Book Of Abraham, Help

[LDSJoseph]

Hello, I am a lifelong member of the LDS Church, I was born into the Church and happy to say that I am a Mormon... However I bumped into something quite disturbing the other day and that is the Egyptian papyri that was found that Joseph Smith translated and he said it was about Abraham, however we have scholars that specialize in such text these days known as Egyptologists, it is a known funeral text and has nothing to do with Abraham. I am just very bothered by this and was wondering the Mormon defense to this because my parents don't know of it.

[estradling75]

Book of Abraham/Joseph Smith Papyri - FAIRMormon

[livy111us]

That is incorrect. There are many Egyptologists in the Church who have shown that Joseph Smith got it right. FAIR has recently produced a DVD which interviews Egyptologists, Linguists, Historians, and other scholars to show that Joseph Smith could *not* have known a fraction of what he got right. You can get it here: Most Remarkable Book, A: Evidence for the Divine Authenticity of the Book of Abraham - FAIR LDS Bookstore

Joseph Smith not only does a great job at translating, but the book of Abraham contains many stories that were unknown in Joseph Smiths day, but have recently been found in ancient documents that were discovered. How would one know about these? He could *possibly* have gotten portions of one story correct, but there are numerous stories which he gets exactly right.

Here are some great resources:

This provides some resources and commentary showing the stories in the BOA to be ancient

LDS FAQ: Ancient Evidences for the Book of Abraham: Other Records Confirm its Story

Book of Abraham/Evidence for antiquity - FAIRMormon

Astronomy, Papyrus, and Covenant by John Gee, and Brian M. Hauglid

Abraham in Egypt by Hugh W. Nibley

A Guide to the Joseph Smith Papyri by John Gee

Search results for "abraham"

The Backyard Professor: Powerful Egyptological Evidence for Book of Abraham facsimile 1, figure 9 Crocodile as "Idolatrous god of Pharaoh"

This one was just published a few days ago: One Day to a Cubit | Interpreter

Joseph Smith was well aware that there were some funerary texts in the papyri. In the History of the Church it mentions the some papyrus as being “Two or three other small pieces of papyrus, with astronomical calculations, epitaphs, &c., were found with others of the mummies.”

(Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts [salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951], 2: 348 - 351.)

The definition of an epitaph is literary a funerary document. How could Joseph Smith know that epitaphs (funerary texts), or writings in relation to astronomy were on papyrus, if he could not read Egyptian?

Here are only a few things Joseph Smith got right in his translation

-In Facsimile No.1, Fig.12, and Facsimile No.2, Fig. 4, Joseph Smith defines Raukeeyang as "expanse, or the firmament." Non-Mormon scholars, such as James Strong, who published their research long after the publication of the Book of Abraham, say that rah-kee'ag means "firmament" or "expanse."

-Joseph Smith said the same figure signifies Shaumau, meaning "high or the heavens, answering to the Hebrew word, Shaumahyeem. " Later scholars said the word is authentic and means "lofty sphere of celestial bodies."

-Joseph Smith defined Fig.6 in Facsimile No.2, as the "earth in its four quarters." Critics tried to cover up his correct translation by arguing that Fig.6 instead represents the four canopic jars, which symbolize the four sons of Horus. Research beyond such a superficial explanation reveals that those four sons of Horus represented the four quarters of the earth.

- Critics have asked why Joseph Smith did not give the same definition for the same four figures in Facsimile No.1, Figures 5,6,7, and 8. The answer is that he was giving the names of the idolatrous gods in each of the four quarters of the earth. For example, Elkenah means God of Canaan and was worshipped in the North; Libnah, or Libya, was to the West; Korash, or Cush was in the South; and Mahmackrah means "the upholder of Rah," Amun Rah being the Egyptian god worshipped by the Chaldeans in the East.

-Joseph Smith identified Fig.4 in Facsimile No.2 as "a numerical figure, in Egyptian signifying one thousand." Critics have tried to cover up this correct explanation by simply saying that it is Horus-Soped or Sokar. Research beyond such a simplistic explanation reveals that the boat figure is often called "the Ship of a Thousand" or the ship with its "soul of a thousand-fold. "

-Joseph Smith said that Fig.5 in Facsimile No. 2, represents one of the governing planets, also the sun, receiving its power from the stars. Critics have tried to cover up his correct explanation by simply claiming it is the Egyptian goddess Hathor. Again, research beyond such a simplistic answer reveals that Hathor's name meant "the house above, i.e. the region of the sky or heaven...a personification of the house in which Horus the sun-god dwelt." Egyptologists say that Hathor often appeared in the form of a star near the sun.

-Joseph Smith said that Fig.7 in Facsimile No.2 "Represents God sitting on his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand key words of the Priesthood." Critics have tried to cover up this correct explanation by simply saying it is Min or Osiris combined with Thoth, pointing out his characteristic head of an ibis bird. Research beyond such a simplistic diversion reveals that Thoth was an Egyptian god who had the knowledge of divine speech or the gift of holy language. Others say Thoth was the tongue of Ptah. These descriptions sound very much like the "grand key words." Behind his head is a flail or scourge which was a symbol of power and authority much like the power of the priesthood.

-Joseph Smith said that Fig.1 in Facsimile 3 represents "Abraham sitting upon Pharaoh's throne." Critics have emphatically denied that the supreme ruler of such a mighty nation would so honor a lowly, nomadic shepherd. However, historical records verify that during the Egyptian Sed Festival, Abraham did indeed take the place of Pharaoh as the "substitute king."

- Joseph Smith said that Shinehah is the sun (Abr.3:13). The Egyptian word sheni means "encircle," and nehah means the "sun."

- Joseph Smith said that Kokob means "star," and that Kokaubeam means "stars" (Abr.3:13). Non-Mormon scholars have defined Kokawb or Kokab as "star," and Kokabim as "stars."

This brand new website also has a few short, well done videos on the book of Abraham. Mormon Challenges

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Edited February 17, 2013 by livy111us