In the Book of Mormon we read that in spite of much preaching among the people, they remained in their wickedness. The Gadianton robbers became numerous and killed many people, laying waste many cities. Both the Lamanites and the Nephites joined forces to fight the Gadianton robbers. The war became very sore and the Gadianton robbers were driven back into the mountains. But then, due to the wickedness of the people and their many contentions, the Gadianton robbers did gain many advantages over them again. They were about to be smitten down due to their iniquities. 3 Nephi 2:9-19 "And Nephi, who was the father of Nephi, who had the charge of the records, did not return to the land of Zarahemla, and could nowhere be found in all the land. And it came to pass that the people did still remain in wickedness, notwithstanding the much preaching and prophesying which was sent among them; and thus passed away the tenth year also; and the eleventh year also passed away in iniquity. And it came to pass in the thirteenth year there began to be wars and contentions throughout all the land; for the Gadianton robbers had become so numerous, and did slay so many of the people, and did lay waste so many cities, and did spread so much death and carnage throughout the land, that it became expedient that all the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites, should take up arms against them. Therefore, all the Lamanites who had become converted unto the Lord did unite with their brethren, the Nephites, and were compelled, for the safety of their lives and their women and their children, to take up arms against those Gadianton robbers, yea, and also to maintain their rights, and the privileges of their church and of their worship, and their freedom and their liberty. And it came to pass that before this thirteenth year had passed away the Nephites were threatened with utter destruction because of this war, which had become exceedingly sore. And it came to pass that those Lamanites who had united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites; And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites; And their young men and their daughters became exceedingly fair, and they were numbered among the Nephites, and were called Nephites. And thus ended the thirteenth year. And it came to pass in the commencement of the fourteenth year, the war between the robbers and the people of Nephi did continue and did become exceedingly sore; nevertheless, the people of Nephi did gain some advantage of the robbers, insomuch that they did drive them back out of their lands into the mountains and into their secret places. And thus ended the fourteenth year. And in the fifteenth year they did come forth against the people of Nephi; and because of the wickedness of the people of Nephi, and their many contentions and dissensions, the Gadianton robbers did gain many advantages over them. And thus ended the fifteenth year, and thus were the people in a state of many afflictions; and the sword of destruction did hang over them, insomuch that they were about to be smitten down by it, and this because of their iniquity."
In the Old Testament we read that the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. A cloud covered the tabernacle by day and a fire rested upon it by night. Exodus 40:34-38 "Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys."
Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that if we have faith, we will receive what we pray for, even if it's to move mountains. Does this mean that if we want to fly we just need to have faith and pray and then we'll be able to leap off a tall building and soar through the air? I think an important thing to remember here is how the Savior prayed before His Crucifixion, "Not what I will, but what Thou wilt." In other words, we need to make sure that what we're praying for is the Father's will. If we're not sure, we need to say, "Thy will be done" and really mean it. If we truly are praying for something that it's God's will for us to have, and we have faith, we will indeed receive a "yes!" answer to our prayer. Even moving a mountain? When you think of a mountain as a huge obstacle in our path, something that seems impossible to get around, yes indeed, God can move that mountain if it is His will! We can confidently send our prayers up to the Lord and know without a doubt that they will be answered in the way He knows is best for us. We may not always understand why He chooses to answer our prayers the way that He does, but we can completely have trust in Him that He wants what is for our best good. Mark 11:23-24 "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
In the Old Testament we read that the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. A cloud covered the tabernacle by day and a fire rested upon it by night. Exodus 40:34-38 "Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys."
Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us that if we have faith, we will receive what we pray for, even if it's to move mountains. Does this mean that if we want to fly we just need to have faith and pray and then we'll be able to leap off a tall building and soar through the air? I think an important thing to remember here is how the Savior prayed before His Crucifixion, "Not what I will, but what Thou wilt." In other words, we need to make sure that what we're praying for is the Father's will. If we're not sure, we need to say, "Thy will be done" and really mean it. If we truly are praying for something that it's God's will for us to have, and we have faith, we will indeed receive a "yes!" answer to our prayer. Even moving a mountain? When you think of a mountain as a huge obstacle in our path, something that seems impossible to get around, yes indeed, God can move that mountain if it is His will! We can confidently send our prayers up to the Lord and know without a doubt that they will be answered in the way He knows is best for us. We may not always understand why He chooses to answer our prayers the way that He does, but we can completely have trust in Him that He wants what is for our best good. Mark 11:23-24 "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
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