Weve listed smiths translation first in black font and our findings second with red font. Joseph only interpreted one figure of anubis as a priest, in facsimile 1. The inspiration and basis for the text of the book of abraham is p. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies center. Contemporary egyptologists translations of figures 811 in the book of abraham bare an eerie resemblance to a phrase used in the temple. Part 3, ancient records offer new support for the book of abraham, looks at some. Feb 08, 2018 some resources for the puzzling facsimile 3 of the book of abraham latterday saints interested in the pearl of great price have much to be excited about thanks to recent scholarship giving us many more insights into the significance and meaning of the book of abraham and the book of moses.
Facsimile 2 see it online at is an egyptian hypocephalus, a figure placed under the head of a deceased person to provide light and guidance to help him through the night of death into the day of resurrection. Susan evans on leaving the church, part 8 polygamy and polyandry. In facsimile 2, they appear to be represent the delivering of the power, authority, and governance of god to the four quarters, lands, and peoplessymbolized by the four heads of the river eden that the book of abraham talks about. I also disagree with thompsons stance that only one context permits a.
Lds essay the truth of the book of abraham is ultimately found through careful study of its teachings, sincere prayer, and the confirmation of the spirit. 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. An egyptologist looks at book of abraham facsimile 2. Evidences of the divine authenticity of the book of abraham bonus features duration. Demetrios alexander on tribe of manasseh native american dna. 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 is part 2 in our study of facsimile 2 from the book of abraham. Robert oldale on archeological evidence of the fortified cities by the east sea. Compared with the book of moses, the book of abraham seems to more forcefully. This page deals primarily with the question of the source of the book of abraham now available online at lds.
Translation and historicity of the book of abraham the church of. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. Abraham allegedly wrote in the book that he held the priesthood of god, centuries before the. Facsimile 1 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Part 2 deals with the content of the book and joseph smiths comments on three egyptian drawings that have been attached to the published book of abraham. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham a. All five chapters of the book of abraham, along with three illustrations now known as facsimiles 1, 2, and 3, were published in the times and seasons, the churchs newspaper in nauvoo, between march and may 1842.
Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of. In 1967 interest in the book of abraham again surfaced when the papyri smith used in 1835 were found in the metropolitan museum of art in new york. The type of drawing depicted in facsimile 2 is known among scholars as a. Abraham s teaching astronomy to egyptians book of abraham facsimile 3 is described in pseudoeupolemus 9. There are passages in the text of the book of abraham which are attributed to abraham and which refer to facsimile 1 abr. I know that anyone who earnestly wants to know if the book of abraham is true can also receive this same witness and knowledge from god.
Through the years, whenever the book of abraham was printed there were included with the printed text three drawings, each designated as a facsimile from this alleged book of abraham. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens among the stars and others of his creations. This appears to be troubling evidence against the book of abrahams existing as a separate narrative on the scrolls, but this difficulty is diminished as these internal references of the book of abraham to the first facsimile 1. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. The mormon god and a phallic god could be considered one and the same. According to smith, the book comprised ancient records. Feb 16, 2012 most latter day saints dont realize that in at least one case, that prophecy has come true. However, in 1966 several fragments of the papyri were found in the archives of the metropolitan museum of art in new york and in the lds church archives. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. Represents god sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand keywords of the priesthood. Fairs apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect. 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 abraham cosmology is so ambiguous that not even lds people, let alone critics of the church, can claim to know what it is actually trying to say.
Speaking of the translation of the book of mormon, the lord said, you cannot. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. Facsimile 2 see it online at is an egyptian hypocephalus. 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. The book of abraham likewise presents names purporting to be egyptian.
A careful study of the book of abraham provides a better measure of the book s merits than any hypothesis that treats the text as a conventional translation. Here are lots of real hypocephali as they are in abundance. And a latterday joseph invites the world to give it a go. Facsimile 2 is actually a representation of a hypocephalus. Of all the sacred texts of the mormon church, one of the most fascinating is the book of abraham, a fivechapter book that purportedly records the travels of abraham in egypt. I have studied the book of abraham, and the truth of it has been made known to me in a way i cant deny. Wilford woodruff recorded in his diary on february 19, 1842 that the book of abraham was literally written by abraham himself. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens.
Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham. Ohio was the headquarters of a fledgling organization called the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. That young man was joseph smith, who had translated the book of mormon from an ancient americanindian record about four or five years earlier. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. Remember, joseph smith said this is heavenly father revealing the grand key words of the priesthood, with the sign of the holy ghost in the form of a dove. 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. Facsimile 2 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Donl peterson discusses the issue of abrahamic literature from egypt. 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.
This page deals primarily with the question of the source of the book of abraham now available online at. A complete edition, hypocephalus of sheshonq, 215226. One would think that, if joseph smith were indeed a prophet who was inspired by god to translate the book of abraham, this would have been the. First, the association of facsimile 1 with the book of abraham cannot derive from abraham, since facsimile 1 dates to approximately 100 b. In his periodical,times and seasons, joseph smith identified the same illustration as a facsimile from the book of abraham, showing that he mistakenly thought this breathing permit was actually the work of the patriarch abraham some two thousand years earlier. This book, a record of the biblical prophet and patriarch abraham, recounts how abraham sought the blessings of the priesthood, rejected the idolatry of his father, covenanted with jehovah, married sarai, moved to canaan and egypt, and received knowledge about the creation. After his kind compared with the book of moses, the book of abraham seems to more forcefully state the idea that all beings could only reproduce after their own kind. Latter day saints, dictated what he claimed was a translation of an ancient egyptian papyrus containing the writings of abraham. A careful study of the book of abraham provides a better measure of the books merits than any hypothesis that treats the text as a conventional translation. This would make the book of abraham the only existing original copy of a scriptural book.
Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the book. Facsimile 1 published in the book of abraham is a common egyptian funerary scene. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. The book of abraham is an 1835 work produced by latter day saints lds movement founder joseph smith that he claimed were translated from egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. The idolatrous priest of elkenah attempting to offer up abraham as a sacrifice. It is evident that a part of the book of abraham that. They do have an official position that the book of abraham is a translation of some ancient records that have fallen into joseph smiths hands from the catacombs of egypt. The recent web posting on the book of abraham by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints hereafter the lds church represents new reflection on a document whose authenticity as verifiable history is now officially acknowledged to be in serious dispute. The church taught that the book of abraham was written by the patriarch abraham. Ritners attempt to translate facsimile 2 of the book of abraham the joseph smith egyptian papyri.
The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. Some book of abraham editions in facsimile 2 show min without the pornography. Ritner 5 early mormonism and the magic world view, 244. Book of abraham facsimile number 2 wikimedia commons. Joseph smith either translated the book of abraham by the gift and power of god, or he made it all up. The following are common criticisms associated with facsimile 3.
Ritner, like before, wants to insist that lds members must believe abraham himself wrote the text, and what we have is a perfect copy of what abraham wrote, and since there are elements in the text after abraham, therefore this book is false. The original of facsimile 1 of the book of abraham is found at the beginning of the hor book of breathings papyrus, and the hieroglyphic writing on it associates the figure on the couch figure 1 with hor, the owner of the papyrus, who is portrayed as being. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints has no official position on which papyri joseph smith translated the book of abraham from. They are now referred to as the joseph smith papyri. Illustration 2 incorrect reconstruction of the beginning illustration of the original papyrus prepared for horus. In the entry on the facsimiles from the book of abraham in the encyclopedia of mormonism we are told that the prophets explanations of each of the facsimiles accord with present understanding of egyptian religious practice. The book of abraham, found in the pearl of great price, is considered to be canonical by the lds church. Evidences of the divine authenticity of the book of abraham bonus features.
However, a great deal of material from the book of abraham was not included in genesis. For all of these, not having the hieroglyphic vorlage, we enjoy broad scope for speculation. Ancient egyptian documents from thebes show that the name abraham can be plausibly connected with hypocephali inasmuch as abraham is called the pupil of the wedjateye in one. Joseph smith and the lds church for over 170 years have claimed that the book of abraham is a translation of a portion of the papyri scrolls purchased by the church in 1835 kirtland, ohio, and that this portion contains the writings of abraham written by abrahams own hand. It thus forms a doctrinal foundation for the lds church and mormon. The august god and the noble and great ones i have recently looked at professor robert k. The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled translation and historicity of the book of abraham. Book of abraham facsimile 2 that one mission thing. The altar for sacrifice by the idolatrous priests, standing before the gods of elkenah, libnah, mahmackrah, korash, and pharaoh.
These papyri were donated to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in. 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. The three facsimiles found in the book of abraham all derive from ancient egyptian. May 24, 2015 my explanation of the facsimiles in lds scripture. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. 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.
Egyptians would put these under the head of mummies, like a pillow. The original of facsimile 1 of the book of abraham is found at the beginning of the hor book of breathings papyrus, and the hieroglyphic writing on it associates the figure on the couch figure 1 with hor, the owner of the papyrus, who is portrayed as being resurrected by the god anubis, who stands over him. Some resources for the puzzling facsimile 3 of the book of. Official response of the mormon church to the book of abraham. Let us remember, incidentally, that this book of moses was written in 1830, long before anyone heard of the joseph smith papyri or the book of abraham, to say nothing of the apocalypse and testament of. Aug 08, 2014 ritner, like before, wants to insist that lds members must believe abraham himself wrote the text, and what we have is a perfect copy of what abraham wrote, and since there are elements in the text after abraham, therefore this book is false. Through the years, whenever the book of abraham was printed there were included with the printed text three drawings, each designated as. It would also date the record of abraham about 2,000 b.
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. However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham. Thus the moses scenario repeats the enoch story and the abraham story, and facsimile no. Contains writings that cannot be revealed unto the world. Abraham sitting upon pharaohs throne, by the politeness of the king, with a crown upon his head, representing the priesthood, as emblematical of the grand presidency in heaven.
Ritners response to lds statement on the book of abraham. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based. Later, moses allegedly used the book as a reference when writing the genesis. It was released by the church to help explain how it can be possible that joseph smiths translation of the book of abraham does not match what we now know egyptian to mean, and how it can still be the word of god when even the church itself admits in this essay that the. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. The book of abraham has been considered scripture by members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. Some resources for the puzzling facsimile 3 of the book of abraham latterday saints interested in the pearl of great price have much to be excited about thanks to recent scholarship giving us many more insights into the significance and meaning of the book of. Go back and study whats inside the red circle first. He went to egypt and preached the gospel of jesus christ to the egyptians see facsimile 3, figures 16. The book of abraham papyri were thought to have been lost in the 1871 great chicago fire. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the. Were looking at the translation of joseph smiths hypocephalus and comparing it with the translations of egyptologists.
The church of jesus christ of latterday saints embraces the book of abraham as scripture. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies. Joseph smith 20 polygamy 11 translation 11 book of mormon 9 brigham young 7 god 6. According to joseph smiths introductory comments in the translation, abraham wrote the book himself, by his own hand, upon papyrus smith, 1842, 93. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham response. This is a remarkable statement in view of the fact that nonmormon egyptologists who have commented on joseph smiths interpretation of the facsimiles uniformly agree.
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