THE Mormon church, considered by Protestant groups and evangelical Christians worldwide as a heretic sect, is on an expansion mode.
According to its president Thomas S. Monson, the Utah-based Mormon church will build three new temples in North America.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temples will be built in Meridian, Idaho; Fort Collins, Colo.; and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Monson was quoted as saying that the new temples “will certainly be a blessing to our members in those areas.”
The Mormon church currently has 134 operating temples worldwide, most in the United States. Another 26 temples are either planned or under construction.
The Winnipeg temple will be the ninth church temple in Canada. It’s location in the Manitoba province’s capital city will be significant for members, who currently must drive nearly 400 miles to practice the faith’s most important religious rites, news agency AP reported.
According to new statistical data released by the church, the group’s worldwide membership has grown to more than 14,131,000. The data also shows that almost 273,000 converted to Mormonism in 2010.
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