5  Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a ^awise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.

  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 ^bwise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord.

  13  And now behold, this was the desire which I desired of him—that if it should so be, that my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression, and by any means be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would ^cpreserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be by the power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some future day unto the Lamanites, that, perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation—

  2  And I also command you that ye keep a record of this people, according as I have done, upon the plates of Nephi, and keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them; for it is for a ^bwise purpose that they are kept.

  19  And for this very purpose are these plates preserved, which contain these records—that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people;

  34  But behold, here is wisdom, and because I show unto you wisdom, and give you commandments concerning these things, what you shall do, show it not unto the world until you have accomplished the work of translation.

  40  And now, because the account which is engraven upon the plates of Nephi is more particular concerning the things which, in my wisdom, I ^awould bring to the knowledge of the people in this account—

  23  For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I ^cwork not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.