Facsimile 1 published in the book of abraham is a common egyptian funerary scene. Facsimile 1 of the book of abraham evidence and insights from the dvd most. 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. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the book. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. Donl peterson discusses the issue of abrahamic literature from egypt. Williams copy of book of abraham manuscript, circa julycirca november 1835.
In 1880 the mormon church canonized the book of abraham and it became part of the pearl of great price. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. Allowing the deceased to pass through the underworld. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial or the residence of god. The evidence suggests that the book of abraham reflects concepts of joseph smiths time and place rather than those of an ancient world. The inspiration and basis for the text of the book of abraham is p. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens. Section 2 section 5 section section 20 section 27 section 48 section 101 pearl of great price book of abraham facsimile 1 facsimile 2 facsimile 3 translation manuscripts king james bible the inspired version journal of discourses other scriptures. 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. 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.
The book of abraham is the second book in the pearl of great price. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies center. Aug, 2019 theres no good reason to think joseph smith overlooked heavenly fathers great big erect penis in facsimile 2. The three facsimiles found in the book of abraham all derive from ancient egyptian. Mormon handbook the book of abraham facsimile 2 facsimile 2 is a common egyptian hypocephalus. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles, by michael d. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the. Why didnt joseph correctly identify the names isis and maat for figures 2 and 4 in facsimile 3. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based. The following is a sidebyside comparison of what joseph smith translated in facsimile 2 versus what it actually says according to egyptologists and modern egyptology. First, the association of facsimile 1 with the book of abraham cannot derive from abraham, since facsimile 1 dates to approximately 100 b. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham response.
According to smith, the book comprised ancient records. There are passages in the text of the book of abraham which are attributed to abraham and which refer to facsimile 1 abr. To find these four old friends at home in the apocalypse of abraham is an undeniable link between the book of abraham and the book of the dead. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. None of the characters on the papyrus fragments mentioned abraham s name or any of the events recorded in the book of abraham. This some people includes the mormon church, which under the direction of apostle n. A facsimile from the book of abraham church of jesus christ. Facsimile 2 as found in the kirtland egyptian papers. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies. Dec 09, 2010 unfortunately, most mormons attack my arguments on each facsimile as if they were in a vacuum, ignoring the larger picture.
Book of abraham and egyptian material the joseph smith papers. We should begin by asking what segment of the whole body of manuscripts was the source of the book of abraham. The book of abraham opens with a vignette, in facsimile, representing abraham upon an altar. However, we have an opportunity here to verify or not verify the book of abraham through facsimile no. The book of abraham includes facsimile 2 as shown here, complete with the description and explanation that smith gave to its contents. 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. A mormon apologist has informed me that many of the original references to abraham in the first publishing of the book of abraham were abram, but that they were changed to abraham when it was published by the latter day saints publication, the millennial star, in england. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the book. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Indeed, one can reasonably wonder if thats what gave smith the idea for a god the father who was separate and distinct from jesus, and. There is another facsimile in the book of abraham revealing additional areas of mistranslation.
Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. The following are common criticisms associated with facsimile 3. As for josephs interpretation of figures from the hypocephalus facsimile 2, he was correct. Facsimile 2 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
Explanation to accompany facsimile 2, circa 15 march 1842. In time more and more men would become familiar with the egyptian language. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 1. Facsimile 2, the hypocephalus, is also a late egyptian religious text. However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave.
The measurement according to celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit. The mormon god and a phallic god could be considered one and the same. 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. Book of abraham mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. The book is comprised of five chapters and three facsimiles. Book of abraham facsimile 2 that one mission thing. Compared with the book of moses, the book of abraham seems to more forcefully. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. The following is his translation, interpretation, and commentary on facsimile 2 as found in our present book of abraham. The vignette is one and the sameand its been a delight to visit the church history library of late, where the vignette is on display.
Ritner 5 early mormonism and the magic world view, 244. The book of abraham is a book of ancient scripture translated by the prophet joseph smith from ancient papyri. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of. Fair\s apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect. It is not as detailed as my book of abraham page on my website, but does hit the major points. Smith translated this egyptian symbol as an entire paragraph of text. I recall hugh nibley telling a sunday school class about the egyptian nature of section 88 of that book, a section he cites time and again in his elucidation of. A hypocephalus is an egyptian magic amulet that is placed under the head of the deceased mummy to keep the body warm. 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.
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. An early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. Abraham s teaching astronomy to egyptians book of abraham facsimile 3 is described in pseudoeupolemus 9. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism. 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. The type of drawing depicted in facsimile 2 is known among scholars as a. In the mormon joseph smiths facsimile 2, why does he say the. As noted above, most critics have assumed that the source of the text is the hieroglyphs adjacent to facsimile 1 on the papyri, but a closer look at the ancient sources themselves and contemporary accounts of joseph smiths translation process brings that assumption into question. The book contains important teachings about the creation. Official response of the mormon church to the book of abraham. Oct 18, 2016 the joseph smith book of breathings opens with a vignette representing osiris on a lioncouch.
The script below addresses the whole picture and simultaneously refutes all of the major mormon defenses of the book of abraham. 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. In the book of abraham also we are told that the plan of the cosmos, represented by facsimile no. 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. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time the measurement according to the celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the.
If the catalyst theory is correct, then god must be responsible for instructing smith to record verses in the book of abraham that incorrectly refer to. Joseph smith used to create facsimile 2, this drawing leads us to believe that it was copied into the kirtland egyptian papers and that the original hypocephalus had sections that were missing or hard. Eldon tanner, sent out for the translation, expecting it to prove smiths true translation abilities. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. The color images provided below, while not always accurate, may help in visualizing each figure complete color facsimile 2 available here. Posted in mormon dilemmas, tagged facsimile 2 book of abraham, false doctrines of mormonism, false interpretations of egyptian hieroglyphics, joseph smith, mormon priesthood and horusre on 012220 leave a comment. That version, according to him, is what is used today, but he had no. Standing side by side with the bible, book of mormon and doctrine and covenants, this was included as part of mormonisms standard works. A forum for exmormons and others who have been affected by mormonism to share news, commentary, and comedy about the mormon church.
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