Members and service volunteers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in India warmly welcomed Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as he toured parts of the country from February 6-17, 2023. It has been 25 years since his last visit to India as a pilot.
“We love India and the people,” Elder Uchtdorf exclaimed. “We were deeply touched and impressed. It was kind of a homecoming for us.”
He was accompanied by his wife, Harriet, and Elder Kelly R. Johnson of the Asia Area Presidency and his wife, Terri.
They visited New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. Everywhere Elder Uchtdorf went, he was enfolded in the warmth of India and its people. Likewise, he was genuinely interested in getting to know them, connecting with and ministering to them. …
They took the time to visit the Taj Mahal again, India’s iconic monument commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. On the train to Agra, he walked up the aisle and said hello to people.
At the Taj Mahal, the breathtaking beauty of the architecture and sensational meaning behind its creation left a lasting impression on them once more.
“If human beings can design, construct, and maintain something in such a beautiful way, there are no limits of beauty and dimension for our Heavenly Father in creating this world or the circumstances of our life in eternity,” Elder Uchtdorf said. “In some ways, it reflects the heart of India with its love, kindness, beauty, and enduring presence in complex, oftentimes challenging times. It shows there can be a place of beauty in every circumstance.”
Elder Uchtdorf added his hopes and his blessing by saying, “The future of the Church in India is great … You are a wonderful and marvelous country … you are an amazing people, marvelous things will happen and you are part of it … You are the pioneers here in India and you will see the fruits of your efforts.”
You can watch a short video summary of the Uchtdorfs’ visit in the player below and read more about their trip on Church Newsroom.
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