Beloved Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 On Friday April 15, 2022, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a beloved apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ, visited our mission!   We all traveled to Zurich Switzerland and we were blessed to enjoy a wonderful conference with him.  President and Sister Uchtdorf came to Europe because their son was  sustained as the new president of the Zurich Switzerland Stake. Before he spoke we got a group picture with the Uchtdorf family.  They wanted to shake each of our hands!  

This is the second time in six months that an apostle has visited our mission.  Elder David A. Bednar came and spoke to us in (The Alpine German Speaking Mission) in Stuttgart last September!  

Before Elder Uchtdorf spoke to us, his adorable granddaughter Jasmine Uchtdorf (who just returned from a mission in France) addressed us.  She spoke about revelation guiding us as we seek “the fourth floor last door!”  She testified that the Lord hears our prayers and we can trust Him.

Afterwards her father, Guido (the son of Elder and Sister Uchtdorf), who is the new Stake President in Zurich, spoke to us.  He taught us that we can grow into really powerful missionaries through the power in the priesthood we have been blessed with and our temple covenants. 

Sister Harriott Uchtdorf taught us that the Lord runs a 24/7 prayer service for us!  In every temple session, everyday around the world, missionaries are prayed for.  The brethren pray for us and millions of others around the world are praying for us everyday.  Feel the power of those prayers!  Sister Uchtdorf also reminded us that we should remember to practice charity, even in rejection!

Finally, Elder Uchtdorf addressed us in German and said he was thankful to be able to speak the celestial language once again!  He said that when we hear someone speak our language the hearers receive your efforts as a compliment to them.  The Holy Ghost is our most valuable companion, he translates our message so it can be understood by the heart.  Every baptism in this mission is your baptism so celebrate it!  Every baptism around the world is your baptism (There are 20,000 per month and that almost equals the capacity of the Conference Center!)  We’re all on the same team.  Your work is part of this great work!  Humbly accept the Lord’s will.

Having the Uchtdorf’s attend our conference was such a blessing.  They are so warm and welcoming and we will never forget it!

Afterwards we sang “Er Ruft” as we always do at the end of all of our conferences.  (This is a very beautiful song written especially for our mission and talks about how our Savior calls us to preach the truth in the Alps!)  As the Uchdorf Family was leaving they heard us singing and they returned and requested us to sing it again.  We gave them each a copy of the music and all sang it again together.  And did we ever sing!!!  What a moving and inspirational rendition!  

These gatherings of missionaries are so choice and we would truly travel any distance to take part in them!  There is nothing like being with other missionaries that are so dedicated and love each other and love our Father in Heaven and his children.

Afterwards we traveled with Elder Scott Barnes and Sister Meretta Barnes to Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhine.  The falls were magnificent and impossible to describe unless you experience them yourself.  Stein am Rhine is the most adorable town that dates back to the 1200’s.  I have never seen a town so quaint and ornate and amazing.  The photos can’t begin to do it justice.  We ate dinner in an open air cafe on the square.  So charming!  

On Thursday, the day before the conferences, we attended the Swiss Temple in Bern with Scott and Meretta Barnes. We hadn't been through that temple since 1977 when we went through with the saints from Berlin.  What memories!  We attended a session in the morning and also did initiatory work.  The Barnes asked us to do temple work for some of their  family members.

We traveled 11 hours each way (from Leoben to Bern and back)!  It was a lot of driving and it took us a few days to recuperate afterwards… but we were so blessed to attend the temple and the zone conference and Uchtdorf conference.  We will hold the memories ever sacred in our hearts. 

This coming Sunday in our sacrament meeting we are performing: Consider the lilies…  (a beautiful rendition for voice and piano).  It has been a while since Judd has sung a solo.  He hasn’t ever sung in Austria yet.  He practices everyday and thinks he is ready to sing in public again.  Judd’s voice sounds wonderful.  The lyrics are taken from Matthew 6:28.  The message of the song is moving and inspired.  Judd has been overcome with emotion a few times as we have rehearsed. We pray that as we perform the congregation will feel a rich outpouring of the spirit and will be uplifted and strengthened as we are when we rehearse it.

Springtime is so glorious in Austria!  We have never heard such a chorus of birds singing. Judd said:  “I love to hear the chirds burping!!!  The trees are blossoming and wild flowers abound.  Planters of lovely flowers line the roads. All of these beauties are indeed a pleasure!

Today after a delicious lunch Judd made for us, we decided to enjoy a P-day and do some sight seeing.  We drove 45 minutes to the north east to a beautiful lake called The Gruner See. When we arrived, the lake was a little walk from where we parked.  We were sleepy so we decided to take a nap!  I woke up and saw it was raining and laughed out loud and fell back to sleep!  We never saw the lake because it was so cold and rainy  BUT…the drive there was so gorgeous that it was well worth it!  Another day we’ll actually see the lake!!!  

Our responsibilities have increased recently and it has been more difficult to make weekly blog posts.  I plan to make monthly blog posts at least!  Thank you again to our dear family members and friends who follow us on our blog.  We love you all and want you to know how much we appreciate your prayers for us and all the missionaries serving throughout the world.