Just because our Book of Mormon does not contain Mormon's abridgement of Nephi through Amaleki does not mean he didn't do it. He clearly says he "chose" the writings on the Small Plates when he found them (remember he was finished with his abridgment of the Large Plates and was about to give them to Moroni when he discovered the Small Plates) OVER his abridgement.
Study it closely.
Words of Mormon:
1 And now I, Mormon, being about to deliver up the record which I have been making into the hands of my son Moroni, behold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people, the Nephites.
He was about to deliver the abridgement he was making. The reason he made the abrigement is stated in Mormon as he was describing the last battle. He said the records that were handed down from generation to generation (this did not include his abridgement) were to be preserved and protected. He gave Moroni an abridged copy to preserve the original, so that Moroni would have scriptures to read.
2 And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ that I deliver these records into the hands of my son; and it supposeth me that he will witness the entire destruction of my people. But may God grant that he may survive them, that he may write somewhat concerning them, and somewhat concerning Christ, that perhaps some day it may profit them.
This is slightly after the time period in Mormon when the last battle took place, or AD 385.
3 And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.
He says right here that he made the abridgement I'm claiming. Watch closely:
for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake,
Huh? Is this not saying he abridged Lehi (lost manuscript) through Amaleki (just before King Benjamin)? Does this not include Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Jarom, Omni, and possibly other things?
How can this NOT be what he's saying?
Then he says:
I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi
"these plates" he's refering to are the Small Plates of Nephi. He didn't know they existed until he about to give his abridgement to Moroni. Are you saying mormon wasn't going to give Mormon Nephi through Amaleki until he found the plates? Why would he not give his son the full abridement?
4 And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass—
5 Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people.
He liked them better than his abridgement, so he REPLACED his abridgement of the same time period with the Small Plates of Nephi, otherwise we would still have Mormon's abridgement of Nephi through Amaleki.
6 But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.
He used the Small Plates in place of his abridgement for Nephi through Amaleki. He inserted them between his abridgement of Lehi (which wasn't on the Small Plates) and his abridgement of King Benjamin through 4th Nephi. To do so, he had to remove his abridgememnt of the same time period which he says plain as day that he made.
Yes? No?
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