The story is that mormon founder joseph smith translated it from an ancient egyptian papyrus scroll he purchased from an antiquities dealer in 1835. It is based upon the account of abraham s trancevision described in genesis xv. Book of abraham purported bible ancient languages spanish. Third, how the book of abraham was translated is unimportant. As outlined in the book of abraham section, joseph smith got everything wrong about the papyri, the facsimiles, the names, the gods, the scene context, the fact that the papyri and facsimiles were first century c. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism. It lays down, in quite a dramatic and beautiful way, some of the most distinctive doctrines of the restored gospel. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. How do mormons explain the book of abraham when many scholars. In this gripping legal and political thriller, stephen l. 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.
Joseph smith began the translation in 1835 after obtaining some egyptian papyri. Of course, it could be a copyor a copy of a copyof the original written by 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. God elects him as the father of the nation of israel gen 15. Dec 16, 2008 the socalled book of abraham is a part of the lds scripures in a collection known as the pearl of great price. Thousands of mormons left the church as the result of this discovery, while thousands more are completely unaware of this important piece of evidence. Egyptian mummy voice tells the world the book of abraham is fake. Eldon tanner, sent out for the translation, expecting it to prove smiths true translation abilities. The problem of online fake quotes is certainly not limited to fans of our 16th president, however, as i pointed out in a commentary i wrote for the late charleston daily mail back in february of 2007. The book of abraham speaks disapprovingly of human sacrifice offered on an altar in chaldea. The book of mormon if the book of abraham was a fraud, is the. Based on this rediscovered source material of the book of abraham, qualified egyptologists can once again complete a translation. Dallan oaks teaches members not to believe truth even if its true news. In 1967 interest in the book of abraham again surfaced when the papyri smith used in 1835 were found in the metropolitan museum of art in new york.
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. According to the preface to the book of abraham, smith believed his document was actually written by abraham s own hand written upon papyrus. Official response of the mormon church to the book of abraham. Episodes of mormon miscellaneous, a talk show on mormon history, scripture, doctrine and many controversial topics, by lds host, van hale, now in its 38th year. Book of abraham the book of abraham, one of the central texts of mormonism, is a poor translation of egyptian papyri.
For mei wanted some evidence and it wasnt enough for someone else to tell me it was true. 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. When i started looking around, it seemed like there were people everywhere saying that the book of mormon was a fraud. 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. The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus. The book of abrahamis a book in the mormon scripture the pearl of great price. See my notes here for the geneologies and ages of the men noted in the bible week 4. What book of enoch advocates dont mention is that the aramaic version of enoch 1.
The book of abraham also contains blatant translation errors, like listing drawings of women as men, and canopic jars as idols. The book of jasher contains an absorbing account of the sins of the people of sodom, and why god became furious with them, and the account of their divine judgment. Picking up the story, the book of jasher also records the miraculous birth of isaac when abraham was 100 years of age. Joseph smith from the mormon church claimed that the papyri contained the writings of abraham joseph of egypt, but modern egyptologist have confirmed that it is a totally inaccurate translation, entirely unrelated to abraham or joseph of egypt. From the beginning, the book was loved by the saints. Feb 16, 2017 hmmff, doesnt even sound like lincoln probably because, as the ny times reports, it likely came from a 1947 advertisement for a book on aging. And to convict all flesh of all the works of their ungodliness which they have ungodly committed, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 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. An inspired translation of the writings of abraham. Sep 28, 2020 hauglid, a retired byu professor of ancient scripture, concluded, according to the editors, that smiths approach to translating the book of abraham involved both intellectual investigations. Joseph smith from the mormon church claimed that the papyri contained the writings of abraham joseph of. Did joseph smith copy the book of abraham from the book. Interesting, the mormons on this board know its an indefensible fake, so they cant even post a weak defense of the book of abraham. The book of mormon if the book of abraham was a fraud, is.
Abraham believed god and it was counted unto him for righteousness. The book opens with a description of abraham s activities as a maker and seller of idols, his father terah being a manufacturer of idols. From the author of the bestsellers the emperor of ocean park and new england white, an electrifying and provocative historical novel set in an alternate history in which abraham lincoln survives assassination at fords theatre on april 14, 1865. Does the book of abraham teach a discredited view of. It was the year 2046 aa when god made the promises to abraham and isaac was born. The book of abraham has been a continuous problem for the veracity of joseph smiths claims which led to the formation of the mormon church. The joseph smith papyri jsp are egyptian funerary papyrus fragments from ancient thebes dated between 300 to 100 bc which, along with four mummies, were once owned by joseph smith, the founder of the latter day saint movement. The false book of jasher claims sarai was abrahams niece sefer hayashar book of jasher chapter 16. Joseph himself claimed that the lord revealed to him that the papyri contained the writings of abraham. The book of abraham is part of the pearl of great price, which. Smith said that the papyrus contained the records of the ancient patriarchs abraham and joseph. Pearl of great price is the book of abraham a fake. The totally unexpected truth about men and sex, morgentalers experienced perspective comes across in his writing and will appeal to a wide audience. Perhaps the most famous of these papyri fragments is the one depicted in the book of abraham as facsimile number one.
Death blow to mormonism the book of abraham is a fake. Ok so many of you have asked me to start a new thread. And if joseph smith faked one book, he could have faked the book of mormon as well. Manuscripts date to 1835 the book of abraham was officially published in march 1, 1842, but there are early manuscripts for the book of abraham which date to 1835.
Joseph smith in the fake news an book of mormon thoughts. He cometh with ten thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment upon all, and to destroy all the ungodly. Josephs additions of text and drawings to the facsimiles are plagiarism or nonsense. First of all, from paleographic and historical considerations, the book of breathings papyrus can reliably be dated to around a. Despite the efforts of mormons to restore the reliability of the book of abraham, it appears to be a demonstrably false book, errantly translated and misrepresented. Dallan oaks teaches members not to believe truth even if its true. Egyptian mummy voice tells the world the book of abraham. Dec 09, 2009 pacers guard grateful to be playing after cancer surgery.
It might be the funniest thing in the world to me when someone tells me with absolute certainty that the book of mormon isnt true after having admitted never actually reading the book themselves. Fragments of the original text were found and studied by renowned historians with credentials and experience. Why doesnt the translation of the egyptian papyri found in 1967. Book of abraham kindle edition by reynolds, george. Dec 23, 2015 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. Abraham about the future of his race, after his temporary ascent into the heavenly regions, under the guidance of the archangel jaoel, who here seems to play the part of metatronmichael.
Namely the allegations that it is a fake and that the papyrus have nothing to do with abraham. This some people includes the mormon church, which under the direction of apostle n. Robert ritner book of abraham interview page 3 general. 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. I open the floor to anyone wishing to go into detail. A study of the book of abraham byu scholarsarchive brigham. And fourth, regardless of how the book of abraham was translated, it is a remarkable document that tells us more about abraham s day than joseph smith could have known. Imagine for a moment what a find this would be if, in fact, smith had really discovered the writings of abraham and joseph. 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. The book of abraham was first published in 1842 and was canonized as part of the pearl of great price in 1880.
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. Using illustrations and the original text of the book of abraham it was found the documents are in fact funerary texts that describe events in the afterlife of deceased egyptians that is consistent with other historical and archaeological evidence. The bible says sarai was abrams abraham halfsister not his niece. The only reason for geocentrism in the book of abraham was to give abraham a perspective point to teach a spiritual message, not to teach anything about science. Here we go with part 2 of the book of abraham and it is indeed confirmed in many ancient writings. The typical anti arguments were already refuted so i just.
The book of abraham is part of the pearl of great price, which mormons consider scripture. Abraham, as claimed by esther hicks, is a group of nonphysical teachers who communicate blocks of thought which she translates and detractors insist is a fake. One would think that, if joseph smith were indeed a prophet who was inspired by god to translate the book of abraham, this would have been the. The book originated with egyptian papyri that joseph smith translated beginning in 1835. I open the floor to anyone wishing to go into detail on this subject for or against these claims. This wasnt something that i figured out over night.
A quick introduction for anyone not familiar with abraham hicks and what many now call a scam. The book of abraham largely follows the biblical narrative but adds important information regarding abraham s life and teachings. Although no formal training in egyptology, joseph smith created a translation of part of the papyri, and the work was published called the the book of abraham. This was five years before anyone had access to this book of jasher publication, making it impossible for joseph smith to have been influenced by the book of jasher. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. Only what egyptians believed furthermore, much of what abraham gives, such as facsimile 2, is what the egyptians believed and what we can glean from them, not what is necessarily true. The origin of the book of abraham ranks among the biggest problems for many who begin to question our faith. Egyptian papyri and the book of abraham religious studies center. The book of mormon if the book of abraham was a fraud. 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. Book of abraham exposed fraud a portion of the papyri used by joseph smith as the source of the book of abraham.
The church does not stand or fall on the book of abraham. The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink. His doubts as to the justifiable character of the idolworship are roused especially by an accident that befell the stone image called merumath. Naya rivera left out of grammys in memoriam goldman. This page deals primarily with the question of the source of the book of abraham now available online at. Potipherah priest of on or potiphera, the son of ahiram priest of on in the bible the book of jasher was mentioned in joshua and 2samuel joshua 10.
For twenty years, while falsely claiming to have created the now famous law of attraction label, her engaging personality on stage. Part 3, ancient records offer new support for the book of abraham, looks at some. Well the book was derived from a set of egyptian papyri purchased by the joseph smith in 1835 from a traveling mummy show. Did joseph smith copy the book of abraham from the book of. Josephs translations of the book of abraham facsimiles are completely inaccurate and amount to gibberish. It provides us with an important test case on whether or not joseph smith, the founder of the mormon religion, is a true prophet of god.
Aug 05, 2020 book of abraham apologetics is on par with flat earthers and other nonsense pseudoscience. First off, some information, what is the book of abraham. Originally asked as, how do mormons explain the book of abraham a completely fabricated, false document translated by joseph smith. The totally unexpected truth about men and sex, morgentalers experienced perspective comes across in his writing and will appeal to a. This awardwinning documentary film investigates the story behind a volume of mormon scripture called the book of abraham. Egyptian mummy voice tells the world the book of abraham is.
According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. The existence of the book of mormon had to be logical to me. Then the book of abraham is a fake, joseph smith is a fraud, and no honest, informed person should believe mormon lies. Evidence suggests that elements of the book of abraham fit comfortably in the ancient world and supports the claim that the book of abraham is an authentic record.
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