ISHMAEL — The Quiet Father Who Held a Family Together

Scripture Setting: 1 Nephi 7, 16

When Lehi’s family began their journey into the wilderness, they were not meant to travel alone. The Lord commanded that they return to Jerusalem for a man named Ishmael—a quiet, steady father whose story often hides in the background but plays a crucial role in the rise of the Nephite nation.

Ishmael was a family man, experienced, humble, and willing to follow the Lord even when the path was difficult. Leaving Jerusalem meant giving up the home he had built, the land he knew, and the life he understood. But he trusted the Lord enough to gather his household and join Lehi’s family on a journey into the unknown.

His daughters would become the wives of Lehi’s sons, and his sons would become part of a people shaped by prophecy and faith. Traveling through the wilderness was not easy—scripture records moments of rebellion among his children and moments of worry among his daughters. In each of these struggles, Ishmael stood as a stabilizing presence, guiding his family with patience and compassion.

His death in the wilderness brought deep sorrow to the entire group, showing just how loved he was.

In Rumors of War, Ishmael represents quiet leadership—strength without shouting, faith without boasting. Drawing his card reminds players that sometimes the greatest heroes are the ones who simply choose to walk with God, day after hard day.