Elder Ulisses Soares: ‘Brothers and Sisters in Christ’
‘There is no place for prejudiced thoughts or actions in the community of Saints’
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during the Saturday evening session of the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 30, 2023.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Ulisses Soares: ‘Brothers and Sisters in Christ’
‘There is no place for prejudiced thoughts or actions in the community of Saints’
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during the Saturday evening session of the 193rd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 30, 2023.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday evening session of October 2023 general conference. He encouraged all to eliminate thoughts and actions of prejudice and to value one another’s attributes and gifts. The following is a summary of what he said.
Elder Soares’ talk summary
Following President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation to “lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice” is “a vital prerequisite for building the Savior’s kingdom in every nation of the world.” The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches that all are sons and daughters of God, created in His image and likeness and equal before Him.
The world is polarized by strong divisions that can influence an individual’s way of thinking, acting and speaking of other cultures, races and ethnicities as inferior, generating attitudes of contempt, indifference, disrespect and prejudice. “There is no place for prejudiced thoughts or actions in the community of Saints. ...
“May we align our hearts and minds with the knowledge and testimony that we are all equal before God, that we are all fully endowed with the same eternal potential and inheritance. May we enjoy more the spiritual kinship that exists between us and value the different attributes and varied gifts we all have.
“If we do so, I promise you that we will flow in our own way, as does the water of the Iguazu Falls, without losing our divine connection that identifies us as a peculiar people, the children of Christ and heirs of the kingdom of God.”
Notable quotes
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.
My dear friends, I can assure you that the light of a new day shines brighter in our lives when we see and treat our fellow beings with respect and dignity and as true brothers and sisters in Christ.
We are all fellow travelers as God’s children, equal in our imperfect state and in our ability to grow. We are invited to walk together, peaceably, with our hearts filled with love toward God and all men.
See the full text of Elder Soares’ talk: ‘Brothers and Sisters in Christ’
Who is Elder Soares?
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Elder Ulisses Soares was sustained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on March 31, 2018. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, he is the first and only Apostle from South America to serve in the quorum.
- Both Elder Soares and his wife, Sister Rosana Fernandes Soares, served in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission. They began dating after their missions when they ran into each other at a stake dance. They have three children.
- Elder Soares was an accountant and auditor for multinational corporations in Brazil and, later, director for temporal affairs in the Church area office in São Paulo, Brazil.
What has Elder Soares done recently?
- During April 2023 general conference, Elder Soares taught about developing Christlike attributes that promote the Savior’s peace.
- Elder and Sister Soares answered questions from young adults during a devotional in St. George, Utah, in April.
- At a Provo MTC devotional in May, he promised missionaries that focusing on their purpose can sustain them not only during their missions but throughout their lives.
- Elder Soares spoke at the 2023 Seminar for New Mission Leaders in June about “Preach My Gospel” chapter 7 and motivating missionaries learning a language.
- He represented the Church as part of a panel on human dignity in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and met with the Uruguayan president while participating in a three-country ministry trip to the South America South Area in June.
- Elder Soares praised religious freedom as the foundation for peace during a religious congress in Brasília, Brazil, in August. During the same trip, he welcomed Brazil’s vice president to the Brasília Brazil Temple’s open house.
Read more of Elder Soares’ general conference addresses, or follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
