In teaching the gospel to the righteous Nephites, the Savior explains why the fulness of the gospel has not been revealed to all the people upon the earth. Mormon then explains why he did not write all of the statements of the Savior into his own record: "And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people; . . . these things . . .are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; . . . I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the . . . faith of my people." (3 Nephi 26:6, 8, 11.)
In explanation as to why he did not allow his greater truths to be revealed, the Savior said that it was "expedient" to give his lesser teachings first to try the faith of the people. Then he warns: "And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation." (3 Nephi 26:10.)