Nephi and his brothers were asked to return one more time to the city of Jerusalem, this time to ask the family of Ishmael to join them in their journey to the promised land. One would surmise (even in the absence of the documentary evidence which will be presented below) that the two families were well acquainted with one another, especially in light of the fact that the Lehites were very careful to insure that their departure was secretive in nature. The sons of Lehi “did gain favor in the sight of Ishmael, insomuch that [they] did speak unto him the words of the Lord,” implying that Lehi sensed or knew already that Ishmael would be receptive to the will of the Lord.