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I have noticed a slightly worrying trend amongst Mormon ladies of a certain age when they start chatting about President Uchtdorf. They get a bit weak at the knee's, go a bit gushy in their conversation, flush slightly and get glassy eyed.

One particular individual I overheard discussing Dieter said "I really like him and would be prepared to be one of his wives if it was still an option. Don't let my husband know though...".

In the Salt Lake Tribune, Peggy FS describes him thus:

Mormons love the tanned, compassionate, affable, quotable German in their church’s governing First Presidency...

(How does a resident of Salt Lake City who works full time for the Lord and receives a meagre stipend manage to get such a tan?)

So ladies, what is it?

He isn't using a cane? He isn't on oxygen hidden through his glasses? He isn't drooling on himself? He isn't wearing Depends? He can remember where he is at any given time? He isn't a closeted homosexual misogynist windbag? He can still reliably have an erection?

All they need to do is add some lens flare to his smile.

I reecently spoke to someone living in Germany. His family knows the Uchtdorf family. We had lots of laughs over a few beers.

I asked him the question, how does he get that tan. It is well-known here in Germany, my friend said, that he has a tanning booth in his home.

I've also heard that Bednar uses it. ;)

I wonder if the tanning booth is an attempt to move away from 'white and delightsome"?

I've mentioned before that I served in the Swiss-Zurich mission while Uchdorf was in the Area Presidency. I had the privilege of meeting him for an extended discussion on two occasions as the stake presidency lived in my area and he would visit them while there for conferences.

Setting aside issues of Mormonism's truthfulness, President Uchdorf struck me as a genuinely good person and I liked him upon first meeting him. This is in contrast to most of the general authorities we had visit who were little more than businessmen who came to chew us out because we hadn't baptized the country yet. In five words, I would have described him at that time as "a true disciple of Christ".

I can see why middle-aged women get twitterpated over him.

The joke has always been that the Mormon church doesn't fit the definition of a cult because it doesn't have a charismatic leader. That has now changed. Uchdorf is the first GA that I can remember who has the sort of charisma that really draws people to him, not because they are required to sustain him, but because they truly like him. He could probably start a splinter group on his own and pull thousands of members into his fold. He's energetic, funny, compassionate, down to earth, good looking, and comes across as a genuinely nice guy. I'm a huge critic, but I really like Uchdorf. What's not to like about him? Is there any GA in recent memory as likeable and charismatic as Uchdorf?

He's handsome and he has an accent.

Plus, he doesn't preach fire and brimstone.

If I were to go on a date with any of the apostles, I would pick him. He looks good in a nice suit.

It is wonderful (if not a little ironic) that the most well spoken LDS apostle is the only one whose first language is not English.

If I were a woman, and I weren't around, I should be in love with Dieter.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

My wife called up a week ago or so telling me that one of the Church Apostles was attending their cultural weekday event. She thought I would want to come meet him. She told me his name was Uchtdorf or his first name. Regardless who it might have been I have NO desire to see these guys in the least. It would only irritate me to see them sense my spiritual superiority and shut down all congeniality.
It is an inhuman offense I have suffered more times that I want to remember by Mormons high and low!

It's a fact of life for me going on forty or more years of it.