Elder Brent H. Nielson was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2009. He previously served as an Area Seventy in the Idaho Area. Elder Nielson has served as a Counselor in both the Pacific Area and the Philippines Area Presidencies and as the Philippines Area President. He served as the Executive Director of the Missionary Department from 2015 to 2020.
Elder Nielson was named a member of the Presidency of the Seventy on August 1, 2020. In that assignment he assisted members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in supervising the North America West, Europe Central, Caribbean, and Pacific Areas. He was granted Emeritus status effective August 1, 2024.
Elder Nielson has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in Finland, ward Young Men president, bishop, high councilor, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president, and Area Seventy.
Elder Nielson attended Brigham Young University and received a bachelor of arts degree in English in 1978. In 1981 he received a juris doctor degree in law from the University of Utah. He practiced law in Twin Falls, Idaho, for 29 years.
Brent Hatch Nielson was born in Burley, Idaho, on December 8, 1954. He married Marcia Ann Bradford in 1978. They are the parents of six children.