Every year, once a year, for many years, I did something to my lower back which would cripple me for a week.  I would feel a “ping,” and know that I was in trouble.  In a short time I couldn't stand straight, and became an old man as I tried to move about.

Fortuitously, on a plane between New Zealand and Vanuatu, as we began our mission, I found a French magazine featuring exercises for the back.  I adopted those exercises, did them faithfully, and had not a twinge of back trouble for over two years.

But after returning home, I became lazy.  The exercises became sporadic and soon stopped.  It wasn't long before I felt the old, familiar “ping” in my lower back.  I became disabled.  This time, however, a week didn't cure the malady.  The pain went down my leg and affected the sciatic nerve.  I was really an old man then.  I was using a cane, and eventually had to go to the trouble and expense of getting x-rays to diagnose the problem.

Nothing was found to be wrong.  The problem was that I had neglected my stretching exercises, and time was necessary for my body to heal.

It occurs to me that this same thing happens spiritually to some returning missionaries.  This realization clears up a long-standing mystery that has puzzled me:  Why do some missionaries come home from their missions and go inactive?  How can this be?

It's because they come home and quit doing their exercises!  Scripture study is no longer deemed necessary.  It is no longer required by their mission president.  Study of the scriptures becomes sporadic and soon stops.  The same happens with prayer.  The elders' guard is let down, and he soon commits a sin.  The guilt he feels effectively shuts off all prayer and all semblance of church activity.  The adversary disables him.  Blessings disappear, lights go out, and life becomes hard.

It's all a matter of regular exercise.  This suddenly became plain to me.  I'm proud of myself.  I began doing my exercises again, and I didn't even have to wait for the old, familiar “ping” to happen in my back as a reminder.