Jehovah loosed the rains, and the famine eased. That was not in question, as Nephi had been told that he could make that change solely upon asking. The release from famine had the obvious effect of generating great joy. We may suppose that there were many prayers to God for the rains to come. With the introduction of a different religion by the Gadiantons, it is possible that there were many prayers to a different god, or perhaps to many gods. Only Nephi’s prayer was effective. Therefore, the people “did esteem him as a great prophet, and a man of God.”
Nephi and his brother, Lehi, were both righteous. They had both been successful missionaries, and a successful end of the famine elevated both to a much more respected position. This presumes that the people also began to return to the commandments of the Lord, for “the people of Nephi began to prosper again in the land.” That was the result of obeying Jehovah’s commandments.