Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf ( born November 6, 1940 in Ostrava ) is a German pilot and religious leaders. Since February 2008, he was the first German member of the three-member First Presidency, the highest governing body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( the so-called Mormons).

Career

Uchtdorf was born as the son of Charles Albert and Hildegard E. Uchtdorf, went to Zwickau and Frankfurt am Main to school. He studied mechanical engineering and business administration in Cologne. In Lausanne, he studied international business management. In 1959 he joined the German Air Force. He received in 1962 in the United States his badge as a fighter pilot.

From the year 1965 he was employed as a pilot for Lufthansa. He was from 1970 to 1996 captain for the types of aircraft B -727, B- 737, A-300, DC -10 and B -747 and as such also equipped with control and power training. From 1989 on, he was chief pilot of Lufthansa.

On 7 April 1996, the Church of Jesus Christ appointed him Latter-day Saints in the first Quorum of the Seventy. From August 2002 until he was apostle, he was in the Presidency of the Seventy. On 2 October 2004, he was at the General Conference to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the second highest governing body, proposed and ordained on October 7, 2004 by Gordon B. Hinckley to be an apostle.

Dieter Uchtdorf was called after the death of Church President Gordon B. Hinckley by the new President Thomas S. Monson on 4 February 2008 as the second counselor in the First Presidency. His seat on the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles suspended as long as he is in the First Presidency.

Uchtdorf was awarded on 30 October 2012 with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. During a brief ceremony at the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, he was honored for his outstanding services in the community as well as a pilot.

On December 14, 1962, he married Harriet Reich in Bern Temple. Together they are the parents of two children and have five grandchildren.

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