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. With the rediscovery of the papyri, not only were there the same drawings in the scrolls but also so was the text from which joseph smith made his translation. A similar argument proposed by michael rhodes is that the facsimiles that are found in the book of abraham represent a corrupted version of a document originally written by abraham, and smith gave the interpretation of the original document. Illustration 3 ending of papyrus scroll prepared for horus. Like facsimile 1 and 2, all items on this parchment have been mistranslated. Mormon handbook the book of abraham facsimile 2 facsimile 2 is a common egyptian hypocephalus. The script below addresses the whole picture and simultaneously refutes all of the major mormon defenses of the book of abraham. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. This is facsimile 1 found with the scroll just to the right of the kep book of abraham translated portion. The mere fact that the church has made the decision to distant itself from the controversy surrounding the authenticity of the book of abraham, by attaching less importance to itis the direct cause of mormon critics who have shined the bright light of truth on the bogus book of abraham and it is that truth that has caused the mormon. They point to the fragments of the joseph smith papyri that we now possess and claim that since the contents of these papyri bear little obvious relationship to the book of abraham, the book is a fraud.
Thoughtsrebuttals to kerry muhlesteins defense of the book. Lds apologists are members of the church that defend. The portion portrayed as abrahams second hand should have been the wing of a second bird. The following are common criticisms associated with facsimile 3. Facsimile 1 requires the stretch of a magical document, written 2000 years in the future. The book of abraham, it is hardly necessary to say, is a pure fabrication. None of the characters on the papyrus fragments mentioned abraham s name or any of the events recorded in the book of abraham. The nature of the danger to abraham is inconsistent between the stories. 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. Facsimiles from the book of abraham introduces the ancient egyptian. Reconstruction designated as part of the book of abraham. Egyptian context is different skeptics say joseph smith mistranslated facsimile 2. Jun 22, 2010 abraham refers to a picture in the text of the book of abraham abr.
The veracity and value of the book of abraham cannot be settled by scholarly debate concerning the books translation and historicity, a new lds church. Mormon and non mormon egyptologists agree that the characters on the fragments do not match the translation given in the book of abraham. Jun 20, 20 as do most mormon defenders of the book of abraham, rhodes argues that joseph smith was not responsible for the apparent correlations between the characters on the papyrus and josephs translation of the book of abraham seen in the kirtland egyptian papers. The inspiration and basis for the text of the book of abraham is p. Dec 09, 2010 unfortunately, most mormons attack my arguments on each facsimile as if they were in a vacuum, ignoring the larger picture. Fairs apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect. Sometimes a mormon investigator can learn as much from mormons defense of a preposterous claim as they can from a christians. The book of abraham is the second book in the pearl of great price. Book of mormon origins gold plates witnesses translation lost 116 pages archaeology locations. An early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. 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. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 1.
The above donut chart shows percentages of the book of abraham section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on if one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 90. 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. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham response. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of. Unfortunately, most mormons attack my arguments on each facsimile as if they were in a vacuum, ignoring the larger picture. 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. The book of mormon if the book of abraham was a fraud, is. Facsimile 1 posted on april 12, 2015 november 26, 2015 by wes trexler this is facsimile 1, located at the front of the book of abraham in the pearl of great price. Mormons, in defending their scripture, maintained the resemblances to these facsimiles were not sufficient to prove joseph smith was lying in. Signifies abraham in egypt as given also in figure 10 of facsimile no. If pointing to articles like hoskissons in defense of the book of abraham is among the best that mormon apologists like hauglid can do. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 7, no.
These are egyptian illustrations and they have nothing to do with abraham, skeptics claim. 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. Cuts 1 and 3 are inaccurate copies of well known scenes on funeral papyri, and cut 2 is a copy of one of the magical discs. Prince of pharaoh, king of egypt, as written above the hand. 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.
The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the book. The book of abraham papyri were thought to have been lost in the 1871 great chicago fire. Mormon and nonmormon egyptologists agree that the characters on the fragments do.
In the apocalypse of abraham, god is going to send down a lightning bolt to destroy the bad guys, and abraham needs to get out before that happens. As with the book of mormon and other translation projects that joseph smith worked on, the book of abraham cannot be defended in any way as the result of provable or scientific information about abraham or the ancient world. The institute for religious research has published two major resources challenging the authenticity of the book of abraham. Critics have long attempted to make a case against the book of abraham. A number of criticisms relate to the three facsimiles associated with the book of abraham. They are now referred to as the joseph smith papyri. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham. Source hypocephalus as published in the book of abraham. Although some mormon apologists defend its authenticity, no other scholars regard. The book is comprised of five chapters and three facsimiles. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the book. You can see that pieces are missing, and you see the hand sketches made by someone involved with joseph in kep project in 1830s.
Examining facsimile one from the book of abraham youtube. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the. Lds church publishes new web essay on book of abraham. Ashments book, the use of magical papyri to authenticate the book of abraham. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. The book of abraham is a book in the mormon scripture the pearl of great price. Joseph smith had published the facsimiles as freestanding drawings, cut off.
It turns out they closely parallel a chapter in the book of mormon. I still remember being about a year into my fulltime lds proselyting mission when a member of our local ward congregation told me that the papyri purported to hav. Joseph smith copied three drawings from the egyptian scrolls, labeled them facsimile no. Joseph smith 20 polygamy 11 translation 11 book of mormon 9 brigham young 7 god 6. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased.
They argue that some ancient texts do not support the book. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. Facsimile 1 of the book of abraham evidence and insights from the dvd most remarkable book. But, the mormons, in defense of the sacred book, maintained that the facsimiles alone were not sufficient to prove that joseph smith was erring in his translating abilities. But this was once antimormon lies that people were excommunicated for stating. His book was republished four times by the year 1905. Joseph smiths interpretation of these cuts is a farrago of nonsense from beginning to end. None of the characters on the papyrus fragments mentioned abrahams name or any of the events recorded in the book of abraham.
Only fantasy will change egyptian gods into jeudochristian heroes. 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. Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham. A mormon argued that though it is conceded the book of abraham was falsely taken from the egyptian book of the dead, the book of jude has a quote by enoch from the jewish book of first enoch. 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. As one would expect, mormon intellectuals have sought to answer the criticisms of the book of abraham leveled in these and other works. Eldon tanner, sent out for the translation, expecting it to prove smiths true translation abilities. Did joseph smith give a correct meaning for facsimile 2, years before scientists unlocked the mysterious of ancient egyptian. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. This some people includes the mormon church, which under the direction of apostle n.
Joseph smith approved the facsimiles before they were published in the times and seasons. Book of abraham mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. That version, according to him, is what is used today, but he had no. The book of mormon if the book of abraham was a fraud. Facsimile 2 posted on april 12, 2015 november 26, 2015 by wes trexler facsimile 2 is actually a representation of a hypocephalus.
Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. 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 book of abraham is a book of ancient scripture translated by the prophet joseph smith from ancient papyri. The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink.
Official response of the mormon church to the book of abraham. The book contains important teachings about the creation. Abraham refers to a picture in the text of the book of abraham abr. Jul 24, 2015 critics have long attempted to make a case against the book of abraham. When he translated the gold plates of the book of mormon from the. Whats the best way to defend the mormon book of abraham.
The mormon god and a phallic god could be considered one and the same. Facsimile 2 as found in the kirtland egyptian papers. This book presents the original transcription of joseph smiths dictated translation of the golden plates. See also jerald and sandra tanner, the case against mormonism salt. Mormon and nonmormon egyptologists agree that the characters on the fragments do not match the translation given in the book of abraham. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. Part 3, ancient records offer new support for the book of abraham, looks at some. Well, i dont know why anyone would be shocked that the facsimiles are egyptian. This would then prove the truth of the book of mormon and the book of abraham and would vindicate joseph smith as a true prophet of god. Joseph only interpreted one figure of anubis as a priest, in facsimile 1. Much like the book of mormon, josephs translation of the book of abraham was. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimiles fairmormon. Feb 17, 2014 facsimile 1 of the book of abraham evidence and insights from the dvd most remarkable book.
But when hauglid thinks controversial and unofficial apologetic organization fairmormon and its wiki article is a source for scholarly treatment. It is noted that joseph smiths translation of the facsimiles does not agree with that provided by egyptologists, and that some missing portions of the facsimiles were incorrectly restored before they were published. According to joseph smiths introductory comments in the translation, abraham wrote the book himself, by his own hand, upon papyrus smith, 1842, 93. A journal of mormon thought, spring, 1995 by his own hand upon papyrus. The diagram in ces letter astutely points out that there are hieroglyphics at the bottom of the facsimile which joseph smith did not translate. Two views of the mormon book of abraham bible query. I want to thank ces letter for pointing this row of hieroglyphics out. This page deals primarily with the question of the source of the book of abraham now available online at.
Facsimiles from the book of abraham were first published on march 1, 1842 in the. 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. It seems obvious that smith improvised facsimile no. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the. Facsimile 1 of the book of abraham evidence and insights. It is not as detailed as my book of abraham page on my website, but does hit the major points. Thoughtsrebuttals to kerry muhlesteins defense of the. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism. Illustration 2 incorrect reconstruction of the beginning illustration of the original papyrus prepared for horus.
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