SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church footprint in Peru continues to grow. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently opened its 100th stake in Peru.

That makes the South American country 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.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles traveled to Peru to participate in a special ceremony to celebrate the milestone. Church figures show that Mormon church membership in Peru has more than doubled in the last two decades to nearly 528,000 today.

The other three countries with at least 100 stakes are the United States with 1,504; Brazil with 249; and Mexico with 226. Peru has one Mormon temple and two more planned.

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