Meet Elder Pedro X. Larreal, new General Authority Seventy

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Early Life and Conversion

Pedro Xavier Larreal Noguera was born July 6, 1976, in Valencia, Venezuela, to Duilio Antonio Larreal Romero and Haydee Maria Noguera de Larreal. His introduction to the restored gospel came when he was nine years old, as missionaries began teaching his family in their home.  

One evening, his father gathered the family together and suggested that they pray to know whether the message of the missionaries was true. After the prayer, the family experienced a powerful spiritual moment together. Elder Larreal later recalled that when the prayer ended, everyone in the room was crying, and the family felt a strong witness that the Book of Mormon was true.¹ 

This early experience of faith shaped his testimony and commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. From a young age, he shared that he learned that simple family prayer and sincere spiritual seeking could lead to powerful confirmation from the Holy Ghost.  

As a young man, he later served as a full-time missionary in the Venezuela Caracas Mission. During that mission, an experience with President Gordon B. Hinckley left a lasting impression on his life.  

President Hinckley invited missionaries to consecrate themselves fully to the work and promised that if they served with complete devotion, their future families would receive blessings. Elder Larreal took the invitation seriously and even ended a dating relationship at home so he could focus entirely on missionary service. 

Looking back, he later testified that many blessings—including his marriage, education, and career—grew out of his decision to trust that prophetic promise.² 

Family and Personal Life

After his mission, Larreal married Sariah Álvarez Campos in the Caracas Venezuela Temple on August 25, 2001. Together they have three children.  

Both Elder and Sister Larreal come from families that valued faith and sacrifice. Sister Larreal told Church News about the example of her parents, who sold their possessions so they could travel to the temple and be sealed. Their faith deeply influenced her own commitment to the gospel and temple covenants.³ 

Professional Career and Education

Alongside his Church service, Elder Larreal developed a career in business and leadership. Earlier in his professional life, he worked for the Church as a coordinator in the Seminaries and Institutes program in Venezuela.  

In 2009 he joined Nature’s Sunshine Products, a global wellness company. Over time he served as general manager and later as regional director for Latin America, helping oversee operations across multiple countries including Mexico, Central America, and the Dominican Republic.  

He also pursued higher education during his career. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Simón Rodríguez University, a master’s degree in education science from Santa María University, and later completed an MBA at the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business.  

These experiences in both education and international business helped prepare him for leadership responsibilities across cultures and languages.

Church Leadership and Ministry

Elder Larreal has served in a variety of leadership roles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His service has included callings as bishop, stake executive secretary, high councilor, counselor in a stake presidency, and stake president.  

He later served as an Area Seventy in both the Mexico Area and the Utah Area.

He shared with Poets and Quants for Execs a moment that blessed him while serving as an Area Seventy:

"One of my assignments as area seventies and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was to visit Hispanic elderly and youth who had tried to kill themselves. There was a call from a desperate relative telling me that she wanted me to see and give a Priesthood blessing to a cousin. That Sunday, I met with that relative. I will be able to provide her with the name of Young Susana; after speaking with her in the same language for more than two hours and giving her a blessing, the young woman, thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, began a miraculous recovery. She always asks her family member how she is and she told me the same. A few months ago, I had the privilege of receiving a call inviting me to the wedding and forming a new life. I felt grateful for the Holy Spirit and much of what I learned in the MBA in so many classes."⁴ 

From 2022 to 2025, Elder and Sister Larreal served as mission leaders in the Texas McAllen Mission.

In April 2025, he was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.⁵  With that call, he became the second General Authority Seventy from Venezuela, following Elder Rafael E. Pino.  

A Message of Faith and Trust in the Lord

When first called, Elder Larreal emphasized faith, obedience, and trust in prophetic counsel. Reflecting on his experience as a missionary and the promise given by President Hinckley, he testified that blessings come when disciples follow prophetic direction.

He told Church News:

“When we follow the direction of our prophet, seer and revelator, we will receive blessings in our lives.”⁶ 

Elder Larreal also taught that discipleship often requires acting in faith even when the path ahead is not fully clear. Drawing on the example of Nephi in the Book of Mormon, he encouraged believers to move forward trusting the Lord.

“Sometimes we need to take a leap of faith … as long as we take steps of faith, He is going to guide us.”⁷ 

Looking Forward

As a General Authority Seventy, Elder Larreal now ministers throughout the global Church, strengthening faith in Jesus Christ and supporting the gathering of Israel.

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• ^{1. https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2025/08/17/elder-pedro-larreal-general-authority-seventy-bio-2025-venezuela-faith/}
• ^{2. Ibid.}
• ^{3. Ibid.}
• ^{4. https://poetsandquantsforexecs.com/students/2021-best-brightest-embas-pedro-xavier-larreal-noguera-brigham-young-university-marriott/}
• ^{5. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/pedro-x-larreal?lang=eng}
• ^{6. Ibid.}
• ^{7. Ibid.}