# 1 Nephi 6

*Paraphrase*

### Why I Write What I Write

I, Nephi, won’t be listing my family tree here. In fact, I won’t put it anywhere on these plates I’m writing. My father already recorded all that in his book, so there’s no need for me to repeat it. It’s enough to say we’re descendants of Joseph. I’m not going to write out every detail of my father’s life—there isn’t room on these plates anyway. I need the space to write about God.

My whole purpose is this: I want to convince people to come to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and find salvation. So I won’t write things just to impress the world. I’ll only write what pleases God and helps those who seek something beyond this world. I’ll tell my children the same thing: Don’t fill these plates with things that don’t matter. Write only what will help people.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/1-nephi/6)*
