The author argues that prevailing Christianity has become "more largely man-made than Christ-made", layered with centuries of scholarly interpretation rather than Jesus's direct words. This 1918 text strips away that accumulation to present what Jesus himself actually taught. Written for teenagers, it distills complex spiritual concepts into accessible lessons about faith, God's love, and the path to eternal life. Widtsoe, a prominent LDS leader, writes with hope that readers will not merely understand Jesus's words but come to love them, and through that love, know and love God more deeply. The book covers Jesus's identity as the Son of God, His teachings about eternal life, and practical lessons for living a Christ-like life. What makes this book endure is its directness: it asks readers to consider whether they know Jesus through His own words or through what others have said about Him. It's for anyone who feels disconnected from religion's complexity and wants something simpler, truer, more immediate.
