19 h 55 minAudiobook14 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at cost
Audiobook edition · 19 h 55 minPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
How does a faith explain what it believes—and why those beliefs shape a life?
In The Articles of Faith, James E. Talmage explores the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through thirteen short statements by Joseph Smith. He follows them in order, from the nature of God to the duties of daily life. Each belief comes with reasons, supporting scripture, and answers to likely objections.
Talmage brings the habits of a scientist and teacher to questions of sin, salvation, authority, and revelation. His account speaks from within the faith, showing how a believer reasons from scripture to doctrine. Alongside teachings about Christ and the future of the earth, he examines freedom of conscience, respect for law, and the call to do good.
What you’ll discover
- Belief, step by step Follow thirteen statements as Talmage develops each into a fuller account of Latter-day Saint teaching.
- Responsibility and salvation Explore the faith’s teachings on personal sin, Christ’s Atonement, repentance, and baptism.
- Scripture and revelation See how Talmage connects sacred texts with spiritual gifts and belief in continuing revelation.
- Authority and the Church Examine who may teach in God’s name, according to the faith, and how the Church is organized.
- Conscience and daily conduct Consider teachings that link freedom of worship with honesty, kindness, and doing good to all.
Who will love it
You will enjoy this book if you like scripture study, comparative religion, church history, or clear doctrinal teaching. It suits readers who want Latter-day Saint beliefs explained by a trained teacher.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- Short statements open into larger teachings
- God can be known as a person
- Freedom gives human choices their meaning
- Christ's sacrifice joins justice and mercy
- Ordinances make belief a covenant
- Church authority requires a divine calling
- Revelation continues beyond received scripture
- God's promises reach across history
- Doctrine leads toward daily conduct
Formats and delivery
- eBook
- On your phone, tablet or computer, once the book texts are online.
- Large-print eBook
- The same book in bigger, clearer type, once the book texts are online.
- Audiobook
- Read by Lucas Linden, complete. It opens once the recording is online.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 14 minutes, to read today.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Hardcover
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print hardcover
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
Every printed copy is made when you order it and shipped worldwide; shipping is shown at checkout. The eBook and the audiobook open when the book texts go online.
How it works
- Start free. Nothing to pay today; the eBook of this book is yours to keep.
- Read, listen and print. 200,000+ classics as eBook, large-print eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, and any book printed at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print, 5 accounts for the price of one.
- We remind you first. Free for 3 months, and we email you 7 days before your first payment. Then USD 0.14 a day in your first year on the yearly plan and USD 0.27 a day after, or USD 0.66 a day on the monthly plan. Cancel online in two clicks.
Bought on its own? Every eBook, audiobook and printed book you buy without the plan carries our 30-day money-back guarantee.
25 languages, side by side
The Articles of Faith in 25 languages, side by side, paragraph by paragraph, once the book texts are online: the way to learn a language with a book you love.
The Articles of Faith
by James E. Talmage · 1899
A short list of thirteen beliefs becomes a full course on God, Christ, scripture, and the last days.
Challenging10–20 hours to read2 languages
Learn a language with challenging classicsSpanishFrenchGermanItalianJapanesePortugueseEnglishHow we measure levels
Excellent
Free for 3 months · starts right away, on any device
Read free3 months free · cancel anytimeFree for 3 months, then USD 0.14 a dayCancel anytimeHow it works
- Read or listen
- 25 languages, side by side
- Print and large print at cost
- 5 accounts for the price of one
In short
What would you say if someone asked you to state your faith in a few lines? Joseph Smith faced that request, and his answer was thirteen short sentences called the Articles of Faith.
The Articles of Faith at a glance
- Reading time
- About 11 h8 h 40 min fast, 13 h 5 min slow
- Length
- 156,700 words
- Library level
- Challenging long sentences, a rich vocabulary
- First published
- 1899by James E. Talmage
Reading time at 238 words a minute (fast 300, slow 200). How long the classics take to read · Updated
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
Study of God shapes both thought and life
Talmage opens by arguing that knowledge of God is the most useful knowledge a person can gain. A merchant needs the principles of trade and a sailor needs navigation. In the same way, every person able to choose needs a working knowledge of God. Life is short, so wisdom means choosing the subjects that matter most.
He separates theology from religion. Theology is theory and religion is practice, and a person can be learned in the first while lacking the second. The Articles of Faith give the course its outline, though Talmage notes they are not a full creed, since the Church accepts continuing revelation.
Free for 3 months · Cancel anytime
You looked at
Which edition is right for me
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas of the whole book in about 14 minutes. A good first look, or a refresher.
Details
- First published
- 1899
- Language
- English
- Level
- Challenging
Cite this edition
Talmage, James E. The Articles of Faith. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/the-articles-of-faith.
Talmage, J. E. (2026). The articles of faith. Library of Alexandria. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/the-articles-of-faith (Original work published 1899)
Talmage, James E. The Articles of Faith. Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/the-articles-of-faith.
@book{talmage2026articles,
author = {Talmage, James E.},
title = {The Articles of Faith},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/the-articles-of-faith},
note = {First published 1899}
}
Free gifts
USD 580 in free gifts when you start
Every book in every format and in 25 languages, 5 accounts for the price of one. Nothing to pay today.
- 200,000+ classic eBooksIn 25 languages, side by side
USD 170FREE - Every audiobookIn 25 languages, any device
USD 120FREE - 15-minute summariesRead or listen, in 25 languages
USD 60FREE - Print at cost, no markupPaperback, hardcover, large print
USD 60FREE - 5 accounts for the price of oneA shelf for everyone at home
USD 170FREE - A part in rebuilding the libraryNew languages and books for all
FREE
Questions about The Articles of Faith
Can I read it free?
Yes. The first key idea of the 15-minute summary is free with no sign-up. Start free and the whole book is yours for 3 months, with the eBook to keep, plus 200,000+ more classics and any book printed at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print. Nothing to pay today: we email you 7 days before your first payment, and you can cancel online in two clicks.
Can I buy the printed book?
Soon. The paperback, hardcover and large print editions are being prepared. Choose Paperback or Hardcover above, leave your email, and we tell you the day you can order it, printed at cost.
How many accounts do I get?
Five, for the price of one: you and 4 more people, each with their own login, shelf and their own place in every book.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel online in two clicks at any time and nothing more is charged. Nothing is charged in your first 3 months, and we email you 7 days before your first payment.
What is The Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage about?
This lecture series examines the thirteen statements of faith that express the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The lectures explain the articles and related teachings using the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and modern revelation.
What are the Articles of Faith?
They are thirteen short statements of belief written by Joseph Smith. They cover God, the Fall, the Atonement, the first principles of the gospel, authority, spiritual gifts, scripture, the last days, religious liberty, obeying the law, and virtue.
When was The Articles of Faith written?
Talmage prepared the lectures at the request of the First Presidency and published them in 1899. A tenth edition followed in 1917 with revised wording and added notes; Dutch and Japanese translations had appeared since the previous edition.
The author
James E. Talmage
1862–1933 · American Mormon theologian and writer
James E. Talmage (1862–1933) was born in England and moved to Utah in 1876. He worked as a scientist and educator and became an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1911. He wrote The Articles of Faith (1899) and Jesus the Christ (1915).
More by James E. Talmage
See all their booksMore like this
Our mission
The library burned once. We are building it back.
Every great book, in every language and every format, for every family. Every plan helps pay for new languages, new audiobooks and books for readers who have never had them. Join the movement.
Read our story- Every language25 languages today, side by side, and more every year
- No wastePrinted on demand: no warehouses, no unsold stock, no pulped copies
- For everyonePaperback, hardcover and large print at the cost of printing
