Few athletes have influenced BYU football and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as much as Gifford Nielsen. But how did a Provo kid who once dreamed of basketball become a legendary BYU quarterback, an NFL veteran, and eventually a General Authority? And what did he learn about joy, faith, and leadership while serving across the world—even in West Africa—before returning to reflect on BYU Athletics’ global impact? In part one of our two-part Deep Blue conversation, Elder Nielsen shares stories of testimony, adversity, and vision, and how those experiences shaped both his life and his love for BYU.