Mormon Stories Podcast Italian Mormon Pioneers Leave Church - Leopoldo Larcher and Emily Guincho | Ep. 2107
Jan 26, 2026
Leopoldo Larcher, an Italian convert who rose to senior leadership and helped build the church in Italy, and his daughter Emily Guincho, raised Mormon in Italy, BYU alum and former missionary, share their family’s journey. They discuss rapid leadership roles, intense church service, cultural clashes with Italian life, discoveries about church history, and the personal costs and consequences of leaving.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Beach Baptism In 1960s Italy
- Leopoldo and his wife were baptized on a beach in 1964 with his wife in a bikini and him in his trunks.
- The joyful elder dove and lost his glasses, which Leopoldo retrieved by hand during the baptism in the sea.
Local Leadership Over Missionary Control
- Leopoldo felt called to replace missionaries as branch leaders so Italians could lead their own congregations.
- He prioritized finding and ordaining local leadership to stabilize growth and reduce missionary dependency.
Workaholic Service Strained Family
- Leopoldo often worked from 7:30am to 7:30pm traveling to church offices in Milan, leaving his wife to manage the home and children.
- His children later told him they felt neglected and that his church service harmed family life.
