The prophet Ammaron, whose account of the decline of the Nephites we read near the end of 4 Nephi, was commanded of the Lord to hide away the sacred records to preserve them (see 4 Nephi 1:47-49). This same Ammaron was inspired of the Lord to call an exceptional young man, who had been prepared with spiritual experiences, to become the caretaker of the plates. Ammaron instructed Mormon to take the plates of Nephi when he became twenty-four years of age and record on them the things he observed among the people. He was to record not only the historical events but also the workings of the Lord among the people (compare Alma 37:2; 3 Nephi 26:6-8).