1 Nephi 19:3 - 19:7

1 Nephi 19:3 And after I had made these plates by way of commandment, I, Nephi, received a commandment that the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates; and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord.

After Nephi was told to make this second set of plates, he was commanded to record on them only the more spiritual experiences and religious instructions from the Lord. They are to contain only the easy to understand commandments for instruction of the people and anyone else who will inhabit this land. Nephi thinks there is another reason for this additional set of plates, but the Lord is not telling him what it is.

1 Nephi 19:4 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did make a record upon the other plates, which gives an account, or which gives a greater account of the wars and contentions and destructions of my people. And this have I done, and commanded my people what they should do after I was gone; and that these plates should be handed down from one generation to another, or from one prophet to another, until further commandments of the Lord.

Nephi instructions from the Lord is that the record on the first set of plates should be a more secular history recounting their wars and destructions that they experience over time. Nephi commands those who come after him to keep the first set of plates current. The second set of plates again from which we are reading from now are to be handed down from prophet to prophet, one generation to another. This is to continue until the Lord commands them to stop. This of course will happen with Moroni a thousand years into the future.

1 Nephi 19:5 And an account of my making these plates shall be given hereafter; and then, behold, I proceed according to that which I have spoken; and this I do that the more sacred things may be kept for the knowledge of my people.

The second plates are specifically for the recording the more sacred things so that they may be available for the people to read and ponder as well as those who will be their descendents.

1 Nephi 19:6 Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself.

Again Nephi reiterates that he will only record that which is sacred. He cautions that if there are any mistakes in this sacred record, they are because men are weak and may make a mistake in what they thought they experience. If they are evident then, he asked us to excuse them. He is making the same mistakes as writers in the past have made. The mistakes may be what men think should be in the record or what should not.

1 Nephi 19:7 For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels.

Some think some things are of great worth while others scoff that them. In fact this is evident in the way some refer to God himself. Some readily believe all that He says they should do and other think those things are stupid or foolish. It is interesting that Nephi says they are worth to both body and soul. Meaning that the Lord is concerned for both our physical wellbeing as our spiritual state. So some commandments are to keep us healthy as well as keep out of the devil's clutches.