The poor family owned a farm and was unable to provide any type of suitable education for the lincoln children. Facsimile 2, the hypocephalus, is also a late egyptian religious text. As translated by the prophet joseph smith, they bear witness of the gospel as had by adam, noah, and other ancient patriarchs. A study guide to the facsimiles of the book of abraham. To see a photocopy of the times and seasons facsimile no. A few years ago i tried to track down a highresolution version of the facsimiles from the book of abraham. Explanations of figures in the three facsimiles by both joseph smith and modern day egyptologists. The chaldeans first appeared in the 9th century bce, years before abraham supposedly lived. Abraham s name does not appear anywhere in the papyri or the facsimiles. Joseph smiths manner of translating the book of abraham and its facsimiles is shrouded in mystery. When examining the book of abraham facsimiles, we need to realize that all scholars, both mormon and nonmormon, agree that joseph.
It usually represents the embalming of the deceased individual in preparation for burial. 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. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. The book of abraham claims to be or at least joseph smith claims it to be the translation of an autograph 2 of abraham, which autograph came into joseph smiths possession, this autograph having been written by abraham while he was in egypt. For instance, on a webpage previously housed at byu, a farms author avoids the most obvious question that any lds person would have regarding facsimile 2. The facsimiles of the book of abraham, a study of the joseph. Does anyone know why, or have an opinion why, the three facsimiles still appear in the bofa when the churchs gospel topic essay states clearly that egyptologist in and out of the church agree that they are not valid translations. A contribution to the continuing debate over the joseph smith papyri and the historical authenticity of the book of abraham. Interpreting the abraham facsimiles book of abraham. The book of abraham actually reads smoothly without these additions. Appealing to translation, inspiration, and likening. Approaching the facsimiles pearl of great price central.
I am aware that many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon doubt the veracity of joseph smith juniors translation from egyptian hieroglyphs, including the facsimiles found in the book of abraham. Next, he discusses what we know about the translation process and the publication of this ancient book of scripture. Stenhouse published his book, the rocky mountain saints. The extant papyri were not used in the translation and the actual book of abraham text most likely is in the missing portions. The references to the facsimiles within the text of the book of abraham seem to have been nineteenthcentury editorial insertions. A response december 2, 1983 by ben crowder abraham, anubis, apocalypse of abraham, bonwetsch, book of abraham, edward h. The earliest manuscript we have shows that the phrase i will refer you to the representation that is at the commencement of this record from abraham 1. Beginning in 1839, church of jesus christ of latterday saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of commerce and planned settlement of commerce city, as well as. The book of abraham is published as being translated from the papyrus, by joseph smith, and as the facsimile is also from the book, then the book must have been derived by whatever questionable means from the papyrus. A study guide to the facsimiles of the book of abraham shows the meaning of every character in the facsimiles and helps readers comprehend their great value. I wanted to know how things came about and how we got to the time and place of joseph smiths translation of egyptian for the book of abraham, so heres the timeline. Fairs apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect.
However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Book of abraham joseph smith approved the facsimiles before they were published in the times and seasons. Book of abraham, which included letters from eight egyptologists and semitists who had responded to his inquiry concerning the interpretations of the three facsimiles published with the book of abraham text. The truth about the book of abraham mormonism disproved. Mar 19, 2011 unfortunately for joseph smith both the recovered papyri and the facsimiles published with the book of abraham bear no direct connection, either historical or textual, to abraham. 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. Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham.
This vignette is called a lion couch scene by egyptologists. He first looks at how the book of abraham came to exist and how the papyri ended up with joseph smith. A study and explanation of the various papyri and transcritions of papyri contained in the joseph smith collection. All are similar to egyptian illustrations known from other sources. Here, theodule deveria, an egyptologist at the museum, had the opportunity to examine the facsimiles, which he recognized as common egyptian funerary documents, of which he had examined hundreds. According to joseph smiths introductory comments in the translation, abraham wrote the book himself, by his own hand, upon papyrus smith, 1842, 93. First, we must be clear that we do not know for sure that joseph smith authored the explanations of the facsimiles that were printed in the times and seasons, on the acquisition of the papyri and publication of the book of abraham, see column 2, which eventually became part of the pearl of great price. Indeed, the transliterated text from the recovered papyri and facsimiles published in the book of abraham contain no direct references, either historical or textual, to abraham, and abraham s name does not appear anywhere in the papyri or the facsimiles. Mostly this is because of the very serious lack of sound data in this area. Poster guidelines celebration of scholarship, penn state. The earliest photograph available is a photograph of abraham lincoln taken in 1844.
Principal gathering place for saints following expulsion from missouri. Mormon handbook the book of abraham since abraham lived before moses, who authored the torah the first five books of the old testament, it would make the papyrus older than the book of genesis. All five chapters of the book of abraham, along with three illustrations now known as facsimiles 1, 2, and 3, were published between march and may 1842. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies center. Analyzing and showing differences in various hypocaphali in relation to joseph smiths. The idolatrous priest of elkenah attempting to offer up abraham as a sacrifice. Book of abraham joseph smith papyri facsimiles facsimile 2. According to smith, the book comprised ancient records. Examination of the book of abraham facsimiles youtube. The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus.
A translation of some ancient records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of egypt. Sometime between 1818 and 1822, antonio lebolo, who was working as superintendent of the archaeological excavations for bernardino drovetti in upper egypt, discovered many mummies in a tomb in thebes. 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. His book was republished four times by the year 1905. Ancient records offer new support for the book of abraham a brief survey of the vast body of ancient documents that confirm numerous details in the book of abraham that are not found in the bible, and could not have been known to joseph smith. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 1. Joseph smiths family owned an 1830 edition and this is the source of chapter 1 of the book of abraham. For details and some intriguing answers, see some puzzles from the joseph smith papyri by dr. British library on flickr over 1 million freetouse images from the british library collections.
Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens. There are numerous examples of egyptian papyri that have more than one text on them, and thus there could have been a copy of the book of abraham on the same papyrus as the hor book of breathings. A full and complete history of the mormons, which republished deverias study of the book of abraham facsimiles. The book of abraham was published in the churchs periodical times and. What about the association of facsimiles 1 and 3 with the hor book of breathings. Finally, he examines each of the facsimiles and discusses what egyptology says about the kinds of things found in the joseph. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. Book of abraham and egyptian material the joseph smith papers. The facsimiles of the book of abraham, a study of the joseph smith egyptian papyri james r. 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. Some evidence indicates that the papyri containing the facsimiles of the book of abraham were already damaged when joseph smith obtained them. I conceive this lack of sound facts to be due primarily to. 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. The third and final times and seasons installment of the book of abraham was published on 16 may and featured only facsimile 3.
There is some evidence that josephs explanations should be taken seriously. This is the figure that you identify as a man that is sitted in the middle. Since facsimiles 2 and 3 are not among the extant papyri, it is clear that not all of the original papyri survived. Jun 22, 2008 analyzing and showing differences in various hypocaphali in relation to joseph smiths.
Copy of book of abraham manuscript and explanation to accompany facsimile 1. 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. An interesting literary example of iconotropy can be found in robert graves novel king jesus, where jesus and a canaanite priestess undergo a type of a contest offering opposing interpretations of a sequence of ritual panels ch. A careful study of the book of abraham provides a better measure of the book s merits than any hypothesis that treats the text as a conventional translation. The book has five chapters, 4 and is often accompanied by three facsimiles, or reproductions of vignettes which were copied from the original papyri. The published text of the book of abraham is accompanied by three woodcut. Ashment, egyptian, egyptian alphabet and grammar, facsimile no. Book of abraham facsimiles the three facsimiles by hugh nibley research and perspectives. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham response. It is evident that the writings of abraham while he was in egypt, of which our printed book of abraham is a copy, must of necessity be older than. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. 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. 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.
Asterisk denotes a featured version, which includes an introduction and annotation book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842 times and seasons, 1 march 1842 times and seasons, 15 march 1842 times and seasons, 16 may 1842 history, 18381856, volume c1. I have shown that the extant papyrus was deemed by joseph smith to be, in the very least, the beginning of the book of abraham. 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. Facsimiles from the book of abraham introduces the ancient egyptian. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842, page 0. See also the explicit link between the text and facsimiles in abraham, 1. Facsimiles 2 and 3, which have not survived, clearly demonstrate that other parts of the alleged book of abraham were actually from the book of breathings, the book of the dead, or just part of egyptian burial practices. Contained in the book of abraham are 3 facsimiles of drawings from egyptian papyri. The three facsimiles found in the book of abraham all derive from ancient egyptian papyri that joseph smith obtained in kirtland in 1835. Explanations of the facsimiles other than those provided by the prophet joseph smith, which are printed with the facsimiles in the pearl of great price, are tentative and subject to revision by additional revelation and insight from modern prophets. All three facsimiles belong together, and have a powerful hope fulfilling story to teach us.
Latterday saint egyptologist kerry muhlestein discusses josephs involvement with the interpretation of the facsimiles in the book of abraham. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842. Joseph smith recorded his explanations before egyptian. Three facsimiles are published with the text of the book of abraham in the pearl of great price. Some of josephs interpretations are similar to those of trained egyptologists, but most are not. The truth of the book of abraham is ultimately found through careful study of its teachings, sincere prayer, and the confirmation of the spirit. In the book of abraham also we are told that the plan of the cosmos, represented by facsimile no. Pt 1 proving book of abraham facsimiles by thebackyardprofessor. If you follow carefully through the printed explanation of facsimile no. God will reveal to the faithful all the doctrines and ordinances necessary for them to return to his presence and become like him see facsimile 2, figures 78. This post will discuss the alteration of the book of abraham facsimiles no. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimiles fairmormon. According to 34 year veteran ces teacher and author of an insiders view of mormon origins, grant palmer, 100% of the book of abraham motifs come directly from four sources. A journal of mormon thought, spring, 1995 by his own hand upon papyrus.
The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. Book of abraham facsimiles the smoking gun youtube. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of. Representations similar to facsimile 1 abound in egyptian religious texts. The truth about the book of abraham perhaps the most concrete evidence against the mormon faith, the joseph smith papyrus, the source document for joseph smiths translation of the alleged book of abraham, was rediscovered in 1966 in the metropolitan museum of art in new york. 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. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842, page 721. Death blow to mormonism the book of abraham is a fake. December 2018 ensign article by kerry muhlestein, professor. The altar for sacrifice by the idolatrous priests, standing before the gods of elkenah, libnah, mahmackrah, korash, and pharaoh. In my recent study of the facsimiles i began with facsimile 2 and will be posting further articles soon. There is much about the book of abraham and the facsimiles that is unconventional and not readily explained. Facsimiles with explanations authored by joseph smith himself. Facsimile 3 published in the book of abraham is a scene from the ancient egyptian book of the dead.
The book of abraham and accompanying facsimiles are a purported translation made in. Egyptian facsimiles in the book of abraham by thebackyardprofessor. Thus, these statements in the text seem to be nineteenthcentury additions approved by, if not made by, joseph smith. In a log cabin on february 12, 1809, in hardin county, kentucky, abraham lincoln was born to his parents thomas and nancy lincoln. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles 117 questions raised by the papyri these egyptian documents can be reliably dated to somewhere between 220 and 150 b. The book of abraham skinny frequently, when reading a discussion on the lds problem of the book of abraham, the apologists and critics beat around the bushconfusing the reader. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. Later that same year, a pamphlet containing the book of abraham s facsimiles was sent to the louvre. 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. I think it will be relatively easy to convince you that the facsimiles are not good reproductions of the original papyri and hypocephalus. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842, page 784. 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. The book of abraham, revelation, and you although academic research can provide helpful information, revelation from god is the most trustworthy and valid source of knowledge.
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