Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. Efforts to discredit joseph smiths translation begin with a facsimile, a type of drawing, included in the book. In one case joseph smith derived 177 english words out of the word khons the name of an egyptian moon god. Book of abraham and egyptian material in early july 1835, joseph smith and other latterday saints in kirtland, ohio, acquired four ancient egyptian mummies and several papyrus scrolls from michael chandler, an antiquities dealer visiting the area. Lds egyptologist doubts joseph smith translated the book. Be sure to see the page criticisms of joseph smith and the book of abraham, which refutes most of the attacks made on the book of abraham.
Book of abraham and egyptian material the joseph smith papers. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the. Current claims the book of abraham was not translated from the papyri deny over 150 years of mormon teaching on the subject and the very words of joseph himself. An inspired translation of the writings of abraham. The relationship between the book of abraham and the. V smith 265 tmcb brigham young university provo, ut 84602. The book of abraham is a book of ancient scripture translated by the prophet joseph smith from ancient papyri. Lds church publishes new web essay on book of abraham. Diaries, journals and autobiographies of contemporaries of joseph smith jr.
How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. The book of abraham translated from the papyrus, by joseph smith a translation of some ancient records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of egypt. Joseph smith later translated those plates into what is now known as the book of mormon. The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism. It seems to me that joseph smith anticipates the story of the apocalypse of abraham which also has the story of terah and idols and abrahams departure from the idolatry of his father just like the book of abraham. Ashment, the use of egyptian magical papyri to authenticate the book of abraham. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. The book of abraham narrative clearly demonstrates the manner in which the lds church works diligently to massage or reinterpret inconvenient facts to continue to defend its.
The introduction to the book of abraham still maintains it was translated from the papyrus, by joseph smith pearl of great price, the book of abraham, introduction. Lucy mack smith, josephs mother, charged tourists a quarter to view the egyptian antiquities. I loved reading about abraham lincoln and joseph smith, separate and great, born in a close geographical region and with different foreordained missions in life. 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. Mormons, in defending their scripture, maintained the resemblances to these facsimiles were not sufficient to prove joseph smith was lying in his. It is impossible to escape the conclusion that the book of abraham is a product of joseph smiths imagination. 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. The book of abraham translated from the papyrus, by joseph smith a translation of some ancient records, that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of egypt. Joseph smith claimed that the papyri contained the writings of abraham and joseph of egypt, but modern egyptologists have confirmed that it is a totally inaccurate translation, entirely unrelated to abraham or joseph of egypt. An explanation and overview of the joseph smith papyri and their connection with mormon scripture. In early july 1835, joseph smith and other latterday saints in kirtland, ohio, acquired four ancient egyptian mummies. In july 1835, while living in kirtland, ohio, the prophet joseph smith purchased, on behalf of the church, four egyptian mummies and. At the beginning of the handwritten manuscript of the book of abraham, joseph smith asserted it was a translation of the book of abraham written by his abrahams own hand upon papyrus and found in the catacombs of egypt.
Later that year and in early 1836, joseph smith and his scribes spent considerable time engaged in two separate but related endeavors. Notes criticisms regarding the book of abraham and joseph smith papyri are raised in the following publications. Abraham names a spot nearby as the plains of olishem see abraham 1. Book of abrahambook of joseph the book of abraham introduction in 1835 a traveling exhibit of egyptian mummies visited joseph smiths town. In these inspired translations, joseph smith did not claim to know the ancient languages of the records he was translating. 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. 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. This is a name that no one had heard of during joseph smiths day. Joseph smith claimed that an angel appeared to him and revealed the location of some golden plates on which was written the account of the ancient people of the americas. This is a fascinating book for those interested in history and religion. Im adding an ex post facto preface here to show that symbol interpretation is seldom an exact science.
F or many mormons, an examination of the book of abraham and its true history becomes the most significant stumbling block to joseph smiths claim as a prophetic translator of ancient languages. The book of abraham boa is joseph smiths translation of some egyptian papyrus scrolls that came into his possession in 1835. A translation of some ancient records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of egypt. The book of abraham was the last of joseph smiths translation efforts. The book of abraham is part of the pearl of great price, which mormons consider scripture. The book of abraham the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. This translation was done by the power of god through special means.
Joseph smith used the papyri that he claimed related to the book of abraham to earn his family money. Richard lyman bushman, joseph smith and abraham lincoln in joseph smith and the doctrinal restoration provo. Joseph smith produced the book of abraham, which he claimed to have translated from egyptian papyri. 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. You will never see an antimormon admit that joseph smith correctly predicted people would one day translate egyptian. Well documented presentation of the biographies of joseph smith and abraham lincoln, showing the parallels between the two. They do have an official position that the book of abraham is a translation of some ancient records that have fallen into joseph smiths hands. Inside the coffins in connection with two mummies were two rolls and fragments.
The papyri which joseph smith said he translated the book of abraham from have been exposed to be nothing more than funeral texts from ancient egypt at least eight egyptologists and semitists have. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. The book of abraham reveals truths of the gospel of jesus christ that were previously unknown to church members of joseph smiths day. Book of abraham and egyptian material the joseph smith.
Joseph also originally published the book of abraham in the times and seasons newspaper which he owned in different parts. Brigham young university, religious studies center, 2005, 89108. Universalism in ohio, evangelical magazine and gospel advocate utica, new york 12 september 1835. 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. Joseph smith papers, revelations and translations, v.
The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based, he said, on egyptian papyri. Thompson presented his reasons for concluding that joseph smith did not produce the book of abraham by translating it, as he claimed, from an egyptian papyrus scroll he had obtained in 1835. Only small fragments of the long papyrus scrolls once in joseph smiths possession exist today. He stated that one of the scrolls was written by the biblical abraham by his own hand. However, less clear is the precise relationship shared between the book of abraham text and the papyri. The book details what is known about the faith of lincoln, and also discusses the times when the two were in the same community, when. Joseph smith began the translation in 1835 after obtaining some egyptian papyri.
The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of. Joseph smith mentioned a book of joseph in connection with the book of abraham and the egyptian antiquities he purchased in kirtland, ohio. Did joseph smith translate even a single word correctly in. Much like the book of mormon, josephs translation of the book of abraham was recorded in the language of the king james bible. A new look at the joseph smith papyri, grand rapids. Documents of the early christian church and other ancient texts.
Richard lyman bushman was gouverneur morris professor of history emeritus at columbia university when this was published. 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. The answer is joseph smith clearly did not use the book of breathings scroll for the book of abraham text. So i believe that joseph smith received a revelation of a deeper and more meaningful connection between the papyri that he. 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.
Book of abraham translation church of jesus christ. The relationship between those fragments and the text we have. Smiths translation is now accepted as scripture by the lds church, as part of its pearl of great price. This most recent volume in the joseph smith papers series, revelations and translations, volume 4. A portion of the papyri used by joseph smith as the source of the book of abraham. Book of abraham and related manuscripts, is one of the most insightful and compelling books i have ever read.