A senior leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Brent H. Nielson, will visit Sydney this weekend (12-13 February) to meet with leaders and members of the Church. He will announce several significant changes to local lay leadership and the geographical boundaries of Church stakes in Sydney.
A stake, for Mormons, is a group of several congregations in one geographical location.
"This is a major event for our members in Sydney and the changes to stake boundaries will position the Church for future growth," Elder Nielson said.
Elder Nielson is a member of the Church's Pacific Area Presidency, based in Auckland New Zealand. He became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2009, at age 54. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Idaho Area.
Elder Nielson attended Brigham Young University and in 1978 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. In 1981, he received a juris doctorate degree in law from the University of Utah.
Elder Nielson has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in Finland, ward Young Men president, bishop, high councilor, stake president's counselor, stake president, and Area Seventy. He also served as the Temple Committee Chairman for the Open House and Dedication of the Twin Falls, Idaho Temple. In 2009, Elder Nielson was called to serve in the Pacific Area Presidency.
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 and ten grandchildren.
Australian Latter-day Saint leader, Elder Peter Meurs, will accompany Elder Nielson during this weekend's meetings.
In addition to Elder Meurs' lay service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he is Director of Developments at Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. According to Bloomberg.com, he is a Fellow Member of the Institution of Engineers, Australia and Australian Institute of Company Directors. He holds Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Later next week Elder Nielson will meet with missionaries from the Sydney Mission. The following weekend (19-20 February) he will travel to Coffs Harbour to meet with members of the Church and their guests in a district conference.