The first apostle from South America rose from a bakery-side chapel

Health · Published 19 October 2026 · Updated 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born in São Paulo, Ulisses Soares transitioned from a career in accounting to a high-ranking role in the LDS Church. His journey from attending services in a rented space above a bakery to becoming a global religious leader offers a unique perspective on the expansion of the faith.

Ulisses Soares, born on 2 October 1958, represents a significant milestone for the Church of Jesus Christ of Sernts as its first apostle from South America. His early life in Brazil was marked by the church's growth in the region; he was present in 1966 for the organization of the first LDS stake in both Brazil and South America. His childhood religious experiences were deeply sensory, often remembering the scent of baking bread from a nearby bakery wafting into the meeting space where his family worshipped.

Before his religious service, Soares built a professional foundation in finance. To finance his missionary work, he held positions in payroll accounting, eventually obtaining an MBA and a 1985 degree in economics and accounting from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo. His corporate background included roles as an auditor and accountant for multinational firms, such as the Pirelli Tire Company, before he moved into church administration as the director of temporal affairs for the Brazil South Area.

Since becoming a general authority in 2005, Soares has held various high-level positions, including serving in the Presidency of the Seventy and as the president of the Portugal Porto Mission. His appointment to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in March 2018 was noted by scholars as a major step toward global diversity. Today, he holds significant responsibilities, overseeing church operations in the Africa West and Central America areas and serving on the church's human resources committee.

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