James T. Duke taught at Brigham Young University from 1963 to 2003 in the Department of Sociology. He instructed both undergraduate and graduate classes in sociological theory, the sociology of religion, the sociological study of Mormon life, and the Book of Mormon. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Utah and a PhD from the University of California at Los Angeles.

He is the author or editor of several books, including Latter-day Saint Social Life, which reviews research concerning LDS people. He has published articles in the Ensign, the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, and the Encyclopedia of Mormonism. He has also authored many journal articles and is an internationally recognized scholar on Church growth. He has done research or given papers in Kingston, Jamaica; London and Nottingham, England; Helsinki, Finland; Uppsala, Sweden; New Delhi, India; Mexico City, Mexico; Tel Aviv, Israel; Durban, South Africa; and Varna, Bulgaria. He loves to travel and has visited many other areas of the world.

Brother Duke has served in many callings, including full-time missionary, bishop, branch president, high counselor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, ward and stake Young Men's president, ward and stake Sunday School president, bishopric counselor, and ward mission leader. He also served as a Church service missionary in the Research Information Division of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City.

He and Ruth Sidwell Duke are the parents of nine children and twenty-two grandchildren. Duke's hobbies are walking, music, reading, and spending time with his family.