Some of josephs interpretations are similar to those of trained egyptologists, but most are not. New joseph smith papers volume published book of mormon. Facsimile 2 in the book of abraham is a common egyptian hypocephalus. As for josephs interpretation of figures from the hypocephalus facsimile 2, he was correct.
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. Soon after this, some of the saints at kirtland purchased the mummies and papyrus, a description of which will appear hereafter, and with w. Book of abraham facsimile 2 book of abraham kirtland egyptian papers. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. The altar for sacrifice by the idolatrous priests, standing before the gods of elkenah, libnah, mahmackrah, korash, and. Remember that smith quickly recognized the writings of. The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus. 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. The truth about the book of abraham mormonism disproved. Unfortunately, most of what has been said about this facsimile is seriously wanting at best and highly erroneous at worst. The association of these facsimiles with the book of abraham might be explained as joseph smiths attempt to find illustrations from the papyri he owned that most closely matched what he had received in revelation when translating the book of abraham. According to joseph smiths introductory comments in the translation, abraham wrote the book himself, by his own hand, upon papyrus smith, 1842, 93. Mormon handbook the book of abraham the church purchased the papyri and joseph claimed to identify its origins.
First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. Why did the church excommunicate people for pointing out the inaccuracies in the book of abraham, when it now accepts that this was true all along. This book is brought to you for free and open access by byu scholarsarchive. Hence this picture of a cow is common to almost all hypocephali. The book of abrahamthe pearl of great price student manual. This is the cow ihet mentioned in chapter 162 of the book of the dead, which should be drawn on a piece of new papyrus to make a hypocephalus. As we discuss all of the facsimiles, we must keep in mind what i wrote about challenge two. The internal dynamics that are obvious in the churchs gospel topics essay on the book of abraham are less determinative for this publication. Joseph smith consistently identifies the libation table with abraham in egypt in facsimiles 1 and 3. The lds church issued a new article on the book of abraham on its official website in 2014, arguing that it does not matter that the text of the book of abraham does not match the text of the papyri joseph smith said he had translated. The pharaoh attempted to sacrifice abraham, facsimile 1. Modern egyptologists maintain that the facsimiles do not at all represent what joseph smith said they do. The book of abraham is a book in the mormon scripture the pearl of great price. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham a.
Why has the church redefined what the word translation means in relation to the book of abraham. Reconstruction designated as part of the book of abraham. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Joseph smith knew that they translated to an egyptian context, but he did not give a word for word translation. 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.
Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham. Comparison of the facsimiles as interpreted by joseph. The prophet joseph smith never communicated his method of translating these records. The book of abraham translation watchman fellowship, inc. 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 abraham s own hand. The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink. Mormon handbook the book of abraham facsimile 2 facsimile 2 is a common egyptian hypocephalus.
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. Granting improper credibility to a key claim of book of abraham critics regarding the twin book of abraham manuscripts a and b. Abraham seeks the blessings of the patriarchal orderhe is persecuted by false priests in chaldeajehovah saves himthe origins. Illustration 3 ending of papyrus scroll prepared for horus. Abraham chapter 1 speaks of this occasion directly.
Eldon tanner suggested to nelson that it was his duty as an elder in the church to handle the matter in a way that would be sympathetic to lds doctrine, but nelson refused to make alterations to his translation. Facsimile 3 has always been the most neglected of the three facsimiles in the book of abraham. Book of abraham hypocephalus, facsimile 2 english and thai version. The recently modified description creates ambiguity regarding the origin and nature of the text. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. Since his translation did not support the book of abraham, elder n. Two views of the mormon book of abraham bible query. The issue of the twin manuscripts and the story they tell or dont tell is one of the most important issues in debates over the authenticity of the book of abraham and the methods of josephs translation. It is obvious that this change was necessary since a generally understood method of translation from the egyptian would not at all allow for the explanations given by. A facsimile from the book of abraham church of jesus christ. This is facsimile 1 found with the scroll just to the right of the kepbook of abraham translated portion. In this article, egyptologist robert ritner responds to that article. He drew us a picture of it, in representative form, facsimile 3.
Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. Duane hursts notes and translations of ancient egyptian hieroglyphs from the book of abraham. The mormon god and a phallic god could be considered one and the same. Next post does the book of abraham teach a discredited view of newtonian physics. It is understandable how critics could interpret it this way, as meaning kolobs. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. Not exactly a good thing for the churchs or joseph smiths translationbook of abraham claims. 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. Why doesnt the facsimile 3 translation match what we know about egyptian today.
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. In facsimile 1, he is the one being sacrificedand saved. Bill reel once again joins us and we proceed to lay out the following. All of the documents presented in this new volume are available for examination online at the joseph smith papers website. Facsimile 2 as found in the kirtland egyptian papers.
An early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. Facsimile 2, the hypocephalus, is also a late egyptian religious text. Shulem was sealed by the priesthood to his wife for time and all eternity, in an authorized temple ceremony. Joseph smiths explanations of the drawings accompany the facsimiles. A translation of some ancient records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of egypt. Abraham experienced a cosmic tour of the heavens, facsimile 2. Abraham offering sacrifices upon an altar while in egypt. The slavonic version, or rather translation, of the apocalypse of abraham ap. The following graphic shows joseph smiths translations vs. Previous post did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the book of abraham. The oldest and most valuable of these is the famous codex sylvester,2 which now belongs to the library of the printingdepartment of the holy synod in moscow. The previous description of the book of abraham read, a translation from some egyptian papyri that came into the hands of joseph smith in 1835, containing writings of the patriarch abraham. The book of abraham the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The main puzzle used to challenge joseph smiths translation of the book of abraham is the fact that facsimile 1, the opening figure of the book of abraham mentioned in the text abraham 1.
Book of abraham facts and challenging the facsimiles. Also, notes about the book of moses from the pearl of great. Some questions and answers 95 original length of the scrolls, the most accurate attempt to do so comes from john gees application of a formula used by other egyptologists by which the circumference of the roll and how tightly it was wound can be used to. An approach to the book of abraham byu scholarsarchive. Joseph smith provided this explanation in book of abraham, facsimile 2, figure. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the. A cow wearing a sun disk and double plumes with a menitnecklace symbol of hathor, ihet, etc. Facsimile 3 translation manuscripts king james bible the inspired version journal of discourses. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. An egyptian book of the dead was a corrupted mishmash of original teachings from adam down to subsequent patriarchs, such as abraham. Brief overview of the history of the book of abraham why the critics say it is problematic what workarounds apologists have created to deal with those criticisms why those. Facsimile 3 published in the book of abraham is a scene from the ancient egyptian book of the dead.
Thus the moses scenario repeats the enoch story and the abraham story, and facsimile no. 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. Understanding his efforts to decipher the egyptian language adds nuance and detail to the complex story of the translation of the book of abraham. An inspired translation of the writings of abraham. Source hypocephalus as published in the book of abraham. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god.
However, the 20 edition of the pearl of great price now states that the book of abraham is an inspired translation. The idolatrous priest of elkenah attempting to offer up abraham as a sacrifice. This clearly demonstrates that, regardless of smiths method of translation, he considered this text to be from the book of abraham. This is problematic for mormons, however, for if the papyri are only about 2,000 years old, they are far too new to have been written on by the hand of abraham. Facsimile 3 and book of the dead 125 book of mormon central. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the. Joseph smith had published the facsimiles as freestanding drawings, cut off. Official response of the mormon church to the book of abraham.
Annotations and commentary from the printed volume will be included. There is another facsimile in the book of abraham revealing additional areas of mistranslation. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the book of abraham. Speaking of the translation of the book of mormon, the lord said, you cannot. This time it is abraham offering sacrifices upon an alter. 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. Today we explore the book of abraham in radio free mormon style. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. The relationship between the extant fragments and the book of abraham is not fully known or understood. Smith said the papyri described abrahams early life, his travels to canaan and egypt, and his vision of the cosmos and its creation.
Joseph smith papyrian edition, translation, and largely. Book of abraham facsimile number 2 wikimedia commons. The following are common criticisms associated with facsimile 3. 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. Abraham or seems to be related to the text of the book of abral1am. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimiles fairmormon. 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. Brief overview of the history of the book of abraham why the critics say it is problematic what workarounds apologists have created to deal with those. 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.