Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Nels W. Thorderson and Sister Gina Thorderson have been called to serve as
the new mission leaders for the Utah St. George Mission which encompasses from
Parowan to the north to Mesquite, Nevada to the south, and over to Kanab, in Kane
County. They and their two daughters are from Tupelo, Mississippi, which is the 7th
most populist city in Mississippi (about 38,000 people) and is considered a commercial,
industrial, and cultural hub of northern Mississippi. It’s known as the birthplace of Elvis
Presley, who is commemorated with numerous statues. Tupelo is located between
Memphis, TN and Birmingham, AL on I-22.
The Thordersons started their service on July 1, 2025. They are succeeding President
Kevin D. Staples and Sister Sonja G. Staples, who recently completed their three year
mission assignment and relocated to Colorado.
Prior to the call as Utah St. George Mission leaders, President Thorderson was serving
as a counselor in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission, as a Memphis Temple ordinance
worker, and as an Institute teacher with Sister Thorderson. Sister Thorderson was
serving as a youth Sunday school teacher, as a Stake Seminary & Institute supervisor,
and Memphis Temple ordinance worker when they were called. There are lots of service
opportunities in the south.
Their missionary purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive
the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance,
baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
President Thorderson was born in Illinois and raised in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan.
Sister Thorderson was born and raised in Melbourne, Florida. They have 2 daughters
ages 24 and 26, who were born in Michigan, but raised in Tupelo, Mississippi where the
family has lived for 20 years.
Their oldest daughter Maren is currently living with them in St. George while applying to
graduate school to become a physician assistant. She served a full-time mission in the
Puerto Rico San Juan Mission. Their younger daughter lives in Boston and is studying
to become a midwife.
