Limhi is looking for some way to deliver his people from the Lamanites. He is hopeful that he can get assistance from the Nephites in Zarahemla and sends an envoy to find and solicit help. Unfortunately, all they find is the land of Jaredites, covered with dry bones. It is evident that both Zarahemla and the Jaredites lived north of the land of Nephi. Although this little excursion failed to deliver the people from the hands of their enemies, its importance cannot be understated. Without the efforts of this little band, the Book of Ether would not have been had among the Nephites. Those in Zarahemla had interpreted a stone by which they knew somewhat of the Jaredites (Omni 1:20), but the history and prophecies of the brother of Jared were contained within the twenty-four plates. It is to this little band of Limhi's that we owe this great scriptural find.
"The twenty-four plates were called The Book of Ether after its author. (Ether 1:2) Their discovery was not an accident. For, when Ether had finished his record, 'He hid them in a manner that the people of Limhi did find them.' (Ether 15:33)" (Reynolds and Sjodahl, Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 2, p. 283)