The five (1 Nephi 7:6) daughters of Ishmael are figures from the Book of Mormon mentioned in the context of their family's travel from Jerusalem to the promised land. They accompanied Lehi’s family into the wilderness after the Lord softened their father Ishmael’s heart to leave Jerusalem (1 Nephi 7:5). During the journey, tensions rose, and Laman and Lemuel, along with some family members (including two of the five daughters) rebelled against Nephi and Sam. In a critical moment, when Laman and Lemuel sought to kill Nephi, some of Ishmael’s daughters, along with their mother and a brother, successfully pleaded for Nephi's life, highlighting their courage and righteousness (1 Nephi 7:19).
The daughters are not extensively detailed in the scriptural record, but their importance is marked by their marriage to Lehi’s sons, forming a closer alliance between the families (1 Nephi 16:7). This union was vital in fulfilling the Lord's command for Lehi’s sons to raise up seed unto the Lord in the promised land. These marriages underscore the daughters' pivotal roles in the foundational narrative of their community.
The daughters also endured significant hardships. After their father’s death, they mourned deeply and complained against Lehi, lamenting their afflictions and the struggles they faced in the wilderness (1 Nephi 16:35). Despite these trials, their presence and actions were influential in maintaining the family’s unity and spiritual journey.