During his ministry in India, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared how he and Sister Harriet Uchtdorf “were deeply impressed” as they met with members, service volunteers and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“It is obvious to us that the gospel of Jesus Christ has had a significant impact on many in this wonderful region of the world. The young people who we have spent time with are especially full of hope, optimism and faith. It is a blessing and joy to be with them,” Elder Uchtdorf shared on social media of the Feb. 9-17 ministry in India.
The last time Elder Uchtdorf visited India 25 years ago was when he was a pilot and flew a Boeing 747 to Mumbai. This is his first ministry in India. He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, and Elder Kelly R. Johnson, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the Asia Area presidency, and his wife, Sister Terri Johnson.
“We love India and the people,” Elder Uchtdorf said in a report on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. “We were deeply touched and impressed. It was kind of a homecoming for us.”
Elder Uchtdorf’s ministry included meeting members of the New Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru stakes, a nationwide young adult devotional, meeting service volunteers in the New Delhi and Bengaluru missions, and a training meeting for leaders in India that was also broadcast to Sri Lanka. He spent extra time with the congregation after each meeting to get to know individual members, shaking their hands and giving high-fives to little children.
At each of the meetings in the three cities, Elder Uchtdorf taught the principle of love.
“The two great commandments are love our Heavenly Father and love our neighbors,” he said. Elder Uchtdorf taught that the love of the gospel causes people of different backgrounds to live in harmony and bear one another’s burden.
“Try to forgive and forget,” he said. “Reach out to the individuals by showing your love. … Be a brother, be a sister, be a friend.”
He encouraged all to use the new “For the Strength of Youth” guide in making choices.
“Life is full of choices. Please make sure that we orient ourselves in the Lord’s way,” he said during the New Delhi India Stake member meeting.
Elder Uchtdorf also recalled flying back to Germany from India in the monsoon season during his career. The runway was very wet and the Boeing 747 he was piloting was a full flight.
He said the flight crew needed to prepare well for the plan to lift off with its weight for the length of the runway.
“I was well prepared, we lifted off, and it seemed we barely climbed. But we made it … even in these difficult circumstances. This is in life the same thing,” he said. “We need to prepare well. We need to be ready. We need to have everything that we need to overcome resistance and drag, and then we will see. The Lord will help us to lift off and climb, even if it is very slow and very little.”
Sister Uchtdorf shared her experiences growing up in Germany as a convert to the Church with a small group of members. She shared how she introduced and defended her faith amongst her peers. Over time, she was able to build friendships and mutual respect with them.
“Be yourself,” she said in different meetings throughout the ministry. “Don’t give in to peer pressure. Stand up for what you believe. Try hard to develop your own testimony so you can say: ‘I believe this. It is not just because of my parents or teachers or somebody else, but I want to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.’”
Church members in India
Dorothy Elisabeth Mehra offered the opening prayer at the New Delhi India Stake devotional on Feb. 9. She began her prayer by asking Heavenly Father for strength as she was praying for the first time in this type of setting.
“Please help me so I don’t have any kind of problem in saying a small prayer to you,” said Mehra, who was raised Catholic and was baptized in 2012 with her two daughters and disabled son.
She said later that she just wanted to “talk to Jesus” because she was “shivering with fear.”
Elder Uchdorf shared in a social post: “She felt the Spirit as divine help heralded an answer to her prayer. As she calmed down, her prayer brought forth the Spirit strongly and filled the meeting hall.”
Mehra’s experience was one of several compiled by service volunteers in India and shared with the Uchtdorfs.
Singing in the young single adult choir at the New Delhi India Stake member devotional was Maureen Osaghae, who joined the Church in Nigeria before moving to India. She faced challenges in India, she kept her faith and she has since opened a beauty salon.
When she heard Elder Uchtdorf would be coming to India, she wanted to go and also shake his hand.
“Yes, I did shake his hand,” Osaghae said. “He taught us to love your neighbor. No matter what their conditions or skin color, … we are all the same in the sight of Heavenly Father.”
At a nationwide devotional for young adults on Feb. 11, Sowdhamani Meruga spoke about the covenant path and how it always looks like a hill.
“When the slope is there, there are many chances to skate down easily; but if we keep holding on to the iron rod, which are scriptures and the words of prophets, we will develop strong faith in the Savior Jesus Christ and our dear loving Heavenly Father,” said Meruga, who was baptized when she was 9 years old. She invited those listening to stay on the covenant path.
After the meeting, she felt inspired to get a temple recommend.
“Her two brothers are currently serving missions, and she too will submit her mission papers soon, where she hopes to continue to ‘love, share and invite,’” Elder Uchtdorf shared.
Dheerah Nakka, whose first name means patience, also spoke at the young adult devotional. He is 22 years old and, due to a physical condition, is 3 feet tall.
“I want to bear my testimony that faith is a principle of action and power,” he said on faith-promoting choices in his life. From attending seminary and institute classes, which “helped me to strengthen my faith,” to overcoming his parents’ fears of him feeling “uncomfortable” to start school as a child and now awaiting the completion of his college degree. He plans to serve a mission after finishing his studies. “I have received this great blessing only because of the faith which I have in Jesus Christ,” Nakka said.
His grandmother met Church members and joined the Church, and later so did his mother and sister. He was baptized when he was 8 years old, making him a third-generation member of the Church.
“He shared with us the joy he felt as he participated in seminary and institute classes and was taught that he is made in the image of God and that his body will become perfect in the Resurrection,” Elder Uchtdorf shared on social media.
In Bengaluru, Madhu Bunga was asked to speak at the stake devotional on Feb. 15 where Elder Uchtdorf was also speaking. Bunga’s talk was 42 seconds.
Bunga later said that he kept his talk short because “people came to hear Elder Uchtdorf, an Apostle of the Lord.”
During his talk, Bunga shared that God loves His children and knows them by name and God shows that love through Jesus Christ, His prophets, leaders and members.
“In my life I have experienced a sense of direction from time to time. It is very clear that it is not my thinking. I know He is speaking to me, directing me,” said Bunga, who serves as second counselor in the West Marredpally 3rd Ward and is overseeing the single adult group.
There are nearly 15,000 Church members in India in four stakes and three districts, with 46 congregations. There are two missions in India.
Elder Uchtdorf said on ChurchofJesusChrist.org: “Here is a nation of strength, of goodness, of kindness, of great potential. … I invite you to grow the Church here. Love the people, share with them why you love the gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ, and invite them to come and see, come and help, and come and belong.”
