Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Elder Ulisses Soares emphasized religious freedom as essential for peace at a Washington summit.
- The apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ highlighted faith's role in fostering purpose, hard work and strong families.
- Elder Soares encouraged interfaith dialogue, citing Brazil's example of managing religious tension.
WASHINGTON — Elder Ulisses Soares, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, advocated for religious freedom this week, calling it "a key to peace and stability" at a national summit this week.
The International Religious Freedom Summit is a two-day summit to support religious freedom around the world and included over 90 organizations and 30 faiths. Elder Soares spoke at the opening reception for the event on Monday.
He said faith helps people find purpose, and it encourages hard work and strong families.
"These virtues flowing from a flourishing and diverse religious landscape serve to mend and tighten the fabric of our shared world in ways perhaps nothing else can, leading in turn to the united and peaceful societies for which we yearn," Elder Soares said.
He encouraged attendees to consider how they can become better peacemakers.
Elder Soares said in Brazil, his native country, there have been a lot of changes in religion, but it has not brought hostility.
"Though far from perfect, tension has been managed through dialogue between the various religious communities," he said.
In addition to these opening remarks, Elder Soares also talked about the Church of Jesus Christ's missionaries, temples and interfaith interactions during a Q&A session with Pastor Bob Roberts Jr., a baptist who cofounded the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network. He said their differences are an opportunity to love each other more.
"I view them as a blessing, so we get to know different points of view that strengthen and help us to be safer in the way we do things together. We are eager to work with anyone in the world — Baptists, Evangelicals, Catholics, Jews, Muslims — to help bring relief to the pain of the world," he said.
Elder Soares and Pastor Roberts met at an interfaith dinner several years ago, and Elder Soares welcomed him to the most recent session of the church's general conference.
"I put out an Instagram post about his visit, and I think it was well received by all members of the church, seeing that we are trying to cultivate friendship with other religious entities and that we respect their beliefs, and we can live in peace together and do good things together. I think that's the purpose of my coming here in these events," he said during the interview.
