Brent H. Nielson was born in Burley, Idaho, USA, on December 8, 1954. He married Marcia Ann Bradford in 1978. They are the parents of six children.
He attended Brigham Young University and received a bachelor of arts degree in English in 1978. In 1981 he received a juris doctorate degree in law from the University of Utah. He practiced law in Twin Falls, Idaho, for 29 years.
He 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 previously served as an Area Seventy in the Idaho Area. Elder Nielson has served as a counselor in both the Pacific Area and Philippines Area and as the Philippines Area President. He served as the executive director of the Missionary Department from 2015 to 2020.
He was named a member of the Presidency of the Seventy on August 1, 2020. He currently assists Elder Quentin L. Cook in supervising the North America West Area, Elder Dale G. Renlund in supervising the Caribbean and South America Northwest Areas, and Elder Gary E. Stevenson in supervising the Pacific Area.