Mormon explains that, while abridging the history of the Nephites, he came across the Small Plates of Nephi and decided to make them an appendix to his finished work.
Mormon writes that King Benjamin, wielding the sword of Laban, stood against the Lamanites.
Latter-day Saints believe that the inclusion serves as a replacement for the 116 pages that were lost during translation of the Book of Mormon.
[8] Author Benjamin Keogh suggests that Mormon's explanation indicates that he views the inclusion of the small plates as an appendix to the larger record.
[11] Authors Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Hemming claim that throughout the narrative of the Book of Mormon the Nephites are prejudiced toward the Lamanites.