Talmage’s studies focused on chemistry and geology. But Talmage was clearly one of his stars and he remained close to (Talmage) all the way through his educational experience.” “A lot of students experienced his personal mentoring. “Talmage was clearly one of Maeser’s star pupils,” BYU history professor Spencer Fluhman said. Maeser. Talmage was the first student to complete a college degree at BYA and went on to do graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and Lehigh University.

Though he was born in England, Talmage eventually moved to Provo where he attended Brigham Young Academy under principal and teacher Karl G. “He wanted to go all the way back in time from the LDS perspective as Jesus Christ is the Son of God, is Jehovah of the Old Testament, and to continue after the ascension of Christ.” “What he wanted to do was to produce a volume on the life of Jesus the Christ that was different from everyone else’s because everyone else basically began with the birth and ended with the ascension,” Holzapfel said. Talmage continued to publish new editions of the book throughout his life as new academic research and church revelations became available. It sold out quickly, along with a second edition. “Jesus the Christ” was first published in September 1915. Holzapfel said it is hard to determine the total number of copies sold because other publishers continued to print the book after its copyright expired. 1- selling book in church history, with over 1 million copies sold,” said Richard Holzapfel, Ph.D., BYU religion professor and former mission president.

“If you don’t count the Standard Works, it’s probably is the no. To celebrate the centennial year of “Jesus The Christ,” two BYU religion scholars will examine the book - chapter by chapter - during the annual campus Education Week. Yet he wrote one of the most enduring works ever published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Talmage was a scientist, not a bible scholar. Talmage was a chemist and geologist who was asked to turn his intellect to writing about LDS doctrine including works like “Jesus The Christ” and “Articles of Faith.”

Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage