Apostle Paper- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
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Apr 3, 2024
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Apostle Paper: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf is a prominent figure within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Having garnished significant admiration from people both within and outside the faith community, his leadership, teachings, and life journey continue to stand as examples of discipleship in the modern world. This research paper aims to explore the unique style, themes, and personal connections found within President Uchtdorf’s most recent General Conference messages and to offer insight on his unique perspective as an apostle with a diverse background and experience.
Style and Structure President Uchtdorf often begins his talks with a captivating story or parable that serves a metaphor for the spiritual message he wishes to convey to us. With this style, he allows us to relate closely with his message while also providing context. In his most recent talk titled, “The Prodigal and the Road that Leads Home” in October 2023 General Conference, President Uchtdorf employs the teaching method of parables when describing the famous story of the Prodigal Son found in the book of Luke of the four gospels. The utilization of this parable served
perfectly for President Uchtdorf to deliver his message of repentance, forgiveness, and the unconditional love of God. Along with the use of stories and parables, President Uchtdorf utilizes
personal anecdotes from his own experiences or the experiences of others’ lives. In his talk titled,
“Jesus Christ is the Strength of Parents” in April 2023, President Uchtdorf utilizes this anecdotal style to teach about the role of Jesus Christ in strengthening parents. He shares a personal experience about his own struggles as a parent, recounting a moment where he felt the overwhelming feelings of uncertainty about guiding his children through difficult situations. He then describes the weight felt of having the responsibility of a faither (Uchtdorf, 2023). Barroca 1
President’s usage of this anecdote allows the audience to relate closely to the struggles of being a
parent, which allows him to capture their attention for his ultimate message of turning to prayer and seeking guidance from our Savior Jesus Christ. Recurring Themes President Uchtdorf’s messages in General Conference often encompass recurring themes and repeated principles that reflect his understanding of the gospel and his desire to uplift others. Some recurring themes present within his most recent General Conference talks include the importance of striving to do our best amidst our imperfections and the importance of seeking daily spiritual renewal as we strive to do our best. These themes are interrelated as commonly seen by connecting many of President Uchtdorf’s General Conference messages. In his April 2022 General Conference talk titled, “Our Heartfelt All”, President Uchtdorf states, “The Savior doesn’t ask for perfection, but He invites us to give our heartfelt all” (Uchtdorf, 2022). Not only does President Uchtdorf share that it is okay to be human and to be imperfect, but he also shares how striving to do our best is valued in God’s eyes. The themes from this talk tie well in another one of President Uchtdorf’s talks titled, “Daily Restoration”, from the October 2021 General Conference. President Uchtdorf states, “As we daily seek the Lord’s help through prayer, scripture study, and service, we can experience His restoring power in our lives” (Uchtdorf, 2021). In essence, seeking spiritual renewal daily through small acts of prayer, scripture study, and service tailor towards our goals to strive our best amidst our imperfections. These two interrelated themes are just one of many examples of how these themes occur over multiple General Conference talks given by President Uchtdorf. Barroca 2
Biographical Connections As previously mentioned, President Uchtdorf often structures his general conference talks
with a story, parable, or a personal anecdote. In his talk titled, “Jesus Christ is the Strength of Parents” in April 2023, he shares his experiences and struggles as a parent in guiding his children
in the right path. However, President Uchtdorf also addresses the youth of the equation in his talk
titled, “Jesus Christ is the Strength of Youth” in the October 2022 General Conference. His experiences as a father are reflected in both talks and his desire to share inspired messages about parenthood and the struggles of youth in the modern day. In his biography and description of his personal life, President Uchtdorf’s happiest moments are when he spends time with his family. In
another talk given in the April 2021 General Conference by President Uchtdorf titled, “God Among Us”, begins his message by sharing a story from his early childhood where he and his family were forced to flee their home amidst the devastating events surrounding World War II. He connects this experience to how the missionaries in today’s era “leave the safety of their homes half a world away…” (Uchtdorf, 2021) to share the message of God during World War II. Throughout this talk, President Uchtdorf shares the message of eternal sacrifice and the reality of
divine guidance and intervention in everyday circumstances. Conclusion
Through extensive research of President Uchtdorf’s most recent General Conference talks
and through the study of his biography, I have felt a closer connection to President Uchtdorf and fell a more personal connection towards his life experiences and messages. I have always enjoyed hearing his great story telling yet it is just now that I have discovered its profound influence on me and the call to action found within his messages. I see that President Uchtdorf loves us and hopes that we gain a better understanding of the gospel through his messages. I see Barroca 3
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that President Uchtdorf has a love and genuine care for the parents, children, and families of today’s world who continue to experience evolving adversaries. Ultimately, I have gained a greater love for President Uchtdorf and the apostleship of the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of the experiences they have gone through and their pure intentions to lead the Church in the right direction. Word Count: 971
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Bibliography
Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “The Prodigal and the Road that Leads Home.” General Conference October 2023
Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “Jesus Christ is the Strength of Parents.” General Conference April 2023
Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “Jesus Christ is the Strength of Youth.” General Conference October 2022 Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “Our Heartfelt All.” General Conference April 2022
Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “Daily Restoration.” General Conference October 2021 Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “God among Us.” General Conference April 2021
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