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 mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Eldon tanner, sent out for the translation, expecting it to prove smiths true translation abilities. The biblical pn abraham is mentioned 27 times in the book of mormon with reference to the biblical figure, but never as an individual character in the book of mormon. 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 controversy. Abraham, first called abram, was called of god to leave his native country and go to a promised land which would be shown to him. The story of abraham is wellknown to both jews and christians. The best source for the book of mormon videos, tickets, and the book of mormon information. Abraham sitting upon pharaohs throne, by the politeness of the king, with a crown upon his head, representing the priesthood, as emblematical of the grand presidency in heaven. Part 1 of the book of abraham faq deals primarily with questions about the source of the book of abraham, including a discussion of the original scrolls and the existing papyrus fragments, as well as the egyptian papers. Today i sit down with lds scholar brian hauglid as we talk at length about the book of abraham. I also deal with the attempts of mormon apologists to extricate joseph smith.
In the last chapter, we saw some of the problems mormonism faces with the book of mormon and archaeology. From abraham to the beginning of the book of mormon and epilogue bruce satterfield professor in the department of religious education, ricks college. As with the more well known book of mormon, joseph claimed that he received. This paper is not meant to be promormon or antimormon, but to objectively show. No fully satisfying etymology for the biblical name has been proposed. If the book of mormon and the book of abraham are not true. 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. I will return to the mormon church when this happens. This video discusses many items that are in the book of abraham that joesph smith could not have known when he published the record. Christ of latterday saints, also known as the mormon or lds church, visit. 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.
This is a remarkable statement in view of the fact that nonmormon egyptologists who have commented on joseph smiths interpretation of the facsimiles uniformly agree. The book of abraham mormon truth videos gospel topics hub. The book of abraham and the joseph smith papers youtube. The book of abraham lays the groundwork for many mormon doctrines, including the plurality of gods, the preexistence, the exaltation of man, and blacks not being able to hold the priesthood. The book of mormon if the book of abraham was a fraud. However, we have an opportunity here to verify or not verify the book of abraham through facsimile no. I hope you enjoy this conversation and that it is helpful in your.
The lost book of abraham full video institute for religious reseach. That version, according to him, is what is used today, but he had no. Very quickly, let me just say a few things about it very simple. Thousands of mormons left the church as the result of this discovery, while thousands more are completely unaware of this important piece of evidence. I am indebted for the content presented in this video to the scholarship of others. V smith 265 tmcb brigham young university provo, ut 84602. 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. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. We speak at length about the historical issues with the the book of abraham and what we are to make of those complexities. In 1835 joseph smith told the saints that the papyrus being displayed by michael h. 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. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. The book of mormon was born in the old testament world. The lost book of abraham is a documentary film that investigates one of the books in the canon of mormon scripture called the book of abraham.
In this video i discuss joseph smiths procurement of egyptian papyri and. The book of abraham in the pearl of great price was originally. This is some heavy duty gaslighting and throwing the bom under the bus. These pages were written while the saints lived in kirtland, ohio, and were recorded in the general time frame that joseph was translating the book of abraham. 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 story is that mormon founder joseph smith translated it from an ancient egyptian papyrus scroll he purchased from an antiquities dealer in 1835. In the book of genesis we learn that he was the son of terah, born in ur of the chaldees genesis 11. It also mentions the kolob, the star nearest to where god lives. The lost book of abraham is an awardwinning documentary that investigates the remarkable claim that mormon founder joseph smith. The lost book of abraham visits prominent egyptologists and other scholars both mormon and nonmormon to learn the truth behind this fascinating episode in mormon history. 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 abrahamand it is that truth that has caused the mormon. In the entry on the facsimiles from the book of abraham in the encyclopedia of mormonism we are told that the prophets explanations of each of the facsimiles accord with present understanding of egyptian religious practice. The video is not produced by the church of jesus christ of. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints distributes free copies of the king james version of the bible and the book of mormon. 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. The recent web posting on the book of abraham by the church of jesus christ of latter day saints hereafter the lds church represents new reflection on a document whose authenticity as verifiable history is now officially acknowledged to be in serious dispute. Is this true what theyre saying about the book of abraham. The book of abraham was first published in 1842 by joseph smith, founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The book contains important teachings about the creation.
This some people includes the mormon church, which under the direction of apostle n. Chandler along with a mummy collection, contained records written by. Among the early bookofabrahamrelatedmanuscripts that have survived from the days of joseph smith are a number of papers collectively referred to as the kirtland egyptian papers kep. Mormon church says it was an error in their come follow me manual that there was a curse of dark skin. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham. A quick glance over the preface and chapters two and three of the saga of the book of abraham may lead to the hasty decision that the reader is once again confronted with the usual rehashing of the same old, tiresome things. From abraham to the beginning of the book of mormon. 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. 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. Official response of the mormon church to the book of abraham.
The book of abraham is a book in the mormon scripture the pearl of great price. 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. A journal of mormon thought, spring, 1995 by his own hand upon papyrus. Christian heimburger and robin scott jensen discuss the process that gave us the book of abraham, giving. The book of abraham, with its illustrations, is now included in the pearl of great price, one of the mormon churchs five books of scripture.
The book of abraham was claimed to have been received by revelation. If he in fact translated an ancient record of the patriarch abraham through the power of god, he must have been the prophet and seer he claimed to be. Part 3, ancient records offer new support for the book of abraham, looks at some. Joseph smiths interpretation of these cuts is a farrago of nonsense from beginning to end. This volume is precisely what it is purported to be. Book of abraham wikipedia the lost book of abraham. The book of abraham is amazing, true, and beautiful. Rhodes never comments on how his english translation of the egyptian texts supports or does not support the book of abraham.
Two views of the mormon book of abraham bible query. Lds video encyclopedia what is mormonism the book of. Richard turley notes that the book of abraham was received by revelation. 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. Mormon tabernacle choir battle hymn of the republic peaked. The book of abraham is a book of ancient scripture translated by the prophet joseph smith from ancient papyri.
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. The book of mormon backstage tour with andrew rannells and glee sweepstakes winner duration. They cannot repudiate the book of abraham without raising the question of joseph smiths ability to translate the book of mormon. The book of abraham, it is hardly necessary to say, is a pure fabrication. Upon joseph smiths assassination in 1844, the artifacts were passed to his mother, and then to his widow, who sold them to a collector by the name of abel combs. Stream ladies prod by jay ant iamsu of the invasion by hbk gang from desktop or. The book of abraham comes first on my list, because ultimately the divinity of josephs calling rests upon it. In this chapter we will examine another book of the mormon scriptures called the book of abraham. Whats the best way to defend the mormon book of abraham. The pearl of great price is composed of several smaller books the book of moses, the book of abraham, joseph smithmatthew, joseph smithhistory, and the articles of faith. The standard works, or the mormon books of scripture, include the king james version of the bible, the book of mormon, the doctrine and covenants, and the pearl of great price. Tom clay what the world needs now is loveabraham, martin and john.