The First Presidency had announced in October a change in the Pacific Area Presidency, effective immediately. Elder David S. Baxter, president of the area since August 2008, recently underwent surgery in Salt Lake City and has been reassigned to Church headquarters. Elder Tad R. Callister will serve as president of the area, with Elder James J. Hamula as first counselor and Elder Brent H. Nielson as second counselor.
Elder Brent Hatch Nielson - New Pacific Area Presidency Member
Elder Brent Hatch Nielson was born on December 8, 1954, in Burley, Idaho, USA. He has served as a full-time missionary in the Finland Mission, ward young men president, high councillor, bishop, stake president, stake counsellor, chairman of the Twin Falls Temple committee and Area Seventy.
Elder Nielson obtained his Bachelor's degree in English, BYU, 1978; Juris Doctorate, University of Utah, 1981.
Elder Nielson and his wife, Marcia Ann Bradford, met while attending a social gathering and were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 26, 1978. They are the parents of six children.
Elder Brent Hatch Nielson was sustained as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy during general conference April 4. Elder Nielson, 54, was serving in the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy at the time of his call.
Elder Nielson was born and spent his childhood in Burley, Idaho, where he enjoyed the small-town life and learned from many great mentors. He loved sports as a young boy and was constantly involved in many school activities, including serving as student body president his senior year of high school.
With strong examples of serving in the Church, he saw at a young age what it meant to "seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33).
“I had faithful parents,” he said. “My father was my bishop as a young man growing up. He was a great influence in my life.” Most important, for the Nielsons, their family and the Lord always come first.
“He’s a great father,” Sister Nielson said. “I think our children feel like he made a serious effort to be a part of their lives on every level that he could.”
Whether serving the people in Finland, his family or the members of his own stake, Elder Nielson has made serving the Lord his lifelong pursuit. As he approaches his new call, he hoped to continue doing the same.
“We are very excited and couldn’t have been happier to receive a calling as a member of the Pacific Area Presidency,” he said. “We have never been to New Zealand; however, we have heard wonderful things.”
“I am very humbled and overwhelmed, but excited about the opportunity,” Elder Nielson said. “I am determined to serve the Lord in a good way. So, wherever I go, or whatever I do, I am delighted to help build the Church.”
