Articles of Faith [Abridged] [Audio CD]

James E. Talmage (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2003

When the editor of the Chicago Democrat asked Joseph Smith about Mormonism in 1842, the church founder responded with a short history and a list of doctrinal statements identifying the basic tenets of the faith. This short list became known as the Articles of Faith. In 1899 James Talmage published his ground-breaking treatise that bore the same name—a book that has been a standard of Mormon thought for over a century. Topics include the nature of God, the atonement, sacraments and ordinances, Zion, the purpose of the Book of Mormon, and humankind in the nation, church, and cosmos. <P>This facsimile reproduction of Talmage’s original work includes an explanatory introduction by Talmage scholar James Harris and a special appendix that reprints Talmage’s 1930 revision of the Doctrine and Covenants called Latter-day Revelation. The latter was published by the LDS church in several languages and then abandoned.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Twenty-nine-year-old geologist and college president James E. Talmage noted in his journal in 1891: "Today I had an interview with the First Presidency of the Church ... another appointment for an interview was set for Monday next." From these two meetings came a commission to write twenty-four lectures, twenty-two of which were delivered to college audiences, treating the basic tenets of LDS belief. The lectures were published by the church as The Articles of Faith, to date the only authorized, book-length explication of Mormon doctrine. The book proved to be the first of several seminal treatises by Talmage that would dominate the landscape of LDS thought to the present.

Talmage said that he was honored to write for the church and that he intended his work to be a gift. However, after the first print run of 10,500 quickly sold out, church president Lorenzo Snow insisted that he receive a reciprocal "gift" from the church of $1,500 for the copyright. The book sold well for half of a century. Besides articulating well-established points of doctrine, The Articles of Faith addressed controversies concerning eternal progress, the Holy Ghost, the kingdom of God, rebaptism, and unforgivable sins.

Accompanying this edition of The Articles of Faith--an exact, photomechanical reproduction of the first edition--is another, albeit lesser-known work compiled by Talmage entitled Latter-day Revelation, a 1930 abridged version of the church’s Doctrine and Covenants that was apparently intended to replace the lengthier compilation. Latter-day Revelation was translated into several languages and was, for some time, the only version of the Doctrine and Covenants available in those languages. Yet the book quietly disappeared soon after its release. In the preface to the present edition, Talmage scholar James P. Harris explains why and provides further context for Talmage’s treatment of the Articles of Faith. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

JAMES E. TALMAGE studied at Oxford University, Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, and Illinois Wesleyan University. He became president of the University of Utah and, in 1911, an LDS apostle. His many books include The Great Apostasy, The House of the Lord, and Jesus the Christ. The Articles of Faith is considered to be one of his masterworks. <P>JAMES P. HARRIS is the editor of The Essential James E. Talmage, a compilation of TalmageÂ’s most important theological articles and sermons. Professionally he is an investigator with social services for the state of New York in Albany, where he is also the LDS high priest group leader. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc; Abridged edition (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159156283X
• ISBN-13: 978-1591562832
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,008,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Infomative, December 18, 2002

By 

MysteryMan (West Valley City, Utah United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Articles of faith

The Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the closest thing to a "creed" the church has. The Articles of Faith were written in 1842 to John Wentworth by church founder Joseph Smith. Smith outlined 13 beliefs of the Latter-day Saints in that (and yes it was originally 13 and not 14 which has somehow inaccurately been circulated). In this book James Talmage who was a Mormon Church Apostle in the late 19th and early 20th century outlines a greater understanding of these Articles of Faith. Talmage explains them very well doing a great job in outlining the Mormon Churches general beliefs and basic theology. Talmage was a very educated man and there is no better person qualified in explaining these beliefs. Anyone interested in knowing what the Mormon Church really believes should have this book.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for the LDS And the World, June 21, 2004

By 

Robert Vo (Fairfield, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Articles of Faith: (An exact photomechanical reproduction of the first edition) (Hardcover)

I thought Jesus the Christ by Talmage was excellent so I decided to read this. WOW what more can you say! I'm a convert to the Church for the last 2 1/2 years, I'm 28 years old and was sealed to my son and my wife who has been a member her whole life. I've have been with her for about 9 years and I finally got my act together and was sealed last year (2003) in Sept. I remember telling my wife "you knew the church was true the whole time and never told me anything." Problem was I wasn't listening and shut my mind to greater things the Church has to offer. What a Blessing reading this book!

5.0 out of 5 stars LDS, Mormons, Christians; whatever!, October 31, 2011

By 

Chaplin Hawkeye - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Articles of Faith: (An exact photomechanical reproduction of the first edition) (Hardcover)

If you are going to put forth attention, energy, time and assets to determine what they do and don't believe and practice this would be the way without any 'spin'. It comes straight from the "horses mouth". This however, has an attractive artistic cover for those of us wanting to make our libraries look cool.