Latest Dieter F. Uchtdorf talk makes no reference to piloting or planes

SALT LAKE CITY, UT- In a shocking turn of events that some are describing as “inconceivable,” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, presented a talk in this April’s General Conference that made absolutely no reference to piloting or planes.

The talk, entitled “The Way of the Disciple,” covered topics including Jesus Christ’s gospel, Palm Sunday, and patience, but never employed an allusion to aviation, which has become known as President Uchtdorf’s trademark. Its absence in the Sunday morning session of Conference was felt in the church worldwide.

“I feel lost, just so lost,” said Greta Urlando, 41, of Provo. “Every general conference I have my mind ready to receive President Uchtdorf’s aviation-related gospel talks. And this year, Sunday morning came and went, and no mention of pilots or planes. Or even a helicopter.”

The lack of aeronautic imagery in the talk was felt worldwide, including in Uchtdorf’s home country of Germany. “I have no idea how to apply President Uchtdorf’s message if I can’t imagine some type of flight,” said Heinrich Schweibel, of Berlin. “I am at a loss for words.”

Uchtdorf was unavailable for comment after conference, and none of the General Authorities would respond to questions about the aviation-desolate talk given he gave on Sunday morning.

It should be noted, however, that Uchtdorf did mention air travel in a talk he gave during Priesthood Session on Saturday evening, entitled “We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down.”

“Some good that does me,” said Sister Urlando. “I’m going to have to wait for the Ensign to come out before I can read it. And there’s a big difference between reading about planes and hearing about them directly from President Uchtdorf’s mouth.”

Brother Schweibel pointed out that “even though there was some good stuff in that talk,” he is still very disappointed because “every talk has to mention aviation or it may as well be that none of them do. And remember, his aviation topic in the Priesthood talk was about a jumbo jet that crashed in Florida. That’s kind of a downer. Let’s just hope October is better.”