Mormon did as he was commanded. At the age of 24 he retrieved the plates of Nephi and began to record in great detail the wickedness and destruction of his people. This is according to the pattern established long ago—that the record on the Large Plates of Nephi would be extensive, including both secular and ecclesiastical history. Accordingly, Mormon wrote an extensive history. What we have now (Mormon 1-7) is a condensed version of this more complete record This we learn from the following, behold I had gone according to the word of Ammaron, and taken the plates of Nephi, and did make a record according to the words of Ammaron. And upon the plates of Nephi I did make a full account of all the wickedness and abominations; but upon these plates I did forbear to make a full account of their wickedness and abominations, for behold, a continual scene of wickedness and abominations has been before mine eyes ever since I have been sufficient to behold the ways of man (Mormon 2:17-8, italics added). In essence, Mormon spares all the gory details, but he has recorded them in a larger record on the plates of Nephi.