Gifford Nielsen
S. Gifford Nielsen is a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the Saturday morning session of general conference on April 6, 2024, President Dallin H. Oaks announced that Elder Nielsen will be released and receive emeritus status on August 1, 2024.
He is a former NFL and All-American college football quarterback. He played for the Houston Oilers. He announced his retirement as the sports director of KHOU-TV in Houston, TX, on March 30, 2009. His last newscast was Tuesday, March 31, 2009. He had enjoyed a 25-year career as sports director at Channel 11 in Houston before his retirement. In 2011 he was made president of Nielsen and Nielsen LLC and chairman of the Executive Committee of Memorial City Bank.
- "It was harder retiring from professional football than television," Nielsen said. "You work so hard all through your life to get to a position like the NFL, and when I finally made it, I was euphoric. Then, to be able to play for Bum Phillips and go through the Luv Ya Blue era, which I still believe was the greatest in the history of sports in the Houston area, it was absolutely something we cherish."
Nielsen was one of a string of stellar quarterbacks in the 70s and 80s who played for Brigham Young University. Others included Gary Sheide, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, and Ty Detmer. Nielsen was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
Nielsen was selected in the third round of the 1978 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers, the team with which he spent his entire NFL career. Nielsen played six seasons as a part-time quarterback. He played in 55 professional games and started 14. His career stats include 3,255 passing yards for 20 touchdowns and a 70.0 passer rating.
Service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Gifford Nielson was called as president of the Houston Texas South Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2004. He has consistently been active in service for the Church. In April 2013 Nielsen was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ, and as such, is a General Authority of the Church. He will serve in this position for the remainder of his life. Before this call, he was an "area seventy," overseeing the North America Southwest Area. Area seventies usually serve for a period of five years. During the 183rd Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ, Elder Gifford gave his first general conference talk, “Hastening the Lord’s Game Plan!” [1]
He and broadcast journalist Ruth Todd hosted the 95th birthday celebration for Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The gala was held on September 6, 2019, in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. He shared a humorous story about President Nelson, saying that because of the similarity of their last names and the coincidence that each of their wives are named Wendy, Nielsen's power bill came to the office of President Nelson and he almost paid it, until he noticed it was addressed to Nielsen's wife, Wendy, instead of his own wife, Wendy Nelson. Gifford added, "Our prophet is all about adding power to our lives, in more ways than one."
Nielsen was born October 25, 1954, in Provo, Utah. He and his wife, Wendy, have six children and lived in Texas for 35 years. Because of his call as a general authority, they now live in Utah.
General Conference Talks
- "This Is Our Time!" April 2021
- "Hastening the Lord's Game Plan," October 2013
- Church News, "Elder S. Gifford Nielsen: Good Choices Equal Happiness"
