Madeleine Hull
Dieter F. Uchtdorf is an apostle and high-level leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is known for his powerful and charitable teachings, which he delivers in a tone that resonates with the Latter-day Saint faithful. Uchtdorf's family joined the LDS Church when he was young, and he has since risen to become a prominent figure in the community. In 2018, Uchtdorf returned to his place in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles after serving as a counselor to Thomas S. Monson in the First Presidency. He has also made diplomatic trips, meeting with dignitaries from nine nations and placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Dieter F. Uchtdorf |
| Religion | Latter-day Saint |
| Title | Apostle |
| Profession | Former airline pilot and executive |
| Political Affiliation | Unaffiliated |
| Donation Recipient | Democrats |
| Family | Wife Harriet Uchtdorf |
| Notable Actions | Addressed the need to remember the lessons from past wars; met with ambassadors in Washington, D.C. |
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What You'll Learn
Dieter Uchtdorf's family history
Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf was born on November 6, 1940, in Mährisch-Ostrau, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). His parents, Karl Albert and Hildegard Else Opelt Uchtdorf, had four children in total, making Dieter the youngest. In 1944, when Dieter was four years old, his father was drafted into the German Army, leaving his mother to raise her children alone during World War II. The family lived in poverty, hunger, and fear, and in 1952, they fled East Germany due to political persecution, resettling in West Germany.
Uchtdorf's family joined the LDS Church when he was young, after his grandmother met a member of the church in a soup line. In 1952, when Uchtdorf was eleven, his family fled East Germany for the second time in seven years, this time to escape political persecution and danger due to his father's dissenting political beliefs under Soviet rule. The family's escape involved climbing mountains, jumping from moving trains, and abandoning all their possessions, making them very poor.
After settling in West Germany, Uchtdorf's family continued to face challenges. They could not afford for everyone to travel to church each week, so they took turns. Despite these difficulties, Uchtdorf's faith was nurtured within his family, and he went on to become a prominent leader in the LDS Church. He was called as a second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church in 2008 and served in that position until 2018. He is also a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, having been called to this position in 2004.
Uchtdorf has continued his family legacy by starting his own family with his wife, Harriet Reich Uchtdorf, whom he married in 1962. They have two children and six grandchildren and enjoy spending time together, especially outdoors. Uchtdorf's family history, marked by courage, faith, and perseverance, has undoubtedly shaped him into the religious leader he is today.
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Uchtdorf's career
Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf is a German aviator, airline executive, and religious leader. Uchtdorf was born on November 6, 1940, in Moravská Ostrava, which at the time was in the Nazi-occupied Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (now Ostrava, Czech Republic). His father, Karl Albert Uchtdorf, was a customs officer who was conscripted into the German Army towards the end of World War II. As a young child, Uchtdorf traveled with his mother and three siblings through areas being bombed during their move to Zwickau in eastern Germany. At the age of eleven, his father's anti-Soviet political beliefs put their lives in danger, so they fled to West Germany.
Uchtdorf began his career in aviation at the age of 18 when he joined the German Air Force in 1959. He trained as a fighter pilot in Big Spring, Texas, where he excelled and earned the Commander's Trophy (USAF) for being the best student pilot in his class. After earning his wings from both the German and US air forces, he served for six years as a fighter pilot in West Germany before leaving the military in 1965 to join Lufthansa. By 1970, Uchtdorf had become a captain with Lufthansa at the young age of 29. In 1975, he was appointed head of Lufthansa's new Arizona Training School in the US. In 1980, he became the head chief pilot of cockpit crews, and in 1982, he was appointed senior vice president of flight operations. Uchtdorf left Lufthansa in 1996, two years after being called as an LDS Church general authority.
In addition to his career in aviation, Uchtdorf also served in several leadership roles within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served twice as a stake president in the LDS Church, presiding over the Frankfurt and Mannheim stakes. In 1994, he was called as a General Authority in the Second Quorum of the Seventy, and in 1996, he was transferred to the First Quorum of Seventy. In 2002, he became a member of the church's Presidency of the Seventy, and in 2004, he was sustained and ordained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, becoming the first German apostle in church history. Uchtdorf served as Second Counselor to Thomas S. Monson in the church's First Presidency from 2008 until Monson's death in 2018. Currently, Uchtdorf is the fifth most senior apostle in the LDS Church.
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Uchtdorf's political donations
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a senior leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, clarified that the donations made in his name to Joe Biden and other Democrats were from his family. Uchtdorf explained that the contributions were made through a shared online family account associated with his name. He expressed regret for the oversight and affirmed his support for the church's policy regarding political donations from church leaders.
Uchtdorf's family donated a total of nearly $2,300 to Democratic Party funds and candidates, including Joe Biden's presidential campaign and two Georgia Senate candidates, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. The donations were made in late 2020 and early 2021, with 11 to 13 contributions recorded during this period.
The donations by Uchtdorf's family highlight the delicate political tightrope that LDS leaders must walk. While the church officially maintains political neutrality and does not endorse or promote candidates, the majority of its members lean Republican. The donations to Democratic candidates were therefore surprising to some, especially given that Utah, where the church is headquartered, voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.
The church has taken steps to address extremism within its membership and promote political neutrality. However, the donations by Uchtdorf's family demonstrate the complex interplay between religious and political identities, with some members welcoming the contributions as a sign of diversity within the church.
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His work as an apostle
Dieter F. Uchtdorf is a high-level leader and Latter-day Saint apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is known for his powerful and charitable teachings, which he delivers in a tone that resonates with his audience. Uchtdorf's work as an apostle involves a variety of duties and responsibilities.
Firstly, Uchtdorf has played a significant role in diplomatic endeavours. In 2023, he travelled to Washington, D.C., where he met with dignitaries from nine nations: Brunei, Cambodia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. During this trip, he and his wife, Harriet, also placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. This act symbolised reconciliation and the importance of forging strong relationships with other nations.
Secondly, Uchtdorf has been actively involved in honouring and remembering those affected by war. Under the shadow of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, he addressed the need to remember the lessons from past wars. He paid tribute to the war dead and warned against labelling others. Uchtdorf emphasised the importance of forgiveness, drawing on Jesus' teachings. He also acknowledged the bravery of German Latter-day Saint teen, Helmuth Hübener, who resisted Nazism during World War II.
Thirdly, Uchtdorf has dedicated new Latter-day Saint temples. In 2018, he formally dedicated the second Latter-day Saint temple in Pennsylvania, serving as an elder and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Uchtdorf also responded to his departure from the First Presidency, assuring his followers of his well-being.
Furthermore, Uchtdorf has engaged in interfaith dialogue and outreach. He and his wife have travelled extensively, meeting with people from various faiths, including Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus. Uchtdorf emphasised the importance of reaching out to help others and improve their lives, demonstrating his commitment to interfaith harmony and service.
Lastly, Uchtdorf has been known for his political donations, which have stood in contrast to some other Latter-day Saint apostles. While most Latter-day Saint apostles had previously aligned with the Republican Party, Uchtdorf's donations to the Democrats were notable. This reflected a different political perspective within the community.
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His relationship with his wife, Harriet
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a German aviator, airline executive, and religious leader, met his wife Harriet Reich when they were young. They attended meetings of the Church's Mutual Improvement Association, where Uchtdorf first saw Harriet and fell in love with her. Harriet, however, did not initially reciprocate his feelings, and there were many other young men interested in her. Uchtdorf persisted in his pursuit, often biking to Harriet's house to offer her a ride to church activities. Eventually, Harriet's mother would accompany him on these rides while Uchtdorf continued to court her daughter.
Uchtdorf left Germany to attend a fighter pilot training school in the United States, and during this time, Harriet noticed changes in her friends who had joined the U.S. military, fearing that they had lost their ability to speak German. When Uchtdorf returned to Germany after completing his training, Harriet noticed that he still spoke perfect German without an American accent, and they began dating.
The couple was married on December 14, 1962, in the Bern Switzerland Temple, where their parents, they, and their children were all sealed. They have two children, Guido and Antje, and Uchtdorf has described his wife as the "sunshine in his life" and the "love of his life." Harriet has expressed her gratitude for her husband, describing him as kind, compassionate, and a wonderful husband. Their relationship has been characterised by their shared faith and dedication to the Church, with Uchtdorf serving as an apostle and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Frequently asked questions
Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf is a German aviator, 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 (LDS Church).
Dieter Uchtdorf returned to his place in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles after serving as a counselor to Thomas S. Monson in the First Presidency.
Dieter Uchtdorf returned to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 2018 after the death of Thomas S. Monson.
Dieter Uchtdorf responded on social media to comments and concerns about the change, saying, "I appreciate your concern for my welfare, but I assure you, I’m just fine. I love and support the First Presidency, and I am thrilled to again more closely associate with the other members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles."
