Ishmaelites is a term used over the course of the entire Book of Mormon to refer to a subgroup of the Lamanites. The name originates from the sons of Ishmael, who rebelled against their father, also Lehi and Nephi until he joined his family with Laman and Lemuel in establishing the Lamanite kingdom. The name continues over the generations. While it can be inferred that this refers to Ishmaels' direct descendants, it is interesting to note that even after the Lamanites merged with the Nephites after the birth of Christ and later the name persists in the records as a clear subgroup of the Lamanites up until the destruction of the Nephites. [1]