Elder Soares Shares Messages and Acts of Love and Faith

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accompanied by his wife, Sister Rosana Soares, recently completed a European ministry tour with stops in Italy, Spain, France, and Portugal. He and his wife visited with interfaith and government leaders, community and humanitarian organizations, and members and missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Soares emphasised the importance of showing love and compassion, choosing joy, and strengthening our faith in Jesus Christ.

Italy

In Rome, Elder Soares met with Rabbi Ariel Stofenmacher, rector of the Marshall T. Meyer Latin American Rabbinical Seminary and founder of the Abarbanel University Institute. The Apostle and rabbi toured the Rome Italy Temple grounds and visitors’ center on Wednesday, 6 November 2024.

Part of the tour included a visit to the FamilySearch center on the second floor of the visitors’ center. For Rabbi Stofenmacher, family history is very important.

“FamilySearch helps people to find their own [ancestors]. We as Jewish people, we have been scattered all over the world,” the Jewish leader said. “So, [FamilySearch] gives you the opportunity to go back in time and meet your family.”

Rabbi Stofenmacher surprised Elder Soares by showing him he had already downloaded the FamilySearch app and found three generations of his family.

“I thought that was a fabulous moment because Rabbi Stofenmacher has his own beliefs, but we are basing our relationship on common beliefs, which are family, family forever, connecting our ancestry with the present and our future,” said Elder Soares.

Also present during the visit were Sister Rosana Soares, Elder Rubén Alliaud, President of the Church’s Europe Central Area, and his wife, Fabiana. Rabbi Stofenmacher was joined by Guillermo Heisinger, Rabbi Luis Diaz, Ruth Libfrand, and Graciela Ciociano.

Spain

On Friday, 8 November 2024, Elder Soares visited a region in Spain that was devastated by flash flooding in late October. He and Elder Alliaud shared love, concern, and an uplifting message of keeping faith in Jesus Christ with Latter-day Saints in Catarrojas, Spain.

“My dear brothers and sisters, we love you deeply and want to be close to you at this time. That’s why we are here. I hope you can feel our Heavenly Father’s love for you, as well as our love,” said Elder Soares.

Helamán Rubío, who lives in Catarrojas, lost four neighbors during the flood and saw one of them die while trying to rescue someone who was sick. He was overcome with peace to hear an Apostle of Jesus Christ was coming to minister to them.

“We really needed Elder Soares to come. It has been like a miracle,” said Rubío. “Yes, it has been a miracle, because we have been able to hear the voice of the Spirit, and it was what we needed to hear.”

Elder Soares offered a prayer with a special blessing for flood victims. He and his wife, Rosana, as well as the Alliauds, greeted and embraced every person in attendance.

“Keep your faith in God and Jesus Christ. We are very committed to do everything that is possible to help each with your needs and to help you press forward,” he said.

After their time together, Elder Soares visited a nearby hospital to minister to a Church member who fell down a manhole walking back to his home to check on his children as the water started to rise.

Almudena Gómez felt the power of Elder Soares personally ministering to her family, whose home was devastated by the flooding. “It has been a great blessing that … he came here to give us all his love,” she said. “He greeted each of us, hugged each of us, and we truly felt [loved] through those hugs and the blessing he gave to all of us.”

The Church’s local meetinghouse has become one of many community locales where people can come for a hot meal, medical equipment, daily necessities, and a place to ask for help. Gómez has personally seen young people leading the charge to help those in need.

“In the midst of this tragedy, we have felt a lot of support even before today, with help from both Church members and people who have come from all over Spain,” said Gómez.

The following day in the Barcelona Stake Center, Elder Soares met with missionaries of the Barcelona Spain Mission and thanked those who are serving in the Valencia area — particularly the four sister missionaries who are currently serving in Catarrojas. They walked two hours from the flood zone to attend the meeting.

On Sunday morning, 10 November 2024, Elder Soares and his wife, Rosana, as well as Elder Alliaud and his wife, Fabiana, spoke at a countrywide Church conference in Barcelona. More than 5,000 Latter-day Saints participated in the meeting.

The Apostle reinforced the need for members of the Church of Jesus Christ to strengthen their own spiritual foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ as a way to survive the difficult days ahead that precede the second coming of the Savior.

France

On Sunday evening, 10 November 2024, in the Paris Stake Center, Elder James W. McConkie III of the Europe Central Area Presidency, and his wife, Laurel, joined Elder and Sister Soares to spend an evening with young adults living in Paris. These leaders answered their questions and reminded them of their importance in the Church and within their communities.

“You are precious children of Heavenly Father, and we want to reinforce that into your hearts,” said Elder Soares. “He expects you to become the light of the world. The world needs you more than you can imagine.”

Shannon Mura, a young adult who lives in Paris was in attendance that evening and was excited to see the hundreds of young adults gathered to hear from an Apostle of the Lord.

“I think it’s really important as a young adult to know that if we [put Christ first] we will be blessed and find guidance in our lives. I think knowing that Christ walks with us no matter what is just a message of hope that everybody needs to hear,” Mura said.

While in Paris, Elder Soares and Elder McConkie met with French Senator Stéphane Demilly on Tuesday, 12 November 2024. They received a tour of the French Senate building and discussed a variety of topics with Senator Demilly.

“We had a wonderful meeting with [Sen. Demilly] today. He is very interested in our humanitarian initiatives that we have around the world,” said Elder Soares. “We talked about the importance of religion, in establishing good communication among people, being peacemakers, and creating a society that everybody can participate in.”

Elder Soares said of the Senator, “He is very positive about the Church. He knows the Church. He has been to BYU, and he wants to continue this relationship.”

They also talked about how religions, followers of Christ, and families have an important role to play in re-introducing respect and mutual understanding in society.

Later in the day, Elder and Sister Soares and Elder and Sister McConkie held a meeting with missionaries of the France Paris and France Lyon Missions. Elder Soares encouraged the missionaries to choose joy.

“My dear Elders and Sisters, I testify to you that you have been called to help people find joy in life because the gospel of Jesus Christ means joy,” explained Elder Soares. “Develop spiritual resilience required for life through your joy because when you have joy, you have the Saviour. And when you have the Saviour, you are able to handle anything, even the most difficult challenges of life.”

Conclusion

Elder and Sister Soares concluded their European ministry in Portugal, which is part of the Church’s Europe North Area. They served as mission leaders for the Porto Portugal Mission for the Church more than two decades ago and feel a special connection to the country. They took part in service projects, visited with community and interfaith leaders, spoke with local media, and ministered to members, young adults, and missionaries of the Church throughout all of Portugal.

“Our message during this visit is to invite everyone to experience God’s love and to act in His name by sharing love and care with those in need,” Elder Soares said. “At different moments in life, we all experience challenges and need help from one another. God’s love applies to every circumstance and moment in our lives. That is our greatest message.”