This verse does not say that Nephi and his brothers gained favor first and then spoke to Ishmael and family the words of the Lord.  Rather, that word “insomuch” means “to the extent of, to the degree of.”  It means that they gained favor to the extent that they spoke the words of the Lord to Ishmael.  It shows that Ishmael responded most to the words of the Lord, rather than the wisdom of man; he was a righteous man and he recognized by the feelings and thoughts he had when the Spirit confirmed what Nephi and his brothers must have said about the imminent destruction of Jerusalem, the wickedness of the people, and the necessity of leaving to preserve a righteous remnant.  It shows us that Ishmael was definitely a worthy man to be taken on the flight out of wicked Jerusalem.  The Lord knew what he was doing when He chose Ishmael and his family.

So, I guess the question should be asked of us, “Do we, like Ishmael, favor those who speak the words of the Lord to us?”