LEM,
Here follows important information/data concerning the FACTS and TIMELINE of the events in question. Refer also to the first several pages of this important thread as mentioned earlier:
Pearl of Great Price Central Facsimile 1 as a Sacrifice Scene
Facsimile No. 1 published 1 March 1842
Facsimile No. 2 published 15 March 1842
Facsimile No. 3 published 16 May 1842
William Appleby (eyewitness) sees the PAPYRUS in May of 1841 (10 months prior to the first publication consisting of Facsimile No. 1)
His descriptions confirm that he must have seen the original vignettes later published as Facsimiles 1, 2, 3
William Appleby, May 1841 wrote:Today I paid Br. Joseph a visit, received instruction concerning 'Baptism for Dead.' Read the revelation as given by the Lord last January concerning the same, and recorded in the 'Book of the Law of the Lord' viewed four mummies, one male and three females, brought from ancient Thebes in Egypt, saw the rolls of papyrus, and the writings thereon, taken from off the bosom of the male mummy, being some of the writing of ancient Abraham and of Joseph, that was sold into Egypt. The writings are chiefly in the Egyptian language, with the exception of a little Hebrew, I believe. They give a description of some of the scenes of ancient Egypt, of their worship, their idol gods, and cetera. The writings are beautiful and plain, composed of red, and black ink. There is a perceptible difference between the writings. Joseph appears to have been the best scribe.
William Appleby, May 1841 wrote:There are likewise representations of an Altar erected, with a man bound and laid thereon, and a Priest with a knife in his hand, standing at the foot, with a dove over the person bound on the Altar with several Idol gods standing around it. A Celestial globe, with the planet Kolob or first creation of the supreme Being —a planet of light, which planet—makes a revolution once in a thousand years,—Also the Lord revealing the Grand key words of the Holy Priesthood, to Adam in the garden of Eden, as also to Seth, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, and to all whom the Priesthood was revealed. Abraham also in the Court of Pharaoh sitting upon the King’s throne reasoning upon Astronomy, with a crown upon his head, representing the Priesthood as emblematical of the grand Presidency in Heaven, with the scepter of Justice and Judgment in his hand. And King Pharaoh, standing behind him, together with a Prince—a principal waiter, and a black slave of the King. . . . There is also a vivid description given on the Papyrus, of the creation, far more accurately and minutely, than the account given in the Bible. Likewise where the Idolatrous Priest “Elkenah” attempted to offer up Abraham as a sacrifice to their Idol gods, in Egypt (as represented by the Altar etc. before referred to). But was delivered by the interposition of Almighty power, representing the Dove over the Altar, where Abraham lies Bound, which broke the cords by which he was bound, tore down the Altar, and killed the Priest.
Henry Caswall (eyewitness) 3 days in Nauvoo, including April 18th 1842
(Facsimiles 1 & 2 were already published the month prior)
Henry Caswall wrote:By some inexplicable mode, as the storekeeper informed me, Mr. Smith had discovered that these sheets contained the writings of Abraham, written with his own hand while in Egypt. Pointing to the figure of a man lying on a table, he said, "That is the picture of Abraham on the point of being sacrificed. That man standing by him with a drawn knife is an idolatrous priest of the Egyptians. Abraham prayed to God, who immediately unloosed his bands, and delivered him."
I note the following regarding Caswall's testimony:
Shulem » Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:35 am wrote:We have another eyewitness who saw the original papyrus of Facsimile No.1 and described seeing the knife that must have been the penciled version on the paper backing of the papyrus mounted in a glass frame. This event took place just 1 month after the publication of the first installment of the Book of Abraham in the Times and Seasons. I refer to the eyewitness account meticulously recorded by
Rev. Henry Caswall of his amazing visit to Nauvoo. Now, I'm not saying that Caswall didn't see a fresh copy of the newly published Facsimile No.1 featured in the Times and Seasons which he may have due to the fact he was admitted into President Smith's personal office where there may likely have been a copy and later visited the Times and Seasons press as detailed in his story, but I think his description of seeing the various fragments of papyrus from multiple scrolls proves he saw the original.
Here we see Caswall is instructed to examine the "picture" of various scenes ON THE VERY PAPYRUS fragments. The "drawn knife" described by Caswall has to be the one penciled in on the lacuna paper backing behind the glazed (glass) slide. This is very telling and confirms that Smith and his closest associates still endorsed the original knife that was drawn in the lacuna as a revelation but out of necessity would have to shift to the other knife published in the Times and Seasons seeing that is the one that would be viewed by the masses or the world at large. The papyrus would ever remain locked up in Smith's office inside the chest of drawers.
I would like to determine when the pencil doodle took place and IF Smith tore out the jackal head of Facsimile No. 1 out of necessity to maintain a coverup just as he did with the snout of the lead plate of Facsimile No. 3, because of a new understanding of the
Blazing Star of Anubis in Masonry; therefore the so-called slave in Facsimile No. 3 must not be identified as Anubis, so the snout was removed from the lead plate.
I don't know when the lead plates for each Facsimile were made. I'm confident that Smith removed the snout because he was afraid that people would connect the dots and say,
"Hey, that's Anubis, not a slave!"
It wouldn't surprise me if Smith defaced the original papyrus of Facsimile No. 3 (punched a hole in Anubis's face) and discarded any drawings of him that may have been in the Kirtland Papers. The snout being chiseled from Anubis's face in the printing plate of Facsimile No. 3, is indicative of a coverup.
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