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Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Portrait of Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Portrait: U.S. Utah Air National Guard / Wikimedia Commons, public domain

AUTHOR PROFILE

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Dieter F. Uchtdorf has drawn on life as a refugee, pilot, father, and Church leader to teach about hope and faith in Jesus Christ. His talks often use familiar experiences to help readers think about grace, discipleship, and the way people treat one another. These quotes are a starting point for reading the full addresses in which he developed those themes.

FEATURED QUOTE
“We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain? Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges…This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude that heals the heart and expands the mind.”
— Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Biography at a glance

  • Born: November 6, 1940, in Mährisch-Ostrau, then Czechoslovakia
  • Family: Married Harriet Reich in 1962
  • Professional work: Pilot and aviation executive with Lufthansa
  • Church service: General Authority from 1994; apostle from 2004; counselor in the First Presidency from 2008 to 2018; Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from January 2026

Growing up amid war and displacement

Uchtdorf was born during the Second World War. His family moved to eastern Germany and later fled to the West as political pressure mounted. Their faith had become part of family life in the years between those moves. The Church’s profile of his early life describes both the upheaval and the experiences that helped shape his outlook.

From the cockpit to Church leadership

He trained as a pilot and held leadership roles with Lufthansa before devoting his work full time to Church service. Aviation became a source of examples in his teaching, but his message usually returned to what enables a person to keep moving toward Christ: humility, steady effort, and trust in divine help. He was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 2004 and served as a counselor to President Thomas S. Monson in the First Presidency from 2008 to 2018.

Continuing service

After returning to the Twelve in 2018, Uchtdorf continued speaking to the worldwide Church. In January 2026 he was appointed Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Church’s announcement of that assignment records its date and role.

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Quotes by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

86 quotes

“We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain? Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges…This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude that heals the heart and expands the mind.”

"Grateful in Any Circumstances"

— Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Christmas is a time for remembering the Son of God and renewing our determination to take upon us his name. It is a time to reassess our lives and examine our thoughts, feelings and actions. Let this be a time of remembrance, of gratitude and a time of forgiveness. Let it be a time to ponder the Atonement of Jesus Christ and its meaning for each of us personally. Let it especially be a time of renewal and recommitment to live by the word of God and to obey his commandments. By doing this, we honor him far more than we ever could with lights, gifts or parties.”

"Seeing Christmas Through New Eyes"

— Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“What is the remedy? The first thing we must understand is that addictions are so much easier to prevent than to cure. In the Savior’s words, “Suffer none of these things to enter into your heart.” . . . The best defense against addiction is never to start. “But what of those who find themselves in the grip of addiction? Please know, first of all, that there is hope. Seek help from loved ones, Church leaders, and trained counselors. The Church provides addiction recovery help through local Church leaders, the Internet, and in some areas, LDS Family Services. “Always remember, with the Savior’s help, you can break free from addiction. It may be a long, difficult path, but the Lord will not give up on you. He loves you. Jesus Christ suffered the Atonement to help you change, to free you from the captivity of sin. The most important thing is to keep trying—sometimes it takes several attempts before people find success. So don’t give up. Don’t lose faith. Keep your heart close to the Lord, and He will give you the power of deliverance. He will make you free.”

“Are You Sleeping through the Restoration?” LDS General Conference

— Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“On Easter Sunday we celebrate the most long-awaited and glorious event in the history of the world. It is the day that changed everything. On that day, my life changed. Your life changed. The destiny of all God’s children changed. When I think of what the Savior did for us leading up to that first Easter Sunday, I want to lift up my voice and shout praises to the Most High God and His Son, Jesus Christ! The gates of heaven are unlocked! The windows of heaven are opened! Today and forevermore, God’s grace is available to all.”

The Gift of Grace (April 2015

— Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Perhaps you don’t consider yourself all that useful; perhaps you don’t consider yourself a blessing in somebody’s life. Often, when we look at ourselves, we see only our limitations and deficiencies. We might think we have to be “more” of something for God to use us–more intelligent, more wealthy, more charismatic, more talented, more spiritual. Blessings will come not so much because of your abilities but because of your choices. And the God of the universe will work within and through you, magnifying your humble efforts for His purposes.

A Yearning for Home

— Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Brethren, when we stand before the Lord to be judged, will He look upon the positions we have held in the world or even in the Church? Do you suppose that titles we have had other than “husband,” “father,” or “priesthood holder” will mean much to Him? Do you think He will care how packed our schedule was or how many important meetings we attended? Do you suppose that our success in filling our days with appointments will serve as an excuse for failure to spend time with our wife and family? The Lord judges so very differently from the way we do. He is pleased with the noble servant, not with the self-serving noble.

Lift Where You Stand

— Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Setting goals is a worthy endeavor. We know that our Heavenly Father has goals because He has told us that His work and glory is ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’ (Moses 1:39). “Our personal goals can bring out the best in us. However, one of the things that derail our efforts in making and keeping resolutions is procrastination. We sometimes delay starting, waiting for the right moment to begin—the first day of a new year, the beginning of summer, when we’re called as bishop or Relief Society president, after the kids get into school, after we retire.”

The Best Time to Plant a Tree

— Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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