I am working with a deadline to finish a project that will use these images and this is a tender mercy. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens. When i was 18 years old, i read the book of abraham and wondered about a part of facsimile 2 that said, to be had in the holy temple of god. Nehebka was considered to be a provider of life and nourishment and as such was often shown presenting a pair of jars or a wedjateye. Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. Book of abraham manuscript and explanation to accompany. Rhodes lds scholar and egyptologist heliopolis, the biblical on, is one of the most ancient cities in egypt. Mormon handbook the book of abraham facsimile 2 facsimile 2 is a common egyptian hypocephalus.
To me, this shows that joseph smith clearly altered the reproduction of the facsimile. Facsimile 2 as found in the kirtland egyptian papers. The mormon god and a phallic god could be considered one and the same. Book of abraham and egyptian material the joseph smith papers. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of. God will reveal to the faithful all the doctrines and ordinances. Explanation to accompany facsimile 2, circa 15 march 1842 book of abraham manuscript, 8circa 15 march. An early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. Ten questions and answers on the book of abraham mormons in. The altar for sacrifice by the idolatrous priests, standing before the gods of elkenah, libnah, mahmackrah, korash, and pharaoh. Ashment has demonstrated that these original drawings of facsimile no. Stands next to kolob, called by the egyptians oliblish, which is the next grand governing creation near to the celestial or the place where god resides. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the. Book of abraham facsimile 2 by jtobler on deviantart.
The following are common criticisms associated with facsimile 3. 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. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham. The four sons of horus facsimile 2, figure 6 pearl of. Rather, the image is the creator god himself, not simply a figure near god.
Facsimile 1, printed in the times and seasons, 1 march 1842. Like facsimile 3, facsimile 2 is not found among the surviving fragments, but the writing on it indicates it belonged to a man named sheshonq, and the hieroglyphic writing on it deals with sheshonqs happiness and wellbeing in the egyptian afterlife. Book of abraham facsimile number 2 wikimedia commons. Everything in the following essay about book of abraham facsimile 2 has been emended in later posts. In his periodical,times and seasons, joseph smith identified the same illustration as a facsimile from the book of abraham, showing that he mistakenly thought this breathing permit was actually the work of the patriarch abraham some two thousand years earlier. All three facsimiles are said to be from the book of abraham, but facsimile 2 apparently was not a part of a scroll but was a separate document on its own. Full text of the administration of the holy spirit in the. Explanation to accompany facsimile 2, circa 15 march 1842. 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. 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. According to joseph smiths introductory comments in the translation, abraham wrote the book himself, by his own hand, upon papyrus smith, 1842, 93.
A facsimile from the book of abraham church of jesus christ. It exhibits certain characteristicseditorial markings, paragraphing, spelling, and the use of ampersandsindicating that it was probably prepared as a printers manuscript for the first installment of the book of abraham published on 1 march 1842 hauglid, textual history of the book of abraham. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. Joseph interpreted facsimile 2 as a representation of. 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. Share your thoughts, experiences and the tales behind the art. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842, page 0. Pages in category book of abraham facsimile number 2 this category contains only the following page.
Facsimile 2 in the book of abraham is a common egyptian hypocephalus. 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. Media in category book of abraham facsimile number 2 the following 32 files are in this category, out of 32 total. Source hypocephalus as published in the book of abraham.
The next chapter is an account of a revelation abraham received before he went to egypt about the stars, including a great star called kolob near where god resides, and about the intelligences or premortal spirits of human beings that existed before the earth was organized abraham 3. Facsimile 1 published in the book of abraham is a common egyptian funerary scene. Remember, joseph smith said this is heavenly father revealing the grand key words of the priesthood, with the sign of the holy ghost in the form of a dove. Did joseph smith give a correct meaning for facsimile 2, years before scientists unlocked the mysterious of ancient egyptian. Well, i dont know why anyone would be shocked that the facsimiles are egyptian. I just wanted to say thank you for your hard work in finding and making available these higher resolution images. Book of abraham written by his own hand upon papyrus and found in the catacombs of egypt.
Reproduction abraham lincoln facsimile originally published by new york. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time the measurement according to the celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit. Feb 16, 2012 most latter day saints dont realize that in at least one case, that prophecy has come true. This image is included as one of several appendices to the book of abraham, where it is called facsimile no. Some book of abraham editions in facsimile 2 show min without the pornography. 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. Joseph smith either translated the book of abraham by the gift and power of god, or he made it all up. 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. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. If you follow carefully through the printed explanation of facsimile no. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimiles fairmormon.
The hathor cow facsimile 2, figure 5 pearl of great. The measurement according to celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit. Resolution of the problems the statement in the introduction to the book of abraham, that it. The joseph smith hypocephalus seventeen years later, by michael d. In 1912, a letter about the book of abraham was published by arthur cruttenden mace, assistant curator in the department of egyptian art in new yorks metropolitan museum of art. 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. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. The book of abraham, it is hardly necessary to say, is a pure fabrication. Section 2 section 5 section section 20 section 27 section 48 section 101 pearl of great price book of abraham facsimile 1 facsimile 2 facsimile 3 translation manuscripts king james bible the inspired version journal of discourses other scriptures. A hypocephalus is an egyptian magic amulet that is placed under the head of the deceased mummy to keep the body warm. While the other two facsimiles printed with the book of abraham have connections, more or less, with the narrative events of the text facsimile no.
A few years ago i tried to track down a highresolution version of the facsimiles from the book of abraham. This is the figure that you identify as a man that is sitted in the middle. One of the most disturbing facts the ces letter author discovered in his research of facsimile 2. The following is a sidebyside comparison of what joseph smith translated in facsimile 2 versus what it actually says according to egyptologists and modern egyptology. Egyptian context is different skeptics say joseph smith mistranslated facsimile 2. Pondering abrahams facsimile 2 by jerry toomey, river view 5th ward, draper utah river view stake, july 2010.
Contemporary egyptologists translations of figures 811 in the book of abraham bare an eerie resemblance to a phrase used in the temple. Facsimile 1 was taken from part of the book of breathings. The idolatrous priest of elkenah attempting to offer up abraham as a sacrifice. Facsimile 2 in the kirtland egyptian papers in digital format only shows black and white, not faint lines that may have existed on the actual hypocephalus joseph smith had. Full text of the complete poetical works of oliver. Jump to navigation jump to search the article book of abraham facsimile number 2 on wikipedia projects. Common egyptian hypocephalus 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. 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. This is my treatment of a facsimile taken from some egyptian burial documents dated roughly 200 bc. Illustration 2 incorrect reconstruction of the beginning illustration of the original papyrus prepared for horus. I return herewith, under separate cover, the pearl of great price. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens among the stars and others of his creations.
The central figure is not kolob in egyptian terms, nor is he the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or residence of god. The facsimiles are not said to be authored by abraham, but have been attached as illustrations relevant to the text. Book of abraham and other egyptian material the joseph smith. The three signs appear just to the left of the four sons of horus.
This is facsimile 2 from the book of abraham published in 1842 by joseph smith. Joseph smith provided this explanation in book of abraham, facsimile 2, figure 5. In the book of abraham also we are told that the plan of the cosmos, represented by facsimile no. He included copies of 3 vignettes found among the papyri and his interpretations of them. 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. Pondering abraham s facsimile 2 by jerry toomey, river view 5th ward, draper utah river view stake, july 2010. These are egyptian illustrations and they have nothing to do with abraham, skeptics claim. A response december 2, 1983 by ben crowder abraham, anubis, apocalypse of abraham, bonwetsch, book of abraham, edward h. Full text of the administration of the holy spirit in the body of christ.
Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. Ashment, egyptian, egyptian alphabet and grammar, facsimile no. Labeled as facsimiles 1 through 3, smith claimed they too were part of the book of abraham. The color images provided below, while not always accurate, may help in visualizing each figure complete color facsimile 2 available here.
Abraham lincoln facsimile noah, 18301903 brooks on. Joseph smith 20 polygamy 11 translation 11 book of mormon 9. The lotus lion ram cryptogram the lower, upsidedown, panel of book of abraham facsimile 2 gives us three hieroglyphic signs lotus lion ram. The book of abraham was published in the churchs periodical times and seasons in nauvoo. These updates include posts on a recovering or reconstructing the hieroglyphic texts found on the rim, b reconstructing the texts on the rightandlefthand panels, c. The second installment, published under date of 15 march but actually printed on 19 march woodruff, journal, 19 mar.
Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial or the residence of god. Book of abraham joseph smith papyri facsimiles facsimile 2 identification of the ithyphallic egyptian god min as god sitting upon his throne the joseph smith hypocephalus. One of the most difficult aspects of teaching the book of abraham is dealing with the three facsimiles found there. It is a hypocephalus, a funerary text placed under. Full text of the complete poetical works of oliver wendell holmes. Facsimile 2 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Facsimile 2, the hypocephalus, is also a late egyptian religious text.
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