The Articles of Faith

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH.

A SERIES OF LECTURES ON THE PRINCIPAL DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, BY DR. JAMES E. TALMAGE.

This book of some four hundred and ninety pages of matter, ihe latest addition to religious home literature, is composed of twenty-three lectures on the thirteen Articles of Faith, with an introductory lecture on theology in general and on Joseph Smith the Prophet. The greater number of these addresses were originally delivered before the theology class of the Church University and other Church organizations engaged in theological study. In arrangement of subject matter and size the work is issued on the plan of Roberts' Outlines of Ecclesiastical History, conveniently paragraphed, with side-heads, and copious notes at the close of each chapter. The review questions for each lecture, however, for class work exercise and review, are inserted in an appendix and followed by a useful subjective index. The addresses are presented now in this form by request and appointment of the First Presidency, thus making the volume practically official, the object being to have it used as a text book in the various educational institutions of the Church. The discussion of the Articles of Faith gives the well-known author a first-class opportunity to present the leading principles of the Gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints. He does it in a most readable manner. In the treatment

of the subject the author has succeeded admirably in setting forth a smooth and plain statement of facts and doctrine in the history and belief of the Latter-day Saints, such as will find ready

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acquiescence with the believer, because of the spirit of simplicity and truth in which it is made; and, on the other hand, because of its freedom from aggressive argument, will elicit but little opposition from unbelievers. As a text book in the hands of theological teachers, it will prove one of the most useful works in the Church. The scope of investigation has been very extended, and the best facts and thoughts from contemporaneous works, and from the Holy Scriptures, bearing upon the subject in hand, have been selected, condensed, and interwoven, until every page is a rich depository of information, with numerous indices pointing to the extensive fields from which its choice kernels have been gathered. The book is perhaps the freest from errors in print of any of the Church works, but this typographical perfection is unhappily marred by the very awkward and inartistic arrangement of the preface and list of "contents." — E. H. Anderson.