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SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reached a new milestone in Peru with the opening of its 100th stake there.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles traveled to Peru to create the stake and participated in a Sunday service marking the event on June 30.
During the service, Elder Christofferson encouraged Latter-day Saints to continue to follow Jesus Christ by serving others. He also spoke about the church's rapid growth in Peru.
The first Peruvian stake was created in 1970. Church membership in that country has more than doubled in the last two decades to nearly 528,000.
Peru now is just the fourth country in the world with at least 100 stakes, which are collections of five to 12 smaller congregations similar to Catholic diocese. The other three countries with at least 100 stakes are the United States with 1,504; Brazil with 249; and Mexico with 226.
The Saturday before the 100th stake was created in Peru, about 14,000 local church members celebrated at an event at the University of San Marcos stadium. It featured cultural dances, a parade of 300 former and current Mormon missionaries and a video about the Church's 50-year history in Peru.
- Lima
- Arequipa
- Trujillo
While in Peru, Elder Christofferson also was interviewed on Peru National Radio and spoke about a day of service planned there for December, according to Mormon Newsroom.
He also met with a Peruvian congressman, the director of interfaith affairs and the director general of justice and worship.
They talked about the importance of the family and of promoting projects that improve the future of the needy and help them achieve self-reliance.
Contributing: The Associated Press
