Argentina

Argentina has a population of more than 40,301,000 people. The first mission of the church in South America was established in Buenos Aires in 1925. The first stake in Argentina was established in Buenos Aires in 1966. The Buenos Aires temple was dedicated in 1986. There are currently ten missions in Argentina. The Buenos Aires North, South, and West missions, as well as Neuquen, Mendoza, Cordoba, Resistencia, Rosario, Bahia Blanca, and Salta. The membership in Argentina is more than 371,000 members. There are currently 70 stakes and 38 districts in Argentina.

Concepcion

Concepcion has a population of more than 292,000 people, but the area surrounding Concepcion has a population of more than 1,996,000. There are currently two missions located in Concepcion. There are 3 stakes that make up the city of Concepcion.

Santiago

There are 31 stakes in the City of Santiago. The only temple in Chile is found within this city. There are more than 5,651,000 people in Santiago. Currently the missions of Chile Santiago North, West, and East missions all serve the areas around Santiago.

Chile

Chile has a temple in Santiago, which was dedicated in 1983 and rededicated in 2006. There are 74 stakes in Chile and 24 districts. The last stake to be created in Chile was 1998. The first branch created in Chile was in 1956 and the first stake was organized in 1972. There are more than 554,000 members of the church in Chile. The total population of Chile has more than 16,284,000 people.

Chiclayo

Chiclayo has five stakes and the metropolitan area of Chiclayo has a total population of more than 970,000 people. Within the city limits the population is 574,000 people. The last stake to be created in Chiclayo was in 1996. The city is in the northern portion of the country, near the coast. The Pomalca stake created in 2007 is very close to the city of Chiclayo.

Arequipa

Arequipa has a total population of more than 904,000 people and is the second most populous city in Peru. There are currently six stakes in Arequipa, there has not been a new stake in Arequipa since 1997 when two stakes were created in this city. The distance from Lima to Arequipa is 476 miles, and can take many hours to travel to visit the temple.

The location of temples is inspired and revealed to the prophet through the Lord. Temples are only built when the church members are spiritually ready and willing to support a temple. This being said, based on distance to travel to the nearest temple, the number of stakes in this city, and the duration in which these stakes have been in place in order to create a strong foundation of members, the city of Arequipa would be a prime location for a future temple of the Lord.

Lima

The city of Lima has a total population of more than 7,605,000 people. There is on temple built in Lima, which was built in 1986. There are currently 34 stakes in the city of Lima. The first stake in Lima was organized in 1970.

Trujillo

The temple in Trujillo Peru will serve more than 88,000 members of the church in the areas surrounding Trujillo. Missionaries were first assigned to Trujillo in 1960. The first stake in Trujillo was organized in 1978, there are currently seven stakes in the city of Trujillo. For members in Trujillo it can take 9-10 hours by bus to travel to the Lima, Peru temple. The total population in Trujillo is more than 682,000 people. In 1998 there were three stakes created in the city of Trujillo. Since 1998 there has not been any new stakes created in this city.

Peru

The first branch started in 1956. The first mission of the church in Peru was the Andes Mission, which began in 1959. There are now 89 stakes and 24 Districts in the country of Peru. There is currently a temple in Lima, which was dedicated in 1986. Another temple has been announced in Trujillo.
Peru has a total population of approximately 29,180,900 people (estimated July 2008). Of these more than 462,000 people are members of the church. There are seven missions in Peru, which are the Peru Arequipa, Chiclayo, Lima Central, Lima East, Lima North, Lima South, and Trujillo missions.

New Stake Created

Lima Peru Condevilla Stake- was created April 19, 2009 and is located in the area near the Jorge Chavez International Airport. The addition of this stake brings the total to 34 stakes in the city of Lima. This is the first stake to be organized in Lima since 2003, when two stakes were organized in this city.