Meet Elder & Sister Nielsen, YSA Gathering Place Directors
Elder Brian and Sister Heather Nielsen are service missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, called to serve as the directors of Tucson’s YSA Gathering Place. While surprised with the mission assignment and initially unfamiliar with much of the YSA of Tucson, both have been thrilled with the opportunity to continue the work of Gathering as they meet and work with so many wonderful people at the institute building. '
Brian works as an orthopaedic surgeon at Tucson Orthopedic Institute. He served a full-time mission in the Frankfurt Germany mission, and attended BYU in Provo, and prior to attending University of Washington Medical School, graduated with a BS in Microbiology. Raised in Ogden, Utah, Brian loves the outdoors (when he can find the time), hunting, fishing, skiing and hiking, and traveling with Heather and their family. Also, he has a pretty legit story about Big Foot…ask him sometime! Brian has served the church as a Young Mens president three times, in the bishopric, teaching Sunday School, and as a high counselor for President Bauer. For the last several years, Brian has been traveling yearly to Ghana, Africa on a surgical health mission. His most recent claim to fame is appearing in a Mr. Beast video this past year. Brian’s favorite thing about Tucson are the tacos, and playing Nerf Wars with the YSA!
“Brian is an orthopaedic surgeon at Tucson Orthopedic Institute, which means he spends his days fixing bones and his evenings breaking up Nerf Wars with the YSA. A proud Ogden native, he served a mission in Frankfurt, Germany, earned his BS in Microbiology from BYU, and graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine before heading south to the desert.
When he’s not in the OR, Brian loves being outdoors—hunting, fishing, skiing, hiking—and traveling with Heather and their family. He has a (totally true) Bigfoot story you should ask him about, has served the church as Young Men’s president (three times!), bishopric counselor, Sunday School teacher, and high counselor for President Bauer, and spends part of each year on surgical missions in Ghana.
His favorite things about Tucson? The tacos, the sunshine, and the YSA who keep him young.”
Heather owns and operates an art gallery in Provo, Utah, and works as a writer and “hero-handler” with the Freedom Festival in Provo and commutes often between Tucson and Utah. She attended both UVU and BYU, as well as ASU, majoring in Philosophy and Global Health. Born and raised in Cody, Wyoming, Heather has a deep love of long road trips and stacking rocks. She most enjoys collaborations of all sorts and her dream job is helping fix some of the annoying problems of everyday: (Like, why aren’t hamburgers and fries on the fast food breakfast menus?) Heather has served the church over the years as Primary President, Stake Young Women’s presidency, nursery leader 3 times, seminary teacher and her very favorite: gospel doctrine teacher. She cried when church block changed from three hours to two hours. Her favorite thing about Tucson are the lagging left turn arrows and legal U-turns and helping plan parties with the YSA!
“Heather splits her time between Tucson and Provo, where she curates her father Glen S. Hopkinson’s art gallery and wrangles “heroes” for Provo’s Freedom Festival—honoring civil rights leaders, philanthropists, and other modern-day trailblazers. She studied Philosophy and Global Health at UVU, BYU, and ASU (because one school was simply not enough).
Born and raised in Cody, Wyoming, Heather grew up surrounded by paintings of pioneers, cowboys, and everyday heroes—something that sparked her love for stories, history, and road trips with a good playlist. She is happiest collaborating with others, solving quirky everyday problems (like the mystery of why breakfast menus exclude fries), and planning parties that make people feel at home.
Heather has served as Primary President, Stake Young Women’s presidency member, nursery leader (three times!), seminary teacher, and her all-time favorite—Gospel Doctrine teacher. She openly admits to crying when the church block went from three hours to two.
Her favorite thing about Tucson? Legal U-turns, lagging left turn arrows, and the incredible YSA who show up ready to build community (and eat snacks).”
Together, Brian and Heather have been married 34 years and have four daughters, four sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren. Not a single one lives in Arizona, so that’s really sad. Their children are spread between Cincinnatti, Boston, Salt Lake City and Provo. Their biggest regret is not encouraging their daughters to attend University of Arizona, so they would have had a chance to meet some local boys to marry. Over the years, Brian and Heather have served together in various church callings: three pioneer treks, hiking leaders for fourth year hike, service missionaries to teach marriage and family workshops, and for the Tucson Temple celebration with Heather as the Art Director and Brian as Medical Director.
“Brian and Heather have been married for 34 years and are the proud parents of four daughters, four sons-in-law, and seven grandkids—none of whom live in Arizona, which they consider a personal betrayal. (Really, would it have killed at least one of them to pick U of A so Brian and Heather could have some local sons-in-law?)
Their kids are scattered across Cincinnati, Boston, Salt Lake City, and Provo, so the Nielsens spend a lot of time on planes, Facetiming grandkids, and plotting ways to lure everyone back to Tucson.
Over the years, Brian and Heather have served side by side on three pioneer treks, led fourth-year girls on high-adventure hikes, taught marriage and family workshops as service missionaries, and helped with the Tucson Temple Cultural Celebration (Heather as Art Director, Brian as Medical Director). These days, they get their “kid fix” by hanging out with YSA, planning parties, and occasionally joining in on Nerf wars.”
Brian’s Testimony:
Heather’s Testimony: