By Michelle Witte
*Sunday morning session
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, newly called member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, told an audience gathered Sunday morning at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City of his nervousness at receiving his new calling.
?I?m calm as a hurricane,? he said. ?I need your prayers. I need the Lord.?
President Hinckley informed Elder Uchtdorf Friday morning that he had been selected to fill one of the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles left by the deaths of Elder Haight and Elder Maxwell.
Elder Uchtdorf said he has been both happy and scared since he learned of his new appointment.
?My feelings are tender and emotions flow close to tears,? he said.
In his first address as an apostle, Elder Uchtdorf expressed gratitude and appreciation for those who had helped him during this time of transition.
Elder Uchtdorf has grown to cherish the quiet sacredness of his home, especially as a defense against the world, he said. He thanked his wife Harriet for her unfailing support and his children and grandchildren for their examples and love.
Elder Uchtdorf then told of his gratitude for the ten and a half years that he served as a member of the Quorum of the Seventy. He also expressed his love and admiration for the other members of the seventy with whom he had served.
To the members of the church worldwide, Elder Uchtdorf expressed gratitude for their examples. He thanked members for their efforts to follow the living prophet and sacrifice their time and money to spread the gospel work.
?I have seen the face of Christ in your faces,? he said. ?You are a modern miracle.?
Elder Uchtdorf specifically thanked a white-haired, single sister from Germany who introduced his family to the church.
?My life was eternally blessed by one choice member of the church more than 50 years ago,? he said.
This sister, through her example and love, brought Elder Uchtdorf, his grandmother, parents and siblings to membership in the church more than 50 years ago.
Church leaders don?t seek their leadership positions, Elder Uchtdorf said. They don?t reject the opportunity to serve, either, because they realize that these callings come from revelation.
Elder Uchtdorf said that he is grateful for the call to be a special witness of Christ and the opportunity to spread the gospel message. He said he is thankful he can learn from the Lord.
?I realize my weaknesses,? Elder Uchtdorf said. ?I gain great comfort from the counsel of the Lord.?
Elder Uchtdorf ended with a pledge to the members of the church, the other members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and to the Lord that as an apostle he would ?live to be worthy of the will of the Lord.?