In one example of this, it's interesting to see how the large and small Plates of Nephi are referenced throughout the Book of Mormon. When you see "these plates", it usually refers to the small plates which are those that contain items of spiritual importance. When you see "other plates", it usually refers to the large plates which contain the historical record of the Nephites.
Small Plates of Nephi
"more particularly devoted to spiritual matters and the ministry and teachings of the prophets"*
1 Nephi 6:3
“upon these plates … I may write of the things of God”
“upon these plates … I may write of the things of God”
1 Nephi 6:5
“the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world”
“the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world”
1 Nephi 6:6
“my seed ... shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men”
“my seed ... shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men”
1 Nephi 9:2-3
“I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people”
“I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people”
1 Nephi 9:4
“these plates are for the more part of the ministry”
“these plates are for the more part of the ministry”
1 Nephi 9:5
“the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose”
“the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose”
1 Nephi 19:3
“the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates”
“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”
“the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates”
“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”
2 Nephi 4:15
“upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass.”
“upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass.”
2 Nephi 5:30
“the Lord God said unto me: Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people. Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things. And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God.”
“the Lord God said unto me: Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people. Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things. And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God.”
Jacob 1:2
“I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; ... should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people”
“I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; ... should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people”
Words of Mormon 1:4
“the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ”
Words of Mormon 1:6“the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ”
“these plates … contain these prophesyings and revelations”
Large Plates of Nephi
"occupied mostly by a secular history of the peoples concerned (1 Nephi 9:2–4). From the time of Mosiah, however, the large plates also included items of major spiritual importance."*
1 Nephi 9:2
“a full account of the history of my people”
“a full account of the history of my people”
1 Nephi 9:4
“Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people”
“the other plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people"
“Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people”
“the other plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people"
1 Nephi 19:4
“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”
“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”
2 Nephi 4:14
“a more history part are written upon mine other plates”
“a more history part are written upon mine other plates”
2 Nephi 5:33
“if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people they must search mine other plates”
“if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people they must search mine other plates”
Jacob 3:13
“a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, which now began to be numerous, cannot be written upon these plates; but many of their proceedings are written upon the larger plates, and their wars, and their contentions, and the reigns of their kings”
“a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, which now began to be numerous, cannot be written upon these plates; but many of their proceedings are written upon the larger plates, and their wars, and their contentions, and the reigns of their kings”
Jacob 7:26
“the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi”
“the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi”
Words of Mormon 1:10
“the other plates, which contained records which had been handed down by the kings, from generation to generation until the days of king Benjamin”
“the other plates, which contained records which had been handed down by the kings, from generation to generation until the days of king Benjamin”
Note, however, in "A BRIEF EXPLANATION ABOUT THE BOOK OF MORMON", that "From the time of Mosiah, however, the large plates also included items of major spiritual importance." See Words of Mormon 1:11.
*Source: A Brief Explanation about the Book of
Mormon
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