Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Early Life and Conversion

Born on October 2, 1958, in São Paulo, Brazil, Ulisses Soares grew up in a home where the gospel was relatively new. His parents joined the Church when he was five years old. As a young man, he showed immense devotion, filling out his mission papers at age 11 (knowing he had to wait until 19) and saving every cent he earned from a part-time job to fund his service.¹ 

He eventually served a full-time mission in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission. Upon his return, he met Rosana Fernandes during a school dance. They eventuallly married in 1982 in the São Paulo Brazil Temple. They are the parents of three children. ² 

Professional Career

Elder Soares’s professional background is in accounting and finance. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and economics from the São Paulo Pontifical Catholic University School of Economic Science and later an MBA.³ 

His career was distinguished by his work for multinational corporations in Brazil, but he eventually left the private sector to serve the Church in a temporal capacity. He served as the Director of Temporal Affairs for the Church in the South America South Area, overseeing budgets and operations for a rapidly growing membership.⁴ 

Recent teachings

In the October 2025 general conference, Elder Soares testified of the Christlike virtue of temperance. He defined temperance as:

"It is the virtue that brings harmony to the heart, shaping desires and emotions with wisdom and calmness. In the scriptures, temperance is presented as an essential part of the progress in our spiritual journey, leading us toward patience, godliness, and compassion while refining our feelings, our words, and our actions."

He promised that disciples who strive to cultivate temperance would become humble and full of love and that:

"As we strive with faith and diligence to weave temperance into our actions and words, I testify that we will strengthen and anchor our lives more securely upon the sure foundation of our Redeemer."⁵ 

• ^{1. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2005/11/feed-my-sheep?lang=eng}
• ^{2. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2005/11/feed-my-sheep?lang=eng}
• ^{3. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/ulisses-soares?lang=eng}
• ^{4. Ibid.}
• ^{5. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/10/43soares?lang=eng}