What happens when elevators break down? Recently, the elevators in one office building had some reliability "ups and downs" that posed users with several considerations including, "What do you do when the doors don't open and you are stuck?" and "Can you get to your desired destination?"

The answers to these questions lie in attitude and preparation as well as in elevator mechanics. Several months ago, in another city, a few dedicated employees had worked late on a Friday night and were headed home. The elevator they were on became stuck on the bottom floor. Since it was after hours, headed into the weekend, the maintenance people weren't available and the elevator company was on short staff. As a result, the group of four had to wait more than an hour before the doors were opened. They could shout through closed doors to the security personnel outside, but were trapped inside.

The first few minutes were intense and filled with anxiety. Adding to tension was the uncertainty, the prospect of missing important engagements and fatigue. As time passed, realization came that because they couldn't do anything about the mechanical problem, they could deal with how they spent the time. And that's where attitude made the difference. Nobody was hurt. Nobody was in danger. And they all knew each other. So they spent their time talking about work, family, what they would do when they got out of the elevator. And they prayed. They didn't like being trapped, but they didn't let uncomfortable circumstances control them.

Once the appropriate service engineers arrived, a grateful group of somewhat frazzled and frustrated men and women emerged from their temporary imprisonment. And ironically, it turned out that they were at least in part responsible for their predicament. One of the women had inadvertently hit the emergency button with her purse and, as luck would have it, the alarm wasn't working, so they didn't discover the reason the doors were not operating until after they were freed. If they had known their problem, they could have avoided their ordeal.

Elevators in this and other buildings have not always been dependable and thus the stairs are getting a lot more use. Long before these malfunctions began, the company's chief executive officer climbed the stairs to get at least a bit of exercise in a busy day. Some accused him of some sort of sabotage to the elevators to get others to join him — where encouragement to do so may have proved insufficient. Whatever the reason, those who regularly or even occasionally use the stairs found they were better prepared to deal with adversity.

While it may be difficult to prepare for such an unexpected event as getting stuck in an elevator, we can prepare for elevators that don't operate. It isn't too difficult to walk down the stairs. Gravity and taking the first step usually provide the solution for descending. Going up is where preparation and work come into play. If we are not accustomed to exercise or have too often used the easy way up, then we may find the way to the top much more difficult, if not impossible.

In general conference in October 1974, President Ezra Taft Benson encouraged members to maintain their physical health. "Rest and physical exercise are essential, and a walk in the fresh air can refresh the spirit," he said. "Wholesome recreation is part of our religion and a change of pace is necessary, and even its anticipation can lift the spirit."

President Harold B. Lee, speaking in October 1973 general conference, encouraged members to make efforts to climb spiritually. "God grant that each of us here today . . . may receive strength and resolution to climb higher and higher and upward and onward to that great goal of eternal life."

Life, like elevators, has its ups and downs. As individuals and families, we get stuck in tough places or sometimes the road we're travelling seems very steep. A daily exercise of prayer and scripture study, along with a good dose of exercising charity, will help us be better prepared and to have a positive attitude and to gain spiritual strength.