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THE STORY OF MORMONISM - ANNOTATED FOR LATTER-DAY SAINTS
THE STORY OF MORMONISM by James E. Talmage of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a collection of lectures delivered by Dr. James E. Talmage at the University of Michigan, Cornell University, and elsewhere. The "Story" first appeared in print as a lecture report in the Improvement Era, and was afterward issued as a booklet from the office of the Millennial Star, Liverpool. In 1910 it was issued in a revised form by the Bureau of Information at Salt Lake City, in which edition the lecture style of direct address was changed to the ordinary form of essay. The present or third American edition has been revised and amplified by the author.
The "Story" has been published abroad and translated into Swedish, Modern Greek, and Russian.
The second section of this publication, titled The Philosophy of "Mormonism" was first presented as a lecture delivered by Dr. Talmage before the Philosophical Society of Denver. It appeared later in the columns of the Improvement Era, and translations have been published in pamphlet form in the Danish and German languages.
The present publication of these two productions is made in response to a steady demand.
The "Story" has been published abroad and translated into Swedish, Modern Greek, and Russian.
The second section of this publication, titled The Philosophy of "Mormonism" was first presented as a lecture delivered by Dr. Talmage before the Philosophical Society of Denver. It appeared later in the columns of the Improvement Era, and translations have been published in pamphlet form in the Danish and German languages.
The present publication of these two productions is made in response to a steady demand.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2015
44 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
James E. Talmage
387 books139 followersJames Edward Talmage was a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, and a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born Sunday Sept. 21, 1862, at Hungerford, Berkshire, England, the son of James Joyce Talmage and his wife, Susannah Preater. He is the first son and second child in a family of eight. He was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the place of his birth, June 15, 1873, and on the 18th of the following August was ordained a Deacon in the Ramsbury branch of the London conference.
The entire family left England May 24, 1876, landed in New York June 5th, and arrived in Salt Lake City June 14th following. His career in the Church was upward and onward from the time of his baptism. In Provo, Utah, where the family had established a home, he was ordained a Teacher December 17, 1877, and an Elder June 28, 1880. On September 29, 1884, he was ordained a High Priest, and was set apart as an alternate High Councilor in the Utah Stake of Zion.
On December 7, 1911, he was appointed and sustained to be one of the Apostles, to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Elder Charles W. Penrose as second counselor in the First Presidency, and on the following day (Dec. 8th) was ordained an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and was set apart as one of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under the hands of President Joseph F. Smith, assisted by his counselors and members of the Council of the Twelve.
In 1888 (June 14th) he married Mary May Booth (daughter of Richard Thornton Booth and his wife, Elsie Edge Booth), at the Manti Temple, and from this union there came the following children: Sterling B., born May 21, 1889; Paul B.,born Dec. 21, 1891; Zella, born Aug. 3, 1894, died of pneumonia April 27, 1895; Elsie, born Aug. 16, 1896; James Karl, born Aug. 29, 1898; Lucile, born May 29, 1900; Helen May, born Oct. 24, 1902, and John Russell, born Feb. 1, 1911.
` Elder Talmage obtained his early schooling in the National and Board schools of his home district in England, and was an Oxford diocesan prize scholar in 1874. He entered the Brigham Young Academy (now University) at Provo, Utah, in 1876, and followed to completion the high school and normal courses, and in his 17th year was a teacher of elementary science and English in the institution named. His early predilection was for the sciences, and in 1882-83 he took a selected course, mainly in chemistry and geology, at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. Though a special student and not a candidate for a degree, he passed during his single year of residence nearly all the examinations in the four-year course and was later graduated; and in 1883-84 he was engaged in advanced work at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
He returned to Utah in the fall of 1884, in response to a summons from the home institution, and served as professor of geology and chemistry, with varied activities in other departments, in the Brigham Young Academy from 1884 to 1888. While still a member of the faculty, he was elected a member of the board of trustees of the Brigham Young Academy. During his residence in Provo, he served successively as city councilman, alderman and justice of the peace.
In 1888 he was called to Salt Lake City to take the presidency of the Latter-day Saints College, which position he held until 1893. He was president of and professor of geology in the University of Utah, 1894-97. In the year last named he resigned the presidency, but retained the chair of geology, which had been specially endowed; and ten years later (1907) he resigned the professorship to follow the practical work of mining geology, for which his services were in great demand. In 1891 he received the degree of Bachelor of Science, and in 1912 the honorary degree of Doctor of Science, from his old alma mater, Lehigh University. In 1890 he was given the honorary degree
The entire family left England May 24, 1876, landed in New York June 5th, and arrived in Salt Lake City June 14th following. His career in the Church was upward and onward from the time of his baptism. In Provo, Utah, where the family had established a home, he was ordained a Teacher December 17, 1877, and an Elder June 28, 1880. On September 29, 1884, he was ordained a High Priest, and was set apart as an alternate High Councilor in the Utah Stake of Zion.
On December 7, 1911, he was appointed and sustained to be one of the Apostles, to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Elder Charles W. Penrose as second counselor in the First Presidency, and on the following day (Dec. 8th) was ordained an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and was set apart as one of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under the hands of President Joseph F. Smith, assisted by his counselors and members of the Council of the Twelve.
In 1888 (June 14th) he married Mary May Booth (daughter of Richard Thornton Booth and his wife, Elsie Edge Booth), at the Manti Temple, and from this union there came the following children: Sterling B., born May 21, 1889; Paul B.,born Dec. 21, 1891; Zella, born Aug. 3, 1894, died of pneumonia April 27, 1895; Elsie, born Aug. 16, 1896; James Karl, born Aug. 29, 1898; Lucile, born May 29, 1900; Helen May, born Oct. 24, 1902, and John Russell, born Feb. 1, 1911.
` Elder Talmage obtained his early schooling in the National and Board schools of his home district in England, and was an Oxford diocesan prize scholar in 1874. He entered the Brigham Young Academy (now University) at Provo, Utah, in 1876, and followed to completion the high school and normal courses, and in his 17th year was a teacher of elementary science and English in the institution named. His early predilection was for the sciences, and in 1882-83 he took a selected course, mainly in chemistry and geology, at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. Though a special student and not a candidate for a degree, he passed during his single year of residence nearly all the examinations in the four-year course and was later graduated; and in 1883-84 he was engaged in advanced work at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
He returned to Utah in the fall of 1884, in response to a summons from the home institution, and served as professor of geology and chemistry, with varied activities in other departments, in the Brigham Young Academy from 1884 to 1888. While still a member of the faculty, he was elected a member of the board of trustees of the Brigham Young Academy. During his residence in Provo, he served successively as city councilman, alderman and justice of the peace.
In 1888 he was called to Salt Lake City to take the presidency of the Latter-day Saints College, which position he held until 1893. He was president of and professor of geology in the University of Utah, 1894-97. In the year last named he resigned the presidency, but retained the chair of geology, which had been specially endowed; and ten years later (1907) he resigned the professorship to follow the practical work of mining geology, for which his services were in great demand. In 1891 he received the degree of Bachelor of Science, and in 1912 the honorary degree of Doctor of Science, from his old alma mater, Lehigh University. In 1890 he was given the honorary degree
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 17, 2017
Do not bother with this one. Very disappointed with it.
March 6, 2021
Picked this up from project Gutenberg. Just wanted to make sure I definitely didn't want to become mormon since they seem to be the only religious group with their act together.
The first half was the history, which was truly shocking in the government's treatment of them. Not shocking that it happened, but that nobody mentions it. I guess because Mormons are doing so well in life they aren't given the same space in public school books as other groups, but they had a tough go of it.
The second half was their "philosophy," as the author called it. On paper most of it was unobjectionable and even more sensible than many protestant ideas. But the way they came to it, through the book and the weird history about who native Americans are, is a bit hard to grasp.
The first half was the history, which was truly shocking in the government's treatment of them. Not shocking that it happened, but that nobody mentions it. I guess because Mormons are doing so well in life they aren't given the same space in public school books as other groups, but they had a tough go of it.
The second half was their "philosophy," as the author called it. On paper most of it was unobjectionable and even more sensible than many protestant ideas. But the way they came to it, through the book and the weird history about who native Americans are, is a bit hard to grasp.
May 10, 2017
Considering that this short "story" was published almost 100 years ago, it was interesting to see what historical gems took the foreground for this book. In our modern age of comfort and convenience, to think of the hardships of the last two centuries stacked on top of the hardships of frontier living which are further stacked upon heinous persecution, it's a wonder that any Mormon pioneers survived physically or spiritually through those years. And of what have I to moan?
I adore the style and works of Elder James E. Talmage. When I read his books, I marvel and wonder what it would take for me to learn how to write like this.
I adore the style and works of Elder James E. Talmage. When I read his books, I marvel and wonder what it would take for me to learn how to write like this.
November 24, 2023
Quest to learn of the Latter Day Saints of the church of Jesus Christ
Excellent. Read it from cover to cover. As a staunch Calvinist myself, I don’t see myself going to their side.
Excellent. Read it from cover to cover. As a staunch Calvinist myself, I don’t see myself going to their side.
February 10, 2025
It was ok. Half church history half summary of beliefs. The beliefs part is excellent. Very well written. The history is very long on Utah history.
December 8, 2011
This is a highly positive review of Mormonism. It focuses on the early history of Mormonism, but does not include a discussion of Mormon beliefs or faith, with the exception of the opening account of Joseph Smith and the final few pages about Mormonism and polygamy. As a history, it is a helpful account of Mormonism's beginnings.
July 18, 2012
For anyone investigating the Church of Jesus Christ, do yourself a favor and read our own perspective on our faith before being told what we believe by someone who has an obvious bias.
This book eloquently presents the story and philosophy of the Latter Day Saints from a Latter Day Saint perspective, that is, it is what we actually believe, not what someone else claims that we do.
This book eloquently presents the story and philosophy of the Latter Day Saints from a Latter Day Saint perspective, that is, it is what we actually believe, not what someone else claims that we do.
February 6, 2013
Not knowing much about the sect, I thought I would investigate a bit. Interesting if you dont know much about mormonism but alas just more to be filed in the fairytale section in my opinion.
April 18, 2014
In true Talmage style, not a light read.
But short and a good overview of the history.
But short and a good overview of the history.
February 16, 2015
A good solid review of what Mormonism is/was at the turn of the 19th Century. Covers topics and misunderstandings briefly. Read it if you want a perspective from the time period.
October 27, 2015
Primarily interesting due to some new (to me) facts about the Utah War.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews