The First Presidency Welcomes Ambassadors from Portugal and the Dominican Republic 

This week on Temple Square, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed ambassadors to the U.S. from Portugal and the Dominican Republic. 

On Wednesday, the First Presidency met with Ambassador Francisco António Duarte Lopes of Portugal. A career diplomat with over three decades of public service, he previously served as Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations and held key leadership positions at Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Duarte Lopes has championed Portugal’s multilateral diplomacy, advancing initiatives on peace, sustainable development, and human rights. 

Some 48,000 Latter-day Saints live in Portugal. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited Portugal (the land of his ancestry) last year. 

On Thursday, the First Presidency met Sonia Guzmán, the Dominican Republic’s Ambassador to the United States. Ambassador Guzmán, who has been serving in this position since November 2020, is renowned for her extensive career in public service and diplomacy. She is the first woman to represent her country in this capacity. Born in Santiago de los Caballeros, she has a distinguished academic background with degrees in library science and public administration. 

The Dominican Republic is home to nearly 150,000 Latter-day Saints. President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited the country in November 2024. 

These meetings highlight the importance of diplomatic dialogue and cooperation in addressing global challenges and enhancing mutual respect and understanding among nations.