Facsimile 2 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The joseph smith papyri jsp are egyptian funerary papyrus fragments from ancient thebes. The book of abraham is written in the first person, but the captions and translations of the facsimiles are in the third person, as if they were taken from another source. This website, the mormon curtain is a website that blogs the exmormon world. Midway through the video, doubts about the church and specifically the book of abraham are are supposedly pseudotackled by inserting an appeal to authority. An approach to the book of abraham byu scholarsarchive. 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. Fairs apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect. 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.
Well firstly, joseph smith, the prophet, translated the papyri. Nibleys commentary on the book of mormon is based on transcriptions from classes taught by hugh nibley, and is published with the permission of the neal a. In mormon doctrine blacks are considered to suffer from the curse of cain. In the last chapter, we saw some of the problems mormonism faces with the book of mormon and archaeology. Although not recovered, we also know that joseph possessed a book of the dead belonging to amenophis, the hypocephalus belonging to sheshonq the original of facsimile 2, and other unidentified texts. In 1835 the church came into possession of some egyptian papyri, said to have been translated with divine guidance by their prophet, joseph smith. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship and nibley llc. The mormon curtain exmormon news, stories and recovery.
Stands next to kolob, called by the egyptians oliblish, which is the next grand governing creation near to the celestial or the place where god resides. The problems encountered here are devastating to the credibility of mormonism. Today were going to point our skeptical eye at one of the supposedly ancient scriptures of the mormon church, the book of abraham. 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. If you have reached this page from an outside source such as an internet search or forum referral, please note that this page the one you just landed on is an archive containing articles on book of abraham.
As for josephs interpretation of figures from the hypocephalus facsimile 2, he was correct. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based. Translations of this material have since been published by byu scholar michael rhodes in the studies in the book of abraham series. Facsimile 2 as found in the kirtland egyptian papers. Official response of the mormon church to the book of abraham. As we discuss all of the facsimiles, we must keep in mind what i wrote. Facsimile 2 represents process of life from highest to lowest realms. Egyptians would put these under the head of mummies, like a pillow. Joseph did not translate the book of abraham from papyri that early lds members purchased while in kirtland, ohio. The color images provided below, while not always accurate, may help in visualizing each figure complete color facsimile 2 available here. Also, notes about the book of moses from the pearl of great price.
First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. Hugh nibley, the book of mormon as a mirror of the east, ie 51. However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave. Here are lots of real hypocephali as they are in abundance. The book is comprised of five chapters and three facsimiles. Ebenezer robinson recorded joseph as having said i have had trouble enough with this thing.
The book of joseph is not known to have been translated by smith. Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham. He mentions the hypocephalus of the mormon joseph smith, declaring the. The papyrus with the illustration represented in facsimile 1 is the only recovered item that has any connection to the text of the book of abraham. Allowing the deceased to pass through the underworld. 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 usually represents the embalming of the deceased individual in. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham. The papyrus paper used in the pogp was manufactured long after the time of abraham. President nelson grandfathers visit from the other side of the veil and family. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens among the stars and others of his creations.
Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. 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. What if abrahams descendants took egyptian elements of cul. A few questions dealing with the mysteries of the veil soon expose him as an. 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. Joseph said the facsimile depicted abraham fastened upon an altar, being. To me, this shows that joseph smith clearly altered the reproduction of the facsimile.
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. The lost book of abraham part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 youtube mormon. This book presents the original transcription of joseph smiths dictated translation of the golden plates. Joseph only interpreted one figure of anubis as a priest, in facsimile 1. Smith tells apostles book of mormon is keystone of our religion. A facsimile from the book of abraham church of jesus christ. From this scripture, we learn that kolob is a huge star, which god has designated as the one to govern even the other governing creations see abraham facsimile 2.
The book of abraham is a book of ancient scripture translated by the prophet joseph smith from ancient papyri. Ashment, egyptian, egyptian alphabet and grammar, facsimile no. This is to aid exmormons who are on the road to recovery, mormons who are looking for more information on their own religion, and nonmormons who may be studying the mormon church on purpose of possible baptism. The central figure is not kolob in egyptian terms, nor is he the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or residence of god. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimiles fairmormon. 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. The following is his translation, interpretation, and commentary on facsimile 2 as found in our present book of abraham. A journal of mormon thought, spring, 1995 by his own hand upon papyrus. A firstperson account of meetings between lds apostles. Death blow to mormonism the book of abraham is a fake. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 1. Here is the link to make a donation to faithful word baptist church donations processed by word of truth baptist church. For those who are not familiar with the book of abraham, it is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith claims to have translated from egyptian scrolls that he purchased from a traveling salesman.
In this chapter we will examine another book of the mormon scriptures called the book of abraham. The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus. The book of commandments, smiths journal and william claytons journal all say smith used his brown peep stone for the book of abraham translation. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. It would also date the record of abraham about 2,000 b. Wilford woodruff recorded in his diary on february 19, 1842 that the book of abraham was literally written by abraham himself. 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. Joseph smith 20 polygamy 11 translation 11 book of mormon 9 brigham young 7 god 6 humor 6 child bride 5 christianity 5 honesty 5 polyandry 4 racism 4 facsimile 3 godhood 3 grace 3 prophecy 3 eternal progression 2 faith 2 gordon hinckley 2 hill cumorah 2 jesus christ 2 legalism 2 lorenzo snow 2 meme 2 secret 2 temple 2 word of wisdom 2 after all we can do 2 adamgod 1 financial 1 gold plates 1 joseph fielding smith 1 testimony 1. Go back and study whats inside the red circle first. Thirdly, the book of abraham provides justification for important mormon doctrines, including the exaltation of man, plurality of gods, priesthood, and premortal existence not found in any of the other canonized scriptures of the lds.
According to church history, the angel moroni had already permanently taken back the urim and thummin years earlier. Today it is presumed that the papyri that formed the basis for facsimiles 2 and 3 were lost in the conflagration. Thus the moses scenario repeats the enoch story and the abraham story, and facsimile no. The inspiration and basis for the text of the book of abraham is p. The book of mormon and book of abraham are not what they purport. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god.
This would make the book of abraham the only existing original copy of a scriptural book. Smith places original book of mormon manuscript, witness signatures, and other items in the cornerstone of the nauvoo house, effectively destroying them. The book of abraham by common consent, a mormon blog. This vignette is called a lion couch scene by egyptologists. Book of abraham mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. An egyptian book of the dead was a corrupted mishmash of original teachings from adam down to subsequent patriarchs, such as abraham. Facsimile 2 is actually a representation of a hypocephalus. The three facsimiles included as part of the book of abraham present some engaging problems. Mormon and nonmormon egyptologists agree that the characters on the fragments do not match the translation given in the book of abraham. The introduction to the book claims that it is a record that was originally written by abraham himself. Smith, inventor of mormonism found in his translation of the book of abraham the rationale for withholding mormon priesthood from black males. The book of abraham papyri were thought to have been lost in the 1871 great chicago fire. Smith who had claimed to have translated the book of mormon from golden plates that had been inscribed with.
Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the. His statement that the book of abraham is not like the book of mormon because there is no verse in it that says, if you pray about it you can find out if it is true or not is laughable. 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. Alternatively, we might read rnn ntr pf 3, praise this great god, in which rnn puns on rn praise puns on name. First, the association of facsimile 1 with the book of abraham cannot derive from abraham, since facsimile 1 dates to approximately 100 b. This is a clear attempt to say that it doesnt matter if the book of abraham is true or not, and insinuating that it might not be. The book of abraham is believed by the lds church to have been written by abraham. 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.
None of the characters on the papyrus fragments mentioned abrahams name or any of the events recorded in the book of abraham. The facsimiles appear to be in a style that was developed long after abraham esp. This time, the church responded by reiterating that the book of mormon was divinely inspired, and that the book of abrahams source papyri likely had two meanings one that was obvious and easily understood by to a lay audience, and another that was more esoteric and only accessible to the priesthood. They are now referred to as the joseph smith papyri. There are passages in the text of the book of abraham which are attributed to abraham and which refer to facsimile 1 abr. A translation of some ancient records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of egypt. The book of abraham is the second book in the pearl of great price. Nibley on the facsimiles the book of abraham project. 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. The mormon curtain is an ex mormon blog containing articles collected from news, blogs, ex mormon communities and forums providing the very best posts and articles therein.