His own journal entry on the matter sums up his predicament I’ll try to be brief, but here are some of the more interesting bits I learned.ġ. The book was, as you said, to be based on a series of lectures that then Professor Talmage had been giving at the new Latter-day Saints University campus, in Barrett Hall on Sunday evenings in 1905. The First Presidency requested that they be written in a book, but by so doing they put Professor Talmage in a tough spot. My main source for my answer comes from the publisher’s preface to the book itself as published in the 1983 edition of the work. There is a lot of interesting information available about the publication of Jesus The Christ, and what Elder Talmage had to do to complete it. I have been told that he actually lived in the temple for the duration of time that it took him to complete this work, is this true? And that he did this work in the Salt Lake Temple, on the fourth floor. Talmage, under the direction of the leaders of the Church was asked to compile a series of lectures about the life of Jesus Christ into a book. The complete text of Jesus the Christ and an audiobook are also available online at understand that Elder James E. Lee Library at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. There is also an exhibit commemorating the book's publication in the Harold B.

The exhibit on Temple Square concludes in early October. His journals indicate that he was often at Church meetings, asked to speak at Church events and spent many evenings administering to the sick. While the exhibit itself focuses on Jesus the Christ as a publication, it offers an incredible opportunity to learn more about Elder Talmage as a “faithful man,” “teacher” and “servant of the Lord.” Elder Talmage was known for putting the Church ahead of his career and other opportunities.

“It is also interesting to know,” remarked Reynolds “that the writing was done in the Salt Lake Temple.” Elder Talmage was given space in the temple where he could work on the book with less distraction. The book has been translated into 15 languages as well as in Braille. The Dutch edition was one of the first languages to be translated after the book was released in English. The exhibit includes Elder Talmage’s lecture outlines and pages from his original handwritten manuscript, as well as a first edition of Jesus the Christ, a 1963 edition and Dutch and Russian editions.

Elise Reynolds, a Church history specialist, said, “After the scriptures, Jesus the Christ is really the go-to reference … on the life of the Savior.” In the book’s 42 chapters, Elder Talmage presents the life of the Savior, His ministry, choosing the apostles, His crucifixion, resurrection and the final chapter, “Jesus the Christ to Return.”

Jesus the christ talmage