MENDOZA, Argentina — On a brisk morning on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles arrived at the Guaymallén Argentina Stake conference looking forward to the chance to testify of the Savior one last time before concluding his 11-day ministry in South America.
Speaking in Spanish to the Saints in Mendoza on Sunday, June 11, his voice was filled with powerful emotion as he bore his testimony of the Savior’s Atonement and His love for all of Heavenly Father’s children, regardless of where they are from or where they are now.
“How can we feel the love of God more abundantly in our life?” he asked conferencegoers, whose chapel was so full that it spilled into the overflow rooms. “One way is to make covenants with the Lord and honor them.”
Elder Soares taught about the promises made when covenanting with Heavenly Father, and he also talked about how covenants help individuals become more like the Savior.
“Without question, honoring our covenants with the Lord can change our relationship with Him forever,” he said. “The Lord is always present in the lives of those who keep their covenants.”
As he did throughout this ministry trip, Elder Soares encouraged people to honor their covenants, because the blessings God promises are not in doubt.
“As God’s people, we need to make covenants and fulfill our part, because God will always fulfill His.”
Elder Soares was accompanied in Argentina by his wife, Sister Rosana Soares; Elder Alan R. Walker, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the South America South Area presidency, and his wife, Sister Inés Walker.
Earlier in the week, Elder and Sister Soares were joined by Elder Joaquin E. Costa, General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the South America South Area presidency, and his wife, Sister Renée Costa, in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Actions that invite the Holy Ghost
Elder Soares consistently invited those he spoke with to do what is necessary to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost in their lives. He encouraged obedience, repentance and maintaining good spiritual habits.
Specifically speaking to missionaries and young single adults in cities he visited, Elder Soares encouraged keeping habits built while serving missions.
“When we have [the Savior] in our hearts, we will always feel joy because He is the source of all joy,” he said.
One example of a habit is that of scripture study.
“Twenty minutes of study after the mission each day need to be as profound as three hours of study were in the mission.”
In Uruguay, Sister Soares said good habits create a good spiritual defense.
“Pray and read the word of God every day. These are weapons against temptation,” she said.
Elder Soares said he knows many things draw attention away from a focus on the Savior. He said Satan doesn’t want strong and focused returned missionaries. That means those who choose to follow the Savior need to exercise their agency in righteousness and “choose to eliminate temptations from your life.”
During question-and-answer sessions with audiences in Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, Elder Soares answered the same question about personal situations that make individuals feel they can’t stay in or come back to the Church because of specific challenges or mistakes. He emphasized the same principles to each group.
“Do not distance yourselves from the gospel. One day, all weaknesses will be fixed,” he said.
In Buenos Aires, an institute choir sang as the opening hymn “Thy Spirit, Lord, Has Stirred Our Souls” in a way that reverberated through the unique chapel and touched Elder Soares so much that he asked the choir to sing it again for the closing hymn at the end of the meeting.
One member of the choir, Juan Ignacio Abrea of the Caseros First Ward in the Caseros Argentina Stake, said, “There were certain things I felt the Spirit tell me I was doing well and others I needed to do better — even if they weren’t said out loud.”
Abrea said it was also touching to hear an Apostle come all the way to Argentina to reinforce gospel principles like scripture study and personal prayer. He said those are two things he wants to do better.
Fellow choir member Saríah Valle said the part that stood out to her was that the gospel is a gospel of personal progress.
“Tomorrow I need to try to be better than I was today. The day after tomorrow, I need to try to be better than I am tomorrow,” she said. “And the Lord is going to help me if I ask for help.
Refining the process of gospel teaching in the home
While participating in a forum in Buenos Aires with leaders from other religions, Elder Soares talked about human dignity and the need to live eternal truths.
When he visited Uruguay, he shared a similar thought with local Church leaders.
“Relative truth cannot exist because absolute truth does exist,” he said.
When addressing concerns about youth or young adults who postpone the decision about marriage, Elder Soares said some truths may be taught at home more consistently.
“We need to teach more about the plan of salvation,” Elder Soares said.
“Sometimes young adults postpone marriage because they do not know the happiness that comes with marriage. … We need to give them that vision.”
He encouraged parents to teach about the joys that come from marriage and the blessings that come from being sealed in the temple.
For siblings Victoria and Gabriel Ríos from the Carrasco Ward of the Montevideo Uruguay East Stake, they both felt inspired in different ways.
“I felt that I need to live the commandments of the gospel with stronger purpose,” said Victoria Ríos. “I need to read the scriptures and transform my mornings into a true spiritual experience.”
Her brother’s takeaway was more a change in personal perspective.
“When I’m having a difficulty or am going through a challenge, I need to look at myself in the way God does without judging because of something I’ve done wrong,” he said.
As young adults, the two of them agreed that growing together as a family isn’t always easy.
“It can be challenging, but we know each other’s hearts,” Gabriel Ríos said. “Knowing that we are all trying to follow the commandments is helpful, though.”
The difference between power and authority
Elder Soares’ ministry to missionaries allowed him to testify of the difference missionaries made in his life when his family learned about the gospel from them when he was a young boy.
“I do not remember what the missionaries taught, but I remember the feeling I had — that came from the Spirit,” he said of those first missionary meetings in his home.
“Apart from the authority … power is real. … It is a gift,” Elder Soares said as he read from “Preach My Gospel.”
Elder Soares talked about being set apart as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the authority that came in that moment. He said having the authority is only part of his calling.
“I study and ponder the scriptures every day,” he said. “And I learned to consistently do that in my mission.”
Habits formed during missionary service — like personal prayer and scripture study — are matters Elder Soares cautioned missionaries against losing at the conclusion of their missions.
“If you learn to focus on [Jesus Christ] now, you will have fewer challenges focusing on Him after the mission.”
“Don’t lose your direction,” he said to them.
“I still have many years ahead of me to serve, so I will be looking for you,” he said. “Wherever we see each other in the future, I will be thrilled to hear your experiences on focusing on the Savior.”
Among the missionaries who listened to Elder Soares’ message in Mendoza were companions Elder Bennett Jensen from Ogden, Utah, and Elder Jayden Burningham from Layton, Utah. Both felt energized by what they felt during their devotional.
“I loved what he said about the gospel being able to change generations,” Elder Jensen said. “My family and I were born inside the gospel, and I love being able to share it with others so that they can find peace through Jesus Christ.”
Elder Burningham said he felt compelled to take some of the habits he has developed in the first couple of months of his mission into his life after the mission as well.
“More than anything, personal study,” he said. “That wasn’t a big focus for me, but personal study is one thing that has helped bring the Spirit into my life.”
He said that the Holy Ghost has helped him be filled with a desire to share the gospel on his mission.
“I’ve felt an overwhelming desire to be that missionary that can bring Jesus into people’s lives … and an overwhelming desire to be more like my Savior.”
