Ishmael’s wife, a notable figure in the early narrative of the Book of Mormon, played a critical yet understated role in the journey of Lehi’s and Ishmael’s families to the promised land. Not much is known about her life before she and her family joined Lehi’s family in the wilderness; however, her actions during a crucial moment of conflict are telling of her character. As her family traveled in the wilderness alongside Lehi’s family, a rebellion stirred among some of the members, particularly Laman and Lemuel, who were Nephi’s older brothers. They, along with two of her sons and two of her daughters, sought to oppose Nephi’s leadership (1 Nephi 7:6).
Her defining moment came when tensions escalated to the point that Nephi’s life was in jeopardy. After Nephi was bound by his rebellious brothers and pleaded with the Lord for help, Ishmael’s wife intervened in a pivotal act that showcased her peacemaking nature. When Laman and Lemuel sought to harm Nephi once again, she, along with one of her daughters and one of her sons, pled with them “insomuch that they did soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away [Nephi’s] life” (1 Nephi 7:19). This intercession played a significant role in preserving unity among the group and potentially saving Nephi’s life. Her capacity to influence her family and soothe contentious hearts is a testament to her strength and compassion. Though her time in the scriptural record is brief, her legacy lives on through her children, known as the Ishmaelites, who became one of the integral components in the developing Nephite and Lamanite civilizations.