Leaders & Ministry

Volkstrauertag: Elder Uchtdorf pays tribute to those who died in armed conflict

During special ceremony at the Fort Douglas Military Cemetery, Elder Uchtdorf pays tribute to the 41 German prisoners of war buried there — and others who died in armed conflict

By Sarah Jane Weaver Nov 19, 2023 5:57 p.m. EST

Leaders & Ministry

Volkstrauertag: Elder Uchtdorf pays tribute to those who died in armed conflict

During special ceremony at the Fort Douglas Military Cemetery, Elder Uchtdorf pays tribute to the 41 German prisoners of war buried there — and others who died in armed conflict

By Sarah Jane Weaver Nov 19, 2023 5:57 p.m. EST

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, Nov. 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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.”