Those who were converted were from multiple cities and lands, but they were considered Lamanites. After their conversion, there was nothing different about their genetic makeup, but they wanted to create a separation from the Lamanites who were not converted. Rather than be understood as a people of a certain city or land, they wanted to be known by their devotion to Jehovah. They name themselves Anti-Nephi-Lehies, and “were no more called Lamanites.”
Verse 18 continues the theme of complete conversion. They were no longer Lamanites, and, therefore, no longer the lazy stereotype. There is no indication that any of these people changed their ways of growing food, but the phrase is included to show that there is a dramatic change. It is written from the perspective of the Nephites. Thus, these Anti-Nephi-Lehies became the opposite of Lamanites. Although they are not called Nephites directly, they are at least symbolic Nephites. Even “the curse of God did no more follow them.”
There have been times in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when the removal of the curse suggested a change in skin pigment. That should be seen as an old cultural misunderstanding of the text. The curse removed the reason for not being able to intermarry with Nephites. There is no evidence in the actions seen in the text that allow the interpretation that there was a skin color difference between Lamanites and Nephites.
There is no known reason for the name Anti-Nephi-Lehies. What can be said is that the “Anti” part of the name does not come from the Greek prefix that meant “against.” There is a city named Ani-Anti (Alma 21:11), which tells us that it is a name, and not a prefix. It certainly had some important meaning, and certainly invoked the fact that they followed the religious teachings of Nephi and his father, Lehi. More than that, there is no definitive answer.
There is no chapter break at this point in the 1830 edition. The story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies continues immediately.