Elder Soares Visits Government and Interfaith Leaders in Costa Rica

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles continues his ministry of Central America with government and interfaith meetings in scenic Costa Rica.

Downloadable video: B-roll / SOTs

Elder Soares met with Carlos Benavides Jiménez, the president of the country’s legislative assembly, in the capital city of San José. 

“We opened the doors, and he knows that we believe in family, and we believe in religious freedom,” said the Apostle. “He's a wonderful man, very interested [in] the well-being of people.” 

“We offer our help, our support in whatever he feels that we could do to help him in his projects,” added Elder Soares. 

“Elder Soares has been opening many doors for us,” said Elder Juan A. Uceda of the Seventy. “Some of our presidents know us a little bit. Once Elder Soares is there and talks to them about what we are, what we are doing for the country, the people, the society, there’s a different attitude, and I feel that.” 

Costa Rica is home to more than 50,000 members of the Church. The country’s predominant religion is Catholic 

Elder Soares also received a warm greeting from Archbishop José Rafael Quirós, who leads the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San José. 

“Everything we can do to have the leaders of the world, both political or religious, to understand that freedom of religion is important that we need to have the ability to pray to Father in Heaven, to worship our Father in Heaven, and to be able to get ourselves closer to Christ,” explained Elder Jose A. Teixeira of the Presidency of the Seventy. “That’s why we do these meetings. That’s why we pursue these opportunities.” 

During his travels through Central America, Elder Soares has also met with journalists of leading publications. 

The final stop of Elder Soares’s Central America ministry is El Salvador. He will minister to Latter-day Saints on Saturday and Sunday before returning to Salt Lake City.