. They recorded the essentials of the gospel of Jesus Christ while many people around them were choosing to follow the adversary. One mourned because he had witnessed the destruction of his people in vision. The other mourned because he had witnessed the destruction of his people in person. Note the similarities between the records of these two great prophets. Nephi says, I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all, because of the destruction of my people, for I had beheld their fall (1 Nephi 15:5). Mormons feelings are similar, And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain of my people (Mormon 6:16). It is not surprising, therefore, for Mormon to approve of the contents of the Small Plates of Nephi, for these two spiritual heroes, Mormon and Nephi, had similar desires for the welfare of their people and for the recipients of the Book of Mormon in the last days.