
Uchtdorf-Day-of-Remembrance
Left to right, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and James T. Burton, Honorary Consul for the Federal Republic of Germany, stand by the ceremonial wreath during a program for Volkstrauertag, German National Day of Remembrance, at Fort Douglas Military Cemetery in Salt Lake City on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Photo by Megan Nielsen, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.This story appears here courtesy of TheChurchNews.com. It is not for use by other media.
By Sarah Jane Weaver, Church News
On a rainy, cold November morning in the Fort Douglas Military Cemetery, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf joined others with ties to Germany across the globe in recognition of Volkstrauertag: the German National Day of Remembrance — commemorating “the lives of those who went before.”
War affects not only soldiers, but also families, populations and nations, said Elder Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The event, held Sunday, November 19, honored 41 German prisoners of war who are buried at the Fort Douglas Military Cemetery, as well as members of the armed forces and civilians from all nations who died in armed conflict.

Uchtdorf-Day-of-Remembrance
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks during a program for Volkstrauertag, the German National Day of Remembrance, at Fort Douglas Military Cemetery in Salt Lake City on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Photo by Megan Nielsen, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.Elder Uchtdorf, joined by his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, and other family members, said as he prepared for the event, he wondered: “As whom do I go? Do I go as a German? Do I go as an American? Do I go as a military representative? Do I go as a Church representative?”
Although he is always all of those things, he added: “I come today as a child of God. We are all children of our Heavenly Father — regardless of our religion, our background, our upbringing, our race, our education or our socioeconomic circumstances, we are all children of our Heavenly Father.”
During brief remarks, offered under the protection of an umbrella, Elder Uchtdorf spoke of “those who died because they resisted tyranny and those who died because they clung to their convictions or beliefs.”

Uchtdorf-Day-of-Remembrance
Hundreds with ties to Germany gather to celebrate Volkstrauertag, German National Day of Remembrance, at Fort Douglas Military Cemetery in Salt Lake City on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Photo by Megan Nielsen, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.Society has a tendency to label groups or individuals, he said. Today, however, is not a time for divisions but “a time for reconciliation.”
Individuals should “remember what has happened in the past and become better friends, better neighbors, better citizens.” This includes accepting and protecting the rights of everyone, even those with different beliefs, and loving one another as “children of Heavenly Father.”
He invited those attending the small gathering to reach out to their “brothers and sisters and help them, however we can, to have a better life.”
This begins with forgiveness. “Forgiveness is a commandment,” he said.

Uchtdorf-Day-of-Remembrance
Left to right, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and James T. Burton, honorary consul for the Federal Republic of Germany, put their hands on the ceremonial wreath during a program for Volkstrauertag, German National Day of Remembrance, at Fort Douglas Military Cemetery in Salt Lake City on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Photo by Megan Nielsen, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.Then referencing the cloudy cold day — weather reflective of weather in Germany — Elder Uchtdorf made a beautiful promise. “We know that above these clouds, the sun is shining,” he said.
During brief remarks, James T. Burton, honorary consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, asked those who served in the military for any country to stand and be recognized.
“We not only gather to pay tribute to those who served in the armed forces, or that died in war, we come to remember to ensure that those things that happened, never happen again,” he said. “We come to remember to ensure that the future for our children and the freedoms that are enjoyed throughout the world are held sacred and safe. I express my hope that this hard-earned freedom that these brave men and women fought and died for remains available to all, because the removal of freedom for anybody is a threat to the freedom of everybody.”

Uchtdorf-Day-of-Remembrance
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talks to members of the Air Force Honor Guard from the Utah Military Academy. The Apostle was part of the program for Volkstrauertag, German National Day of Remembrance, at Fort Douglas Military Cemetery in Salt Lake City on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Photo by Megan Nielsen, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.The event also included the performances of the German and the United States national anthems by the German Chorus Harmonie. Lew Cramer of World Trade Center Utah and Franz Kolb, honorary consul of the Republic of Austria, offered the invocation and benediction at the event. G. Paul Kapp performed a trumpet rendition of “Der Gute Kamerad.”
- Uchtdorf-Day-of-Remembrance
- Uchtdorf-Day-of-Remembrance
- Uchtdorf-Day-of-Remembrance
- Uchtdorf-Day-of-Remembrance
- Uchtdorf-Day-of-Remembrance
Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |