The fall of the Berlin Wall is one of those historical moments that became solidified in collective memory. That one moment transformed the lives of millions—but for Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, that moment has a deeper significance.
One Facebook, Elder Uchtdorf wrote:
"I had the opportunity one evening while in Berlin, Germany, last week to take a walk in the city by myself. I was grateful for the moments of reflection that arose during this personal time. As I walked, I came upon the Berlin Wall Memorial, where a portion of the wall still stands today.
"I never thought the unification of Germany would come during my lifetime, though I did have hope that perhaps my grandchildren or great-grandchildren would live to see it happen. I was nearly 50 years old when it finally fell.
"At the time, it felt like everything happened quickly—all of a sudden, the wall came down and Germany was unified. The event that I had long hoped for was now playing out in front of my eyes.
"This experience taught me a valuable lesson about how the Lord can accomplish His works in His time and in His ways that go well beyond our mortal understanding.
"We cannot see the future or know how things will happen in our lives. Sometimes changes come due to grand events, but more often, a pattern of consistently following the Savior leads us to destinations at which we never knew we could arrive.
"There is great power in taking small steps every day. Sometimes we just have to have faith and take one step a time, day after day, trusting the Lord that all will be well.
"Be lovingly persistent and stand up with humble courage for the Lord’s cause. In His time, great things will come to pass.
"I keep this small piece of the Berlin Wall in my office to remind me of that important lesson in my life."