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SALT LAKE CITY — A temporary exhibit at the LDS Church History Library opened Tuesday, commemorating 100 years since the publishing of Elder James E. Talmage's "Jesus the Christ."
Possibly one of the most influential books in LDS literature, "Jesus the Christ" has influenced doctrine, has been used as curriculum for priesthood meetings twice and is part of the official missionary library, according to the LDS Church Public Affairs Department.
A former member of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Talmage wrote the book by compiling information and insights from the lectures he taught about Jesus from 1904 to 1906.
The First Presidency of the LDS Church asked that he convert the lectures into a book in 1905.
Also titled "Jesus the Christ," the free exhibit will feature Elder Talmage's lecture outlines, pages from the original handwritten manuscript, a first edition of the book, a 1963 edition and a few editions in foreign languages.
"In the past 100 years, there have been dozens of reprints and a number of different editions released. It has never really gone out of print, which is pretty impressive for a book," Elise Reynolds, church history specialist at the library, said in a statement.
Reynolds added that Elder Talmage began writing the book in the Salt Lake Temple a couple months after World War I broke out.
"We're very excited to put the Talmage manuscript on display," Keith Erekson, director of the Church History Library, said in a statement. "We have had such great interest in the 'Foundations of Faith' exhibit, and such improved security in the reference room that we wanted to experiment with a timely and temporary exhibit. The anniversary of the publication of Jesus the Christ provided the perfect opportunity."
The "Jesus the Christ" exhibit is located in the lobby of the library at 15 North Temple Street and will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. It will also be open Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
