Alma 17:13-19

13 And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken.

14 And assuredly it was great, for they had undertaken to preach the word of God to a wild and a hardened and a ferocious people; a people who delighted in murdering the Nephites, and robbing and plundering them; and their hearts were set upon riches, or upon gold and silver, and precious stones; yet they sought to obtain these things by murdering and plundering, that they might not labor for them with their own hands.

15 Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols, and the curse of God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding the promises of the Lord were extended unto them on the conditions of repentance.

16 Therefore, this was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the plan of redemption.

17 Therefore they separated themselves one from another, and went forth among them, every man alone, according to the word and power of God which was given unto him.

18 Now Ammon being the chief among them, or rather he did administer unto them, and he departed from them, after having blessed them according to their several stations, having imparted the word of God unto them, or administered unto them before his departure; and thus they took their several journeys throughout the land.

19 And Ammon went to the land of Ishmael, the land being called after the sons of Ishmael, who also became Lamanites. (Alma 17:13-19)

The sons of Mosiah and their party arrived at the borders of Lamanite land. The party separated, placing their trust in the Lord they would meet at the end of their missionary journeys.

Mormon notes they were preaching the gospel “to a wild and hardened and a ferocious people” (Alma 17:14). Zeniff described the Lamanites as “a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were also wronged while crossing the sea” (Mosiah 10:12).

They “delighted” in robbing, plundering, and murdering Nephites. They wanted gold, silver, and precious stones. They didn’t want to work for their gold and other precious things. They got their riches by murdering and plundering others.

The Lamanites were a lazy people. They worshiped idols. The curse on the Lamanites had fallen on them because they accepted the traditions of their fathers. Even so, the Lord made promises they would receive blessing should they choose to repent.

“For there are many promises which are extended to the Lamanites; for it is because of the traditions of their fathers that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them and prolong their existence in the land.

“And at some period of time they will be brought to believe in his word, and to know of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers; and many of them will be saved, for the Lord will be merciful unto all who call on his name” (Alma 9:16-17).

This promise is why the sons of Mosiah wanted to preach the truth to the Lamanites, bringing them to a knowledge of the plan of redemption.

“Now it came to pass that after the sons of Mosiah had done all these things, they took a small number with them and returned to their father, the king, and desired of him that he would grant unto them that they might, with these whom they had selected, go up to the land of Nephi that they might preach the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the word of God to their brethren, the Lamanites—

“That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers; and that perhaps they might cure them of their hatred towards the Nephites, that they might also be brought to rejoice in the Lord their God, that they might become friendly to one another, and that there should be no more contentions in all the land which the Lord their God had given them.

“Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble” (Mosiah 28:1-3).

Ammon is described as “being the chief among them” (Alma 17:18). He administered to them and they departed with blessings according to their situation.

“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

“He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Psalm 24:4-5).

“Blessings are upon the head of the just:” (Proverbs 10:6).

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings” (Proverbs 28:20).

At this point, Mormon concentrates on the mission of Ammon. He left and went into the land of Ishmael. The land was named after the sons of Ishmael, who became Lamanites. “And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters” (1 Nephi 7:6).

“[I]t is only in the detailed account of Ammon's missionary travels that we learn that Lamoni and his people were not simply ‘Lamanites’ in general but tribally distinct Ishmaelites inhabiting a region of their own (see Alma 17:19, 21).”[1]

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[1] When Lehi's Party Arrived in the Land, Did They Find Others There, John L. Sorenson, Maxwell Institute website.