Small Plates of Nephi are plates made by Nephi for writing “the ministry and the prophecies” and “the more plain and precious parts of them.” Nephi received a commandment that these writings be kept “for the instruction of my people” and for other purposes known to the Lord (1 Nephi 19:3).
Nephi gave Jacob “a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.” As Jacob prepared to die, he gave the plates to his son Enos, who “promised obedience unto the commands,” and Jacob ended his writing upon plates “which writing has been small” (Jacob 1:1; Jacob 7:27).
Jarom wrote no more because “the plates are small,” while records of wars were engraven on the other plates of Nephi. Mormon found the plates among records delivered to him; they contained “this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin,” along with many of Nephi’s words (Jarom 1:14; Words of Mormon 1:3).