The Great Apostasy: Considered in the Light of Scriptural and Secular History

James Edward Talmage

Jan 1909 · Deseret News

About this ebook

Discusses the apostasy of the primitive church to show that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a restoration of the gospel.

Ratings and reviews

Pathetic. Really, not one book to prove any need for a Great Apostasy or to debunk the Catholic claim of Apostolic succession. Unfortunately Talmage's book is full of the usual missconceptions and historical myths regarding the Catholic Church that were spread by Protestant historians during the 17th and 18th centuries to defend their own positions, to wit: that Catholics worship Mary and the Saints (not so); that they paid money (Indulgences) to seek forgiveness for sins committed (not quite); that the Popes are pure power/money seekers with no religious mandate (debatable); that liturgical ceremonies are supersticious hocus-pocus of pagan/gnostic origin (not true). There are so many historically factual errors in this book that it makes a poor guide for scholarly learning. Even the few sources he uses (Mosheim and Milner) are of little historical repute. So, try again Mr LDS.

It is only one of the most awesome books ever written. The detail that it goes into is absolutely amazing. James E. Talmage is incredible and I would recommend this book to anybody. It answers a lot of the questions that exist in the world today--mainly the question "Why are there so many different Christian denominations and sects if there is only one God, one faith and one Bible?"

One of my favorite LDS books. Talmage gives an awesome account of the apostasy both from within the church and without.