Alma 3:11-12
Those who believed in the record which was brought over from Jerusalem – meaning the Brass Plates – which contained a scriptural account clear back to Adam – were called Nephites. Ever since the mark was set on the Lamanites, there were two peoples rather than many (Nephites, Zoramites, Ishmaelites, Lamanites, etc.) or one (the people of Lehi). Another distinguishing feature of the Nephite tradition is that they kept an accurate record of their own history and even a record of the Lamanite history. The same held true in the modern church – those who had the authority kept the records. None of the groups who claimed succession to Joseph Smith had or maintained the official records of the church.