If he in fact translated an ancient record of the patriarch abraham through the power of god, he must have been the prophet and seer he claimed to be. Common egyptian hypocephalus comparing the source hypocephalus to the published facsimile while we dont have the original hypocephalus, an early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. The book of breathings typically depicts a person who is dead and wrapped in cloth, which would be totally unrelated to the book of abraham. The book contains important teachings about the creation. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the. In this chapter we will examine another book of the mormon scriptures called the book of abraham. An online handbook to the lds church mormon comparing the source hypocephalus to the published facsimile while we dont have the original hypocephalus, an early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. This would make the book of abraham the only existing original copy of a scriptural book. Book of abraham mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Fairs apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect.
The mormon church hoped the book of abraham would vindicate joseph. The following are common criticisms associated with. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. It turns out they closely parallel a chapter in the book of mormon.
This book presents the original transcription of joseph smiths dictated translation of the golden plates. The book of abraham begins with a story not in the bible about the lord rescuing abraham from the priest of pharaoh when he tried to kill abraham on an altar in the land of chaldea abraham 1. The book of abraham papyri a half century later today is the 50th anniversary of the dramatic front page of the november 27th 1967 deseret news, revealing that the lds church had received from the metropolitan museum of art some of the original papyri of joseph smiths book of abraham. This picture shows the rediscovered papyrus and what was penciled in by joseph smith and his associates. Facsimile 1 published in the book of abraham is a common egyptian funerary scene. It is also claimed that abraham has never been associated with the lion couch vignette such. Arthur mace, assistant curator for the department of egyptian art of the metropolitan museum of art in new york. It has absolutely nothing to do with abraham or anything joseph claimed in his translation for the book of abraham. Latterday saint egyptologist kerry muhlestein discusses josephs involvement with the interpretation of the facsimiles in the book of abraham. It is claimed that facsimile 1 is simply a typical funerary scene and there are many other papyri showing the same basic scene, and that the missing portions of the drawing were incorrectly restored. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham response. Smith translated or sketched relating to the text and facsimiles is incorrect. The mormon god and a phallic god could be considered one and the same.
Later, moses allegedly used the book as a reference when writing the genesis. The book of abraham narrative clearly demonstrates the manner in which the lds church works diligently to massage or reinterpret inconvenient facts to continue to defend its most extraordinary truth. The above donut chart shows percentages of the book of abraham section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on if one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 90. Facsimile 1 is in fact a vignette from a late egyptian funerary text showing a priest enbalming the body of a deceased person. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based, he said, on egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. Eldon tanner, sent out for the translation, expecting it to prove smiths true translation abilities. The church taught that the book of abraham was written by the patriarch abraham. First, we need to remember that this is complicated a bit by the fact that abraham 1. In 1835, joseph smith, founder of the original mormon church the church of christ purchased several egyptian papyrus scrolls and fragments from the owner of a traveling road show which exhibited egyptian mummies and documents. A response december 2, 1983 by ben crowder abraham, anubis, apocalypse of abraham, bonwetsch, book of abraham, edward h. Includes color photos of the surviving joseph smith papyri, articles by mormon and nonmormon egyptologists, and free download of a 240page book that surveys the history of the book of abraham controversy. Facsimile 1 in the book of abraham shows abraham on a pagan altar about to be sacrificed by an idolatrous priest, and chapter 1 relates the story of how abraham was seized, bound, and put on an altar to be sacrificed by a pagan priest, who had previously sacrificed three virgins on the same altar because they refused to worship idols.
Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. In the book of genesis we learn that he was the son of terah, born in ur of the chaldees genesis 11. As we discuss all of the facsimiles, we must keep in mind what i wrote about challenge two. Efforts to discredit joseph smiths translation begin with a facsimile. If this were baseball, smith would have struck out swinging at each of the three facsimiles. Cuts 1 and 3 are inaccurate copies of well known sce. The inspiration and basis for the text of the book of abraham is p. A journal of mormon thought, spring, 1995 by his own hand upon papyrus.
The diagram in ces letter astutely points out that there are hieroglyphics at the bottom of the facsimile which joseph smith did not translate. The book is comprised of five chapters and three facsimiles. There are passages in the text of the book of abraham which are attributed to abraham and which refer to facsimile 1 abr. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 1. It was significant that one of the book of abraham s three facsimiles facsimile 1 was part of these fragments, and was found to be at the beginning of hors book of breathings sidenote. Allowing the deceased to pass through the underworld. Jun 27, 20 given the connection with the original of facsimile 1 and the use of symbols from the beginning of this text in association with the abraham manuscripts of the kep, it was apparent that joseph smith and his scribes believed that the document joseph had translated as the book of abraham derived from the hor book of breathings.
It would also date the record of abraham about 2,000 b. The book of abraham comes first on my list, because ultimately the divinity of josephs calling rests upon it. The most straightforward reading of these passages indicates that. Book of abraham joseph smith approved the facsimiles before they were published in the times and seasons.
The book of abraham by common consent, a mormon blog. This is an exact facsimile reprint of the original, 1830 edition of the book of mormon, the authoritative scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Ten questions and answers on the book of abraham mormons. Nonmormon egyptologists, beginning in the late 19th century, have disagreed with joseph smiths explanations of the facsimiles. Obviously, joseph smith meant the facsimiles as illustrations for or additions to the text, and not as being authored by abraham. Abraham with an illustration similar to facsimile 1 in the book of abraham. The book of abraham bofa is a part of the pofgp, and thus one of the lds scriptures although it is not recognized as scriptural by other branches of mormonism, including the secondlargest group, the reorganized church of jesus christ of latterday saints. It must be noted the lds church has never officially said their god is a copulating bull without equal. The illustration represented by facsimile 2 is a hypocephalus, a disc made of linen, papyrus, or bronze, covered with inscriptions and images which relate to one of the last spells in the book of the dead. Abraham and the urim and thummim, farms update 149, insights. F or many mormons, an examination of the book of abraham and its true history becomes the most significant stumbling block to joseph smiths claim as a prophetic translator of ancient languages. I want to thank ces letter for pointing this row of hieroglyphics out. First, the association of facsimile 1 with the book of abraham cannot derive from abraham, since facsimile 1 dates to approximately 100 b. But facsimile 1 has a person who is clearly alive, with one leg up in a way that precisely puts the person in the position shown in the hieroglyph denoting prayer i present the graphical evidence for this.
Book of mormon origins gold plates witnesses translation lost 116 pages archaeology locations. Includes color photos of the surviving joseph smith papyri, articles by mormon and non mormon egyptologists, and free download of a 240page book that surveys the history of the book of abraham controversy. The veracity and value of the book of abraham cannot be settled by scholarly. So there is no uniqueness since joseph smith was well versed in the bible. This picture is the final draft thats included in the canonized book of abraham. Lds church publishes new web essay on book of abraham. Much like the book of mormon, josephs translation of the book of abraham was. The prophet joseph smith said that the book of abraham exhibited mormonism in its true light history of the church 5. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham. Wilford woodruff recorded in his diary on february 19, 1842 that the book of abraham was literally written by abraham himself. The book of abraham is the possibly the best known of these books and certainly the most controversial. It is claimed that facsimile 1 is simply a typical.
The book of abraham is the second book in the pearl of great price. In the book of abraham, joseph included three facsimiles of illustrations from the papyri, along with commentary about what the images and their individual parts represented. Examining facsimile one from the book of abraham youtube. For instance, on a webpage previously housed at byu, a farms author avoids the most obvious question that any lds person would have regarding facsimile 2.
Signifies abraham in egypt as given also in figure 10 of facsimile no. Facsimile 2 in the book of abraham is a common egyptian hypocephalus. For many mormons, an examination of the book of abraham and its true history. Ashment, egyptian, egyptian alphabet and grammar, facsimile no. The problems encountered here are devastating to the credibility of mormonism. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism.
Ten questions and answers on the book of abraham mormons in. Abraham, first called abram, was called of god to leave his native country and go to a promised land which would be shown to him. Official response of the mormon church to the book of abraham. Js i was originally attached to the breathings text, and therefore critics assert again that the breathings text was the source of the book of abraham since p. However, a great deal of material from the book of abraham was not included in genesis. The book of abraham, mormons believe, is abraham s own account of part of his life. Death blow to mormonism the book of abraham is a fake. Joseph interpreted facsimile 1 as a depiction of abraham on the altar. But it isnt baseball and mormon apologists have concocted numerous theories in an attempt to explain away these significant errors. The book of abraham, mormons believe, is abrahams own account of part of his life. Clearly, facsimile 3 has nothing to do with abraham or the book of abraham.
The book of abraham is a book of ancient scripture translated by the prophet joseph smith from ancient papyri. He talks about the idolatry of the egyptianlike society he lived in, and about barely escaping sacrifice to. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints the mormons. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints the. In the last chapter, we saw some of the problems mormonism faces with the book of mormon and archaeology. Joseph only interpreted one figure of anubis as a priest, in facsimile 1.
The book of mormon if the book of abraham was a fraud, is. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimiles fairmormon. However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave. Prince of pharaoh, king of egypt, as written above the hand.
Facsimile 1 of the book of abraham evidence and insights from the dvd most remarkable book duration. The story of abraham is wellknown to both jews and christians. Disproves lds claims that joseph smith received the book of abraham through revelation and proves that joseph smiths source for his translation was a pagan egyptian text, the book of breathings. The research reflects findings that ultimately led to the publication of the 2001 book traditions about the early life of abraham, coedited by john tvedtnes, brian hauglid, and john gee. According to the book of abraham chapter 1, verses 1214, this picture or representation came at the beginning of the record the papyrus. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. The book of abraham, it is hardly necessary to say, is a pure fabrication. It is now included in the pearl of great price, one of the books that members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints consider scripture in addition to the bible, the book of mormon, and the doctrine and covenants.
The book of abraham skinny frequently, when reading a discussion on the lds problem of the book of abraham, the apologists and critics beat around the bushconfusing the reader. Book of abraham mormon stories mormon stories podcast. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. The literature on the book of abraham ranges from doctrinal commentaries on the pearl of great price the lds book of scripture containing the book of abraham to some studies directed to the history of joseph smiths involvement with the egyptian artifacts with. This some people includes the mormon church, which under the direction of apostle n. Js i shows up in the published book of abraham and is apparently referenced in the text of the book of. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. Jun 22, 2010 abraham refers to a picture in the text of the book of abraham abr. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. A positive identification is possible because one of the rediscovered scroll pieces, now called papyrus joseph smith 1 pjs 1, matches the picture in the book of abraham called facsimile no.
Some of josephs interpretations are similar to those of trained egyptologists, but most are not. He talks about the idolatry of the egyptianlike society he lived in, and about barely escaping sacrifice to the egyptian gods by a priest. Abraham allegedly wrote in the book that he held the priesthood of god, centuries before the. A range of articles and resources to assist the investigation of joseph smiths controversial claim that he discovered and translated a lost record of the biblical patriarch abraham. The book of mormon if the book of abraham was a fraud.
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