a claim upon the attention of all those desiring information on the subject of the gospel, as well as to the quorums of seventies and elders to whom we believe it will be of special service. Before the work went to press the manuscript was submitted to a committee of brethren appointed by the First Presidency. Elders John Nicholson, George Reynolds and James E. Talmage constituted that committee. The author is very much indebted to them for their patient consideration of his manuscript, and for the very valuable suggestions and corrections made by them. They reported favorably to the First Presidency on the work, and it is now presented to the students of Ecclesiastical History--in which the church of Christ should abound--in the hope that it will be of service to them in their researches in this most interesting department of knowledge. This, the fifth edition, is uniform with the previous edition, in every respect. _The Publishers_ Footnotes 1. Pearl of Price, page 85. CONTENTS DEDICATION INTRODUCTION PART I. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH PART II. THE APOSTASY PART III. THE REFORMATION PART IV. THE RESTORATION OF THE GOSPEL INDEX PART I. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH. {11} SECTION I. 1. Birth of Messiah.--Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world, was born, most probably, in the year of Rome 753; at a period of the year corresponding to our month of April (see notes 1, 2, end of section). The place of his birth was Bethlehem [Beth-le-hem],[1] a small town about four miles south of Jerusalem. The birth-place of Messiah was foretold by Micah [Mi-kah], the prophet, more than seven hundred years before the event, in the following prophecy: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah [Ef-ra-tah], though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.[2] 2. Parentage of Christ.--Messiah was born of the virgin Mary, a descendant of David, and the espoused wife of Joseph, a carpenter in the little village of Nazareth [Naz-a-reth], who, notwithstanding his humble station in life, was also a descendant of the royal house of David. An angel appeared unto Mary previous to her conception, and thus addressed her: