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 children and five grandchildren.
Elder Soares received a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and economics in 1985 from São Paulo Pontifical Catholic University. He later received a Master of Business Administration degree. He was an accountant and auditor for multinational corporations in Brazil and director for temporal affairs in the Church area office 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 previously in area presidencies in Africa and Brazil. He was a young full-time missionary in 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 today, here are nine of his quotes from the past year.
1. Eliminate prejudice
“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 general conference
2. ‘God did not send us here to fail’
“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
“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
“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 purpose
“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
“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 adult devotional in St. George, Utah, April 15, 2023
7. Follow the Prince of Peace
“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 general conference
8. The Savior’s shelter
“[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 faith
“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
