Leaders & Ministry

Elder Uchtdorf meets with ambassadors, diplomats and senators in Washington, D.C.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks about building friendships with world leaders through transparency and respect

By Joel Randall Nov 4, 2023 12:30 p.m. EDT

Elder and Sister Uchtdorf speaking with His Excellency Nguyen Quoc Dzung and Madame Tran Thi Bich Van.

Leaders & Ministry

Elder Uchtdorf meets with ambassadors, diplomats and senators in Washington, D.C.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks about building friendships with world leaders through transparency and respect

By Joel Randall Nov 4, 2023 12:30 p.m. EDT

To the casual viewer, meetings of Church leaders with international and national government leaders may seem mostly ceremonial. But as Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained following four days of recent visits with ambassadors, diplomats and senators in the nation’s capital, the meetings are more than just pomp and circumstance. Rather, they allow for communication, coordination and collaboration.

From Oct. 24 to Oct. 27, the Apostle visited nine ambassadors and diplomats and three United States senators in Washington, D.C. The purpose of these meetings were to show The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in openness and transparency, as well as to build friendships and create contacts in countries around the world.

“These ambassadorial visits are a treasure,” Elder Ucthdorf said, “because there we can create connections, talk about concerns and ask for whom to contact where we want to move forward.”

Accompanying Elder Uchtdorf in Washington, D.C., were his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, as well as Elder José A. Teixeira of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Sister Filomena Teixeira. In addition to the United States senators, Elder Uchtdorf met with ambassadors representing Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Brunei, Pakistan, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia and the deputy chief of mission at the German embassy.

“We want to build very good relationships with the representatives of the countries there,” said Elder Uchtdorf, adding, “In all these countries, you can see the Lord’s hand. He is there. He moves through us in ways we might never have estimated.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf standing with Elder José A. Teixeira and Indonesia Minister I.B.M. “Sade” Bimantara in front of country flags and a crest with a bird with outstretched wings.

The ambassadors and senators

Elder Uchtdorf met with the following ambassadors:

His Excellency Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, the ambassador of Malaysia.
His Excellency Nguyen Quoc Dzung, the ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
His Excellency Taranjit Singh Sandhu, the ambassador of the Republic of India.
His Excellency Serbini Ali, the ambassador of Brunei Darussalam.
His Excellency Masood Khan, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
His Excellency Keo Chhea, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
His Excellency Tanee Sangrat, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand.
His Excellency Axel Dittmann, the deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Minister I.B.M. “Sade” Bimantara, the chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.

The Apostle also met with three U.S. senators, in the following order of his visits:

Sen. Mitt Romney, from Utah.
Sen. James Risch, from Idaho.
Sen. Mike Lee, from Utah.

On Monday, Oct. 23, Elder Uchtdorf also participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery. Joined by Sister Uchtdorf and the Teixeiras, Elder Uchtdorf placed the wreath on behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ.

“We honor those who give their lives to make the world a better place,” said Elder Uchtdorf. “Through our own history, the Church of Jesus Christ can relate with deep emotion to those who stand up for their beliefs in the process of protecting the freedoms of all people worldwide.”

Elder and Sister Uchtdorf holding a wreath of flowers next to a man dressed in military uniform.

Provided by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Elder and Sister Uchtdorf, Elder and Sister Teixeira, and a man in military uniform holding their hand over their hearts.

Provided by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

A flower wreath with the name of the Church of Jesus Christ, standing next to a stone monument with the words “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”

Provided by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Respecting customs and faiths

When Church leaders visit countries around the world, said Elder Uchtdorf, “we always go through the front door. We are totally transparent. We’re going in there because we believe in our cause, and anyone who wants to join of their own free choice, they are welcome.”

Establishing the Church in other countries is not to force beliefs, especially with those of other faiths. Elder Uchtdorf said, “We share our story, then if someone wants to go further, we respect the laws of the land. [In some countries], they have to get approval from local authorities that they are joining of their own free will.”

Through its international efforts, the Church creates “places of worship for their people of our faith,” he said, with his emphasis on “their people” and “our faith” meaning that national citizenship and religious faith are not mutually exclusive or conflicting.

Showing the Church respects the customs of other countries and faiths was a key objective of meeting with ambassadors.

“This visit in D.C.,” said Elder Uchtdorf, “was to see where we need to do more and focus on things which will be in agreement with their desires and ours. We must respect them.”

The Apostle wanted to show the ambassadors “that we respect their sensitivities, but that we also want to move the work forward. They respect that.”

Elder and Sister Uchtdorf stand with a man and a woman in front of a gate outside a German embassy building.

Connection from a background of faith

Having previously traveled to most of the countries whose ambassadors he met with last week, Elder Uchtdorf was able to better connect with them through personal experiences and understandings of their backgrounds and cultures.

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“It is by association, the kind of friends you have, that sometimes ensures certain obstacles are more easily navigated,” he said. The same is true with mending relationships.

Elder Uchtdorf met and had lunch with His Excellency Nguyen Quoc Dzung, the ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The country’s association with the United States exemplifies reconciliation, said Elder Uchtdorf, who is mindful of ongoing healing from the Vietnam War a half-century ago. The Apostle then offered an everyday analogy. “That is really what our daily life is — repentance is reconciliation.”

Connecting with other countries often includes a focus on youth, their potential and their well-being. When meeting with His Excellency Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, the ambassador of Malaysia, Elder Uchtdorf showed a pocket-sized version of the “For the Strength of Youth” manual and gave the ambassador a full-sized copy.

“They all are interested in their youth,” he recounted. “Leaders are always interested in raising their youth in a proper and good way, with integrity and honesty.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf holding a card-sized manual next to Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, who is holding the “For the Strength of Youth” manual, on a couch.

Tithing is ‘about our commitment to our God’

Several ambassadors asked how the Church of Jesus Christ is financed, which provided Elder Uchtdorf an opportunity to explain the principle and blessings of tithing.

“I explained to them that tithing is not about money,” he said. “It is about our commitment to our God. It is about our faith. And this commitment is very personal.”

Tithing is Latter-day Saints contributing 10% of their income, meaning that both rich and poor members of the Church can equally fulfill the commandment. With the ambassadors mindful of the poor in their countries, the Apostle explained how one can keep the commandment of tithing and then be assisted in meeting daily needs.

For Saints who make less income, Elder Uchtdorf said, “the bishop will help to provide for food, when one is faithful to the commandments of God. You keep the covenant you make with God, and then God will help you to have life’s necessities.”

He said the ambassadors “understand that, and they respect that.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf speaking with His Excellency Masood Khan, a man with glasses, both wearing suits.

Building houses of the Lord in Asia

His Excellency Masood Khan, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, asked Elder Uchtdorf many questions about the Church, including Church structure, religious codes of health and prosperity of Church members.

“One of the questions was, ‘What is your Mecca [holy place]?’ I said, ‘Well, we have many Meccas. Our temples are our Meccas. That is where we go as the highest worship of our faith. That is where we serve, and we have temples around the globe.”

Since the dedication of the first Latter-day Saint temple in Asia in 1980 in Tokyo, Japan, the Church has added another 10 houses of the Lord on the continent. The Bangkok Thailand Temple was dedicated just last month, and the Okinawa Japan Temple will be dedicated later this month. More temples are under construction or in planning throughout Asia — in Cambodia, India, Singapore and Indonesia.

Efforts perfected in Christ

Elder Uchtdorf said that while some challenges still exist when connecting with leaders around the world, Church leaders will continue striving to overcome obstacles with openness, with honest communication and by helping those around the world as they can.

“The Lord expects us to do our part, which is not perfect, ... and then He perfects it. That is perfecting in Christ. That is also in our personal lives, that is in our callings, in our responsibilities, in the work of the gospel. This work will be perfected in Christ. That is why He is at the center.”