Elder Ulisses Soares was born in São Paulo, Brazil, on Oct. 2, 1958, and named to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on March 31, 2018. He married Rosana Fernandes in October 1982. They have three youngsters and 5 grandchildren.
Elder Soares obtained a Bachelor of Arts diploma in accounting and economics in 1985 from São Paulo Pontifical Catholic University. He later obtained a Master of Business Administration diploma. He was an accountant and auditor for multinational firms in Brazil and director for temporal affairs within the Church space workplace in São Paulo.
He had been a General Authority Seventy since April 2005, being named a member of the Presidency of the Seventy in January 2013. He served beforehand in space presidencies in Africa and Brazil. He was a young full-time missionary within the Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission, and he and Sister Soares led the Portugal Porto Mission from 2000 to 2003.
In honor of Elder Soares’ birthday immediately, listed below are 9 of his quotes from the previous 12 months.
1. Eliminate prejudice
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks through the Saturday night session of the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, within the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sept. 30, 2023.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
“As disciples of Christ, we are invited to increase our faith in, and love for, our spiritual brother and sisterhood by genuinely knitting our hearts together in unity and love, regardless of our differences, thereby increasing our ability to promote respect for the dignity of all the sons and daughters of God.”
— “Brothers and Sisters in Christ,” October 2023 common convention
2. ‘God did not send us here to fail’
An attendee greets Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles after he spoke in a multistake convention in Maceió, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023.
Jon Ryan Jensen, Church News
“God did not send us here to fail. God sent us here with a plan for us to return to Him. … Jesus Christ will help you reach your ideal final destination. He and our Heavenly Father are always there for you.”
— Meetings with members in Maceió, Brazil, Aug. 6, 2023
3. Teaching in a mission language
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twleve Apostles speaks on the 2023 Seminar for New Mission Leaders on the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, June 24, 2023.
Cody Bell, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“My dear mission leaders, there is something special about connecting with someone in their own native language. It helps missionaries to be better received by and be more spiritually inspiring to the people they teach, helping both who preach and who receive, to ‘understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together’” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:22).
— Seminar for New Mission Leaders, June 24, 2023
4. Dignity has a divine origin
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks with author Sergio Rubin in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Thursday, June 8, 2023.
Christina Smith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“Dignity has a divine origin. It is our universal birthright. Everyone possesses dignity simply by being human, regardless of religion, race, gender or nationality.”
– Panel on human dignity in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 8, 2023
5. The missionary objective
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles smiles as he leaves the stage along with his spouse, Sister Rosana Soares, following the Tuesday, May 9, 2023, devotional on the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.
Adam Fondren, for the Deseret News
“My dear missionaries, please remember that when you do your very best to fulfill your purpose, the Lord will — sooner or later — bless you with a feeling of peace and will help you not to feel disappointed in yourself.”
— Provo MTC devotional, May 9, 2023
6. Coping with trials
Elder Ulisses Soares, proper, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gestures towards Ron and Annette Higgenbotham, who had been delivered to the rostrum to debate marriage, in a devotional on the St. George Institute of Religion on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in St. George, Utah.
Nick Adams, for the Deseret News
“I testify to you that as we rely upon the Savior and act in faith on His invitations, He will give us the strength we need to deal with our struggles, with our weaknesses and with our circumstances. He will increase our capacity to feel consistent peace and rest in our journey.”
— Young grownup devotional in St. George, Utah, April 15, 2023
7. Follow the Prince of Peace
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks through the Sunday morning session of the 193rd Annual General Conference within the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“One of the most evident signs that we are drawing closer to the Savior and becoming more like Him is the loving, patient and kind way with which we treat our fellow beings, whatever the circumstances.”
— “Followers of the Prince of Peace,” April 2023 common convention
8. The Savior’s shelter
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greets guests throughout a Portuguese-language devotional within the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo, Utah, on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023.
“[If] we are constant and unmovable in keeping the commandments of God with faith and diligence, surely the comfort of the Savior’s shelter will replace the pain of our experiences, peace will replace the turmoil, [and] hope will replace grief and trials will turn into blessings.”
— Devotional for Portuguese-speaking members, in Provo, Utah, Feb. 5, 2023
9. Strengthen religion
A choir of Church members sings at a devotional for the North America Central Area of the Church, in Denver, Colorado, Friday, Dec. 5, 2022.
Screenshot from ChurchofJesusChrist.org
“Strengthening our faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ helps us to live focused on the plan of happiness that God created for us.”
— Devotional for Spanish-speaking members in Denver, Colorado, Dec. 2, 2022
