Saturday night, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf addressed the men in Priesthood session about building stronger marriages and families. Shortly after giving this talk, his mind turned to his sweet wife, Harriet, prompting him to share their incredible love story on Facebook. From love at first sight to unrequited love, the Uchtdorf's have a story to match that of any romance.
"Tonight I spoke about saving and enriching our marriages and families. As I spoke, I thought of my beloved wife Harriet.
"I think I fell in love with her from the first moment I saw her. Unfortunately, this beautiful young woman didn’t seem to feel the same about me. But time passed, and eventually I was married to the woman I had loved ever since I first saw her. The process hadn’t been easy—there were moments of suffering and despair—but finally my happiness was full, and it still is, even more so.
"I have learned that in God’s plan of happiness, we are not so much looking for someone perfect but for a person with whom, throughout a lifetime, we can join efforts to create a loving, lasting and more perfect relationship.
"To all, married or single, I say: let the pure love of Christ fill your heart. Whatever problems your family, marriage, or relationships face—and whatever you must do to solve them—the beginning and the end of the solution is charity, the pure love of Christ. “Charity never faileth.” It is true for saving marriages! It is true for saving families!"
Tonight I spoke about saving and enriching our marriages and families. As I spoke, I thought of my beloved wife Harriet.... Posted by Dieter F Uchtdorf on Saturday, April 2, 2016
https://www.facebook.com/lds.dieter.f.uchtdorf/posts/368441186659898:0
This reminds me of the talk President Uchtdorf shared in women's conference in 2010, "Your Happily Ever After," when he gave a little more background about how he won over Harriet--and her mother.
"When we had special activities at church, I rode my bike to Harriet’s house and rang the doorbell. Harriet’s mother usually answered. In fact, she opened the kitchen window of their apartment on the fourth floor and asked what I wanted. I would ask if Harriet would like a ride to church on my bicycle. Harriet’s mother would say, 'No, she will be coming later, but I will be happy to ride with you to church.' This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but how could I decline?
"And so we rode to church. I must admit I had a very impressive road bike. Harriet’s mother sat on the top tube bar just in front of me, and I tried to be the most elegant bicycle driver over roads of rough cobblestone.
"Time passed. While beautiful Harriet was seeing many other young men, it seemed that I could not make any headway with her.
"Was I disappointed? Yes.
"Was I defeated? Absolutely not!
"Actually, looking back I recognize that it doesn’t hurt at all to be on good terms with the mother of the girl of your dreams.
"Years later, after I had finished my training as a fighter pilot in the air force, I experienced a modern miracle in Harriet’s response to my continued courting. One day she said, 'Dieter, you have matured much over these past years.'
"I moved quickly after that, and within a few months I was married to the woman I had loved ever since I first saw her. The process hadn’t been easy—there were moments of suffering and despair—but finally my happiness was full, and it still is, even more so."
Learn more from President Uchtdorf about how you can find Your Happily Ever After in this beautifully illustrated book.
