Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the. Thus the moses scenario repeats the enoch story and the abraham story, and facsimile no. This published version was introduced as a translation of some ancient. 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. Eleven mummies and several papyri were discovered near the ancient egyptian city. The inspiration and basis for the text of the book of abraham is p. Abraham offering sacrifices upon an altar while in egypt. Joseph smith consistently identifies the libation table with abraham in egypt in facsimiles 1 and 3. Three facsimiles are published with the text of the book of abraham in the pearl of great price. An inspired translation of the writings of abraham. However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by the latter day saints lds movement founder joseph smith that he said was based on egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. A portion of the original papyrus text which accompanied the illustrations used for facsimile nos. The book of abraham was published in the churchs periodical times and seasons in.
Book of abraham facsimile 2 that one mission thing. The recently modified description creates ambiguity regarding the origin and nature of the text. Two more videos on the facsimiles and the translation of the book of abraham are planned for release later this year. Facsimile 3 page 2 book of abraham mormon dialogue. The published text of the book of abraham is accompanied by three woodcut. The rosetta stone was the key to deciphering egyptian hieroglyphics.
Evidence from multiple sources suggests that js may have produced other abraham material that is no longer extant. I see the translation of the bom by joseph smith as being through the gift and power of god. The 1835 book of abraham manuscript ms 2 begins with a onesentence introduction. 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. Translation of the book of abraham written by his own hand upon papyrus and found in the catacombs of egypt18 beginning with the first publication of the book of abraham in the march 1, 1842 edition of the 20 20. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism. The book ends with the printing plates used for publishing the book of abraham in the early church newspaper times and seasons. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies center. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842, page 703. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2.
It was from these papyri that joseph smith translated the book of abraham. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. After joseph smiths death in 1844, the mummies and papyri remained in the. Facsimile in tagalog, translation, englishtagalog dictionary. Luckily, about a quarter of his translation had already been printed, and it can now be found in the pearl of great price. Published in the book of abraham are three facsimiles copied from the papyrus along with josephs interpretations of them. The three facsimiles that are in every copy of the book of abraham in the pearl of great price. Representations similar to facsimile 1 abound in egyptian religious texts. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the.
Abraham took part in ritual to the egyptians, facsimile 3 showed egyptian gods in an afterlife judgement scene, one of several different judgement scenes in their funeral literature. Facsimiles with explanations authored by joseph smith himself. I see the translation of the boa by joseph smith as being a human effort alone. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. Source hypocephalus as published in the book of abraham. 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. 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. The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled translation and historicity of the book of abraham. Book of abraham facsimile 1 facsimile 2 facsimile 3 translation manuscripts king james bible the inspired version journal of discourses other scriptures. In it he included the findings of eight scholars who had examined the facsimiles or drawings which are found in the book of abraham. However, we have an opportunity here to verify or not verify the book of abraham through facsimile no. 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.
Book of abraham and egyptian material the joseph smith papers. As for josephs interpretation of figures from the hypocephalus facsimile 2, he was correct. I see the translation of the boa by joseph smith as being a. Latter day saints, dictated what he claimed was a translation of an ancient egyptian papyrus containing the writings of abraham. The false translation of the book of abraham, therefore, casts serious doubt on the book of mormon as well, forever debilitating josephs claim he was a true, inspired prophet of god. But this judgement scene was also a ritual that abraham took part in, called the neophyte ceremony. The church was even aware of the translation problem, and instead of addresssing it directly, they covered it up to the point of even erasing mins erect penis. 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. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. Manuscripts for the contents of both facsimile 3 and the last nine verses in the times and seasons version of the book of abraham currently abraham 4. 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. All are similar to egyptian illustrations known from other sources. Hence this picture of a cow is common to almost all hypocephali.
So, this gives us more explanation for what abraham in egypt is. 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. An early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. Joseph smiths interpretations of the facsimiles are not in agreement with the meanings which these figures had in their original funerary context, anachronisms in the text of the book make it impossible that it was translated from a text written by abraham himself, and what we know about the relationship. The book of abraham translation watchman fellowship, inc. I say nothing about the catalyst theory and i reject hauglids attempted framing of runnells states that the catalyst theory is a concession to. The church conceded in its july 2014 translation and historicity of the book of abraham essay that josephs translations of the papyri and the facsimiles do not match whats in the book of abraham. Facsimile 2 as found in the kirtland egyptian papers. In 1912 smiths translation would be called into serious question by an episcopalian bishop named f. Mormon handbook the book of abraham facsimile 2 facsimile 2 is a common egyptian hypocephalus. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of. Joseph smith worked on the translation of the book of abraham during the summer and fall of 1835, by which time he completed at least the first chapter and part of the second chapter.
The mormon god and a phallic god could be considered one and the same. I want to say to you, read the book, the pearl of great price, and read the book of abraham. Joseph smiths manner of translating the book of abraham and its facsimiles is shrouded in mystery. In facsimile 1, he is the one being sacrificedand saved. 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. 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. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham a. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. A cow wearing a sun disk and double plumes with a menitnecklace symbol of hathor, ihet, etc. Part of the text describes abrahams journey from ur to canaan and egypt. Rhodes never comments on how his english translation of the egyptian texts supports or does not support the book of abraham. Facsimile 2, the hypocephalus, is also a late egyptian religious text. On the right, page 3 of the book of abraham manuscript in the handwriting.
Finally, the book reproduces images and transcripts of the various early manuscript copies of the book of abraham text that were created in preparation for its publication. The church has some serious issues surrounding the book of abraham that have been inadequately addressed. Spaulding published a 31page booklet entitled joseph smith, jun. Papyrus fragment, once in the possession of joseph smith, which includes what is now book of abraham, facsimile 1.
Thousands of mormons left the church as the result of this discovery, while thousands more are completely unaware of this important piece of evidence. An egyptian book of the dead was a corrupted mishmash of original teachings from adam down to subsequent patriarchs, such as abraham. Lds egyptologist doubts joseph smith translated the book. Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. The work was first published in 1842 and today is a canonical part of the pearl of great price. Travis wayne goodsell goes over josephs manner of translation of the facsimiles of the book of abraham in a step by step level process to explain this mystery. As we discuss all of the facsimiles, we must keep in mind what i wrote about challenge two. In addition to the published articles, a video has been released drawing from the insights related to the historical plausibility of the book of abraham. Joseph did complete the translation of the book of abraham, but the manuscripts have been lost. The pearl of great price i hold to be one of the most intelligent, one of the most religious books that the world has ever had. Book of abrahams facsimiles was sent to the louvre. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time.
331 1266 1039 402 732 1024 1221 1524 1136 846 1259 64 1301 1245 404 966 1238 1440 824 140 364 115 409 1312 1354 630 1207 1141 529 249 526 1354 1155 317 1255 1043