This story was originally published in November 2014 and has been updated to celebrate Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf's 81st birthday.
We love the way Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf devotes his life to family, service, and the Savior. Celebrate this beloved Apostle's 81st birthday with these fun photo highlights from his remarkable life.
![59232.jpg](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/f22d3e8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/640x434+0+0/resize/640x434!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F22%2F69%2Fe82859696b987dc862ae787ae41e%2F59232.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf as a young man. Photo from Facebook.
![Dieter F. Uchtdorf (far left) met his future wife at a Mutual Improvement Association activity.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/d45d159/2147483647/strip/true/crop/386x254+0+0/resize/386x254!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fc2%2F80%2F37668ec86280f35f126eea61a146%2F17966.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf (far left) met his future wife at a Mutual Improvement Association activity. Photo from ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
![Outstanding student pilot in his class with the U.S. Air Force, Dieter Uchtdorf received the Commander's Trophy](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/630cfcf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/306x299+0+0/resize/306x299!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F7d%2F26%2Fced7c34c104efdf6902829e77e90%2F17968.jpg)
As an outstanding student pilot in his class with the U.S. Air Force, Elder Uchtdorf received the Commander's Trophy. Photo from Church News.
![55024.jpg](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/d057814/2147483647/strip/true/crop/284x480+0+0/resize/284x480!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F16%2F8ea84b9973831b49727c698ced8e%2F55024.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf and his wife Harriet as young newlyweds.
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![During his career with Lufthansa Airlines, Dieter F. Uchtdorf became chief pilot and senior vice president of flight operations; he retired in 1996.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/8fa3676/2147483647/strip/true/crop/306x242+0+0/resize/306x242!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F4e%2F2a%2F33a9955cd0181af8c8b9a04ce4fc%2F17965.jpg)
During his career with Lufthansa Airlines, Elder Uchtdorf became a chief pilot and senior vice president of flight operations; he retired in 1996. Photo from Church News.
![Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (right) joins Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Neal A. Maxwell and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Frankfurt Germany Stake in 1987 for dedication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/2968536/2147483647/strip/true/crop/300x199+0+0/resize/300x199!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Fb6%2F1893d58b5af8ca80e39cac5f885c%2F17976.jpg)
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (right) joins Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, and Stake President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (left) of the Frankfurt Germany Stake in 1987 for the dedication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple. Photo from Church News.
![President Dieter F. Uchtdorf prepares for flight in an F-16 during a visit to Utah's Hill Air Force Base in July. He said the flight was joyful and impressive, a kind of closure to his whole flying career.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/090c839/2147483647/strip/true/crop/306x204+0+0/resize/306x204!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fc3%2F16%2F1bdffbaec1269c7c47ef47412b71%2F17951.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf prepares for a flight in an F-16 during a visit to Utah's Hill Air Force Base in July 2009. He said the flight was joyful and impressive, a kind of closure to his whole flying career. Photo from Church News.
![President Uchtdorf and wife Harriet at Pioneer days in Ogden, Utah.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/7b8454f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1366+0+0/resize/800x534!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F86%2F4c%2Fbe8e35866ad0c52e16c988f32908%2F17957.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf and his wife Harriet at Pioneer days in Ogden, Utah. Posted July 14, 2014. Photo from Elder Uchtdorf's Facebook page.
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![Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, and his wife Harriet ride in the Days of 47 KSL 5 Parade in Salt Lake City](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/590885d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/640x682+0+0/resize/640x682!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F4e%2F96%2F8b1c53221dc517b75cc02f3d0341%2F17960.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf and his wife Harriet ride in the Days of 47 KSL 5 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Photo from Deseret News.
![President Dieter F. Uchtdorf was among Christian leaders from throughout the nation welcomed by U.S. President Barack Obama to the White House for the fifth annual Easter prayer breakfast. The next day he was among six religious leaders invited to the Oval Office for a discussion with President Obama on the subject of immigration reform.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/286b15c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/580x299+0+0/resize/580x299!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F0a%2F1d%2Fb9085c199774f7a2d972da8a7a00%2F17954.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf was among Christian leaders from throughout the nation welcomed by U.S. President Barack Obama to the White House for the fifth annual Easter prayer breakfast. The next day he was among six religious leaders invited to the Oval Office for a discussion with President Obama on the subject of immigration reform. Photo from ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
![Thomas S. Monson, president of the Mormon church, and Second Counselor Dieter F. Uchtdorf, right, depart Air Force One after a tour of the aircraft Wednesday, May 28, 2008, in Salt Lake City. President Bush is visiting Utah for two fund raisers on behalf of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain R-Ariz. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/6ca4a2f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/664x500+0+0/resize/664x500!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F99%2F55%2F34d69947776626835d742393ac01%2F17979.jpg)
Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church, and Second Counselor Dieter F. Uchtdorf, right, depart Air Force One after a tour of the aircraft Wednesday, May 28, 2008, in Salt Lake City. Photo from KSL.
![President Dieter F. Uchtdorf prepares for a flight with the Navy Blue Angels.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/0001f90/2147483647/strip/true/crop/640x360+0+0/resize/640x360!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Ffb%2Feb%2F4d398b2e29d327cef3937ff258e2%2F17970.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf prepares for a flight with the Navy Blue Angels. Photo from KSL.
![President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), threw out the first pitch at a recent Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/ee75c8a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/637x360+0+0/resize/637x360!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fa4%2Ffd%2F37d8df1a51c7c143a57d9dc0e8e7%2F17973.jpg)
![President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), threw out the first pitch at a recent Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/6920212/2147483647/strip/true/crop/637x360+0+0/resize/637x360!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fd0%2Ff4%2F7b95977206c62865e7640355f4de%2F17972.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf throwing out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game. Photos from Newsroom.
![President Uchtdorf and wife Harriet with Coach Whittingham and wife Jamie at a University of Utah football game.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/5891f32/2147483647/strip/true/crop/640x480+0+0/resize/640x480!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F61%2Ff7%2F92b5378f9f99ae35a53f69a2b2f0%2F17977.jpg)
![President Uchtdorf and the University of Utah Mascott](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/f171c73/2147483647/strip/true/crop/640x531+0+0/resize/640x531!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F15%2F95%2Fb994bd2a19ee8f3b3f56acc8f71c%2F17978.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf and his wife Harriet with Coach Whittingham and his wife Jamie at a University of Utah football game. Photos from Married to the Coach.
![President Dieter F. Uchtdorf walks with BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson and gives a thumbs-up to graduates at the 2009 spring commencement at the Marriott Center.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/3beec12/2147483647/strip/true/crop/465x450+0+0/resize/465x450!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F8c%2Fdc%2F153937b721f6a7cffe6ffd8dfbaa%2F17988.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf walks with BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson and gives a thumbs-up to graduates at the 2009 spring commencement at the Marriott Center. Photo from Deseret News.
![17983](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/a9694b8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/480x320+0+0/resize/480x320!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F55%2Fcd%2F94290d8cf6ada0e4a601ce12bb8e%2F17983.jpg)
![President Uchtdorf visits Tonga.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/6c44f7d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/450x338+0+0/resize/450x338!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F46%2Fb9%2Fb8faaf82720ad4acba6596c09a2c%2F17985.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf visits Tonga. Photos from Hawley Days.
![President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, helps a young Latter-day Saint place mortar securing the cornerstone signifying the temple is complete.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/e1f7c7c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/599x339+0+0/resize/599x339!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F3a%2Fc4%2F531f1c55571f50069c21b5535344%2F17971.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf helps a young Latter-day Saint place mortar securing the cornerstone and signifying the temple is complete. Photo from ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
![President Uchtdorf gives a thumbs-up to conference-goers in April 2009.](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/9606192/2147483647/strip/true/crop/315x450+0+0/resize/315x450!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F0e%2F24%2F7d6bfbd53026c6f6e3cf7cec77a5%2F17952.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf gives a thumbs-up to conference-goers in April 2009. Photo from Deseret News.
![Elder Uchtdorf lead.jpg](https://cdn.ldsliving.com/dims4/default/2632df0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1365x2048+0+0/resize/800x1200!/format/jpg/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flds-living-brightspot-us-east-2.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F51%2Fd9%2Fe755724c4d3ab5898521b70cb364%2Felder-uchtdorf-lead.jpg)
Elder Uchtdorf and his wife Harriet after the blessing of their sixth great-grandchild in November 2021. Photo from Facebook.
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