Dieter F. Uchtdorf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dieter F. Uchtdorf |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| 2 January 2018 – present | |
| Second Counselor in the First Presidency | |
| 3 February 2008 – 2 January 2018 | |
| Called by | Thomas S. Monson |
| Predecessor | Henry B. Eyring |
| Successor | Henry B. Eyring |
| End reason | Dissolution of First Presidency on death of Thomas S. Monson |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| 2 October 2004 – 3 February 2008 | |
| Called by | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| End reason | Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| 7 October 2004 | |
| Called by | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| Reason | Death of Neal A. Maxwell |
| Presidency of the Seventy | |
| 15 August 2002 – 2 October 2004 | |
| Called by | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| 7 April 1996 – 2 October 2004 | |
| Called by | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Second Quorum of the Seventy | |
| 2 April 1994 – 7 April 1996 | |
| Called by | Ezra Taft Benson |
| End reason | Transferred to the First Quorum of the Seventy |
| Military career | |
| 1959–1965 | |
| Allegiance |  Germany |
| Service/branch |  Air Force |
| Awards | Commander's Trophy (USAF) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf 6 November 1940 Mährisch-Ostrau, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (now Ostrava, Czech Republic) |
| Alma mater | International Institute for Management Development (MBA) |
| Spouse(s) | Harriet Reich Uchtdorf (1962–present) |
| Children | 2 |
Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf (born November 6, 1940) is a German pilot, airline executive, and religious leader. He is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became an apostle in 2004. From 2008 to 2018, he served as a counselor in the church's First Presidency. Currently, Uchtdorf is one of the most senior apostles in the church.
Contents
Growing Up and Learning New Things
Dieter Uchtdorf was born in Moravská Ostrava (then called Mährisch-Ostrau) in 1940. This area was part of a region controlled by Nazi Germany at the time. His family had to move often during and after World War II. He remembers playing in bombed-out buildings.
His family became refugees and faced an uncertain future. They joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was young. This happened after his grandmother met a church member in a soup line.
When he was about eleven, his family had to leave East Germany. Their lives were in danger because of his father's political views. They moved to West Germany. His sisters jumped from a moving train to escape. Dieter and his mother climbed a mountain to avoid checkpoints.
Uchtdorf started studying mechanical engineering at age 18. He later studied business administration in Cologne, Germany. He earned an MBA from a school in Switzerland. He also received an honorary degree from Brigham Young University in 2009.
Becoming a Pilot
When Dieter Uchtdorf was 19, he joined the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) in 1959. He chose to join the German Air Force to become a fighter pilot. He trained in Texas, USA, and was a top student. He earned the Commander's Trophy for being the best pilot in his class.
After his military service, he joined Lufthansa, a major airline, in 1965. By 1970, at age 29, he became a captain. He later became the head chief pilot and senior vice president of flight operations. He left Lufthansa in 1996.
Serving in the Church
Dieter Uchtdorf served as a stake president twice. A stake is like a group of local congregations in the church. He led stakes in Frankfurt and Mannheim, Germany.
In 1994, he became a general authority of the church. This means he took on a full-time leadership role. He was part of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and then the First Quorum of the Seventy. In 2002, he became a member of the Presidency of the Seventy.
Becoming an Apostle
On October 2, 2004, Dieter Uchtdorf was chosen to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was officially made an apostle on October 7, 2004. He and another leader, David A. Bednar, filled two open spots in the Quorum.
Uchtdorf was the first apostle to be chosen in the 21st century. As an apostle, church members believe he is a prophet, seer, and revelator. This means they believe he receives guidance from God.
He is also special because he is the first German apostle in the church's history. He is one of only a few apostles not born in the United States.
In 2006, he visited Slovakia and offered a special prayer. This prayer dedicated the land for sharing the church's message. This is a tradition when missionaries begin work in a new country.
Serving in the First Presidency
On February 3, 2008, Uchtdorf became the Second Counselor to Thomas S. Monson in the church's First Presidency. The First Presidency is the highest leadership body in the church. He was the second person not born in an English-speaking country to serve in this role.
While serving in the First Presidency, Uchtdorf helped dedicate many temples. Temples are special buildings where church members make sacred promises. He dedicated temples in places like Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil, and Argentina.
In May 2016, he traveled to the Czech Republic. There, he helped create the first stake in that country.
When President Monson passed away in 2018, the First Presidency was reorganized. Uchtdorf returned to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He shared his support for the new leaders and expressed his willingness to continue serving.
His Work in the Quorum of the Twelve
After returning to the Quorum of the Twelve, Uchtdorf received new assignments. He became the chairman of the church's Missionary Executive Council. This means he helps guide the church's missionary efforts around the world. He also became the main contact for the church's work in Europe.
Family Donations
In 2021, some public records showed donations made under Uchtdorf's name. These donations were to political campaigns and funds. Uchtdorf explained that these donations came from a shared family account. He said it was an oversight that they appeared only under his name. The church has a policy of being politically neutral.
Family Life
Dieter Uchtdorf married Harriet Reich Uchtdorf on December 14, 1962. They were married in the Swiss Temple. They have two children and six grandchildren.
Images for kids
-
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
-
German Air Force symbol
See also
In Spanish: Dieter F. Uchtdorf para niños
- Church Educational System
- Council on the Disposition of the Tithes
- Uchtdorf, a village in Germany
