The Book of Abraham Translated from the Papyrus, by Joseph Smith

[sock puppet]

A Translation of some ancient Records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of Egypt. The writings of Abraham while he was in Egypt, called the Book of Abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus.

Another Book of Abraham thread? All are welcome.

Tell us what YOU think of the Book of Abraham. Are you a believer? Bear your testimony. What's your apologetic reasoning on how you know the Book of Abraham provides an account about the historical birth of ancient Egypt?

Are you a critic? Feel free to slam the Book of Abraham and tell us how you know it can't possibly be true.

Where would one begin? There is so much about the Book of Abraham that does not match what the Brighamites claim it to be.

Much of it is covered here: http://www.sicketnon.com/2018/12/04-boo ... tland.html

And here: http://www.sicketnon.com/2020/08/04a-jo ... -book.html

[Shulem]

Where would one begin? There is so much about the Book of Abraham that does not match what the Brighamites claim it to be.

Much of it is covered here: http://www.sicketnon.com/2018/12/04-boo ... tland.html

Sorry, sock.

I've perused the SicK et non article above and find it rather piss-poor and it fails to attack the Book of Abraham in a manner that would cause a typical believer to speechlessly drop their jaw. I, as a former Book of Abraham apologist, would have found it relatively easy to fend off this critical presentation that lacks a targeted knock out punch.

At the end of the article the critic asks the believer six questions that are designed to get the believer to lose faith:

Questions:

4a-Why does the Church deny the obvious, that the GAEL/Kirtland Egyptian Papers inextricably tie the Book of Abraham to the 1967-found Sensen Papyrus (other than the fact that Egyptologist can now, as a result of Champollion having found the Rosetta Stone and thus the 'key' to translating ancient Egyptian writings into English)?

4b-Why don't the Egyptian characters on the Sensen Papyrus translate into the Book of Abraham, as Joseph Smith claimed and the LDS church yet claims?

4c-Why did God have Joseph Smith buy the mummies and 'translate' the papyrus found in the sarcophaguses if God was inspiring the story of Abraham, while Joseph Smith thought he was 'translating' the Egyptian characters on the papyrus?

4d-Why did God not have Joseph Smith "restore" Facsimiles 1 and 2 correctly?

4e-Why did God not have Joseph Smith, through translation or mere inspiration, get the Explanations correct?

4f-Why did Joseph Smith use the GAEL/Kirtland Egyptian Papers to try in May 1843 to "translate" the Kinderhook Plates (which decades later were revealed to be phony plants)?

But why ask why?

How much better and more powerful (says Yoda) it is to state facts and insert them into the mind of the believer without asking any questions. You want to know a secret? I rarely use the word "WHY" when making my critical arguments against the Book of Abraham! Rather, I state the facts and then answer what may be construed as questions and allow that to sink in and poison the mind of the faithful in order to achieve the desired effect.

I am the greatest Book of Abraham critic on the planet. I am a faith killer!

[Moksha]

Is the Dendera Zodiac a star chart to Kolob? Will it be of assistance to the cyborg crew of the Starship Nauvoo while the Corporate Bank of General and Ensign Peak Authorities are in stasis?

I am the greatest Book of Abraham critic on the planet. I am a faith killer!

May you float like a butterfly and sting like a bee!

[Shulem]

Bradish probably also saw the Dendera Zodiac, which vaguely resembles the hypocephalus.

I would say the odds must have been incredibly high that Chandler had some kind of literature or academic materials on his possession when first riding into Kirtland to help sell his curious antiquities. He would have needed something to advertise and describe the artifacts that were valued in the thousands of dollars. Cowdery tells of how Chandler was interested in learning anything he could about the genuine nature of his artifacts and what they meant or said.

While Mr. Chandler was in Philadelphia, he used every exertion to find some one who could give him the translation of his papyrus, but could not, satisfactorily, though from some few men of the first eminence, he obtained in a small degree, the translation of a few characters. Here he was referred to bro. Smith. From Philadelphia he visited Harrisburgh, and other places east of the mountains, and was frequently referred to bro. Smith for a translation of his Egyptian Relic.

It would be beyond my purpose to follow this gentleman in his different circuits to the time he visited this place the last of June, or first of July, at which time he presented bro. Smith with his papyrus.

It seems entirely reasonable to think that Chandler, during his travels, may have received information about the nature or purpose of the hypocephallus which became Facsimile No. 2. Perhaps he had in his possession certain illustration(s) that paralleled the mysterious likeness of the design and content of the round papyrus? He would have needed something to advertise his goods and justify a high asking price.

I can only imagine the statement Cowdery gave in the Messenger and Advocate about the hypocephalus being an "astronomical calculation" was preapproved by the prophet because the privilege to translate was ultimately Smith's responsibility (D&C 93:53). So, I figure Oliver's expression of the "astronomical calculation" was entirely approved by the prophet when he wrote the article. And taking it a step further, we are left to wonder if Joseph got the idea from Chandler? If so, Chandler would have needed something to back up his interpretation; hence, the Dendera Zodiac or something of that genre?

[Shulem]

Here we learn that Joseph Smith notified the entire Quorum of the Twelve to inform them that he was divinely appointed by the Holy Spirit "to take in hand the Editorial Department of the Times and Seasons" and by this appointment the manifestation of the Spirit would publish the Book of Abraham to the world. Note how this revelation is prompted by "Verily thus sayeth the Lord."

And so, what did Joseph Smith do by revelation from the Holy Spirit in taking in hand the Editorial Department as it prepared to publish the installments of the Book of Abraham?

HACK OUT THE SNOUT:

By revelation, Joseph Smith was instructed by the Holy Spirit to have the snout and headcloth hacked out of Reuben Hedlock's lead printing plate that he dutifully prepared for publication. The representation of Anubis on the lead plate was in direct opposition to Smith's explanation of the him being a slave, so something had to be done to cover and hide this obvious contradiction. So, a lying Spirit whispered into the ears of Joseph and instructed him to commit deception and lie to the Church in order to maintain the original lie that black Anubis was only a slave and not the majestic dog-headed god known to the Masons as ANUBIS.

Here we see how the Spirit of Mormonism is a lie -- the spirit of deception and ungodliness.

Shame on the Mormons for continuing to publish this outrageous lie!

Mormons are liars! All of them. Every Mormon who supports the Book of Abraham is a partaker of Smith's lies.

Repent and cease to publish these horrific lies! Are you a Mormon? YOU are a Goddamn liar! The Mormon Holy Ghost is a Goddamn liar!

[Moksha]

Is the Dendera Zodiac a star chart to Kolob? Will it be of assistance to the cyborg crew of the Starship Nauvoo while the Corporate Bank of General and Ensign Peak Authorities are in stasis?

This makes me curious as to what site Mormons propose as the earliest LDS temple in the Neolithic period. I hope an Interpreter Foundation article appears on this topic. How high were they able to make the spire (especially considering there were no zoning restrictions or residents' concerns)?

[Shulem]

Professor Hugh Nibley once noted that the kingdom of God cannot endure if it indulges even the smallest sin: “The slightest taint of corruption means that the other world would be neither incorruptible nor eternal. The tiniest flaw in a building, institution, code, or character will inevitably prove fatal in the long run of eternity.” The commandments of God are “strict” because His kingdom and its citizens can stand only if they consistently reject evil and choose good, without exception.



It's okay to lie if you're a Mormon. Lying and Mormonism go hand in hand. Hack out the snout!

Lie for the Lord, voilà, the Book of Abraham!

[Shulem]

I don't mind that you have questions in regards to why I still believe and remain in the CofJCofLDS. It's not rocket science. It's either all true or it's all false. I've chosen true. To me, it makes sense. At the end of the day it is rather binary.

You're a liar, MG as is your church.

Truth and error are often mixed together in a single package. For example, Mormonism teaches there are truths in other religions but reject the authority.

What about Mormonism? Joseph Smith published revelations (Book of Abraham) to the world that are proven absolutely false and yet the Mormons require everyone to accept lies:

King Pharaoh, whose name is given in the characters above his head.

[x] False

Shulem, one of the king’s principal waiters, as represented by the characters above his hand.

[x] False

Olimlah, a slave belonging to the prince.

[x] False

[MG 2.0]

You're a liar, MG as is your church.

Truth and error are often mixed together in a single package. For example, Mormonism teaches there are truths in other religions but reject the authority.

I'm not lying when I say that I believe that the CofJCofLDS offers the path to exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom of God.

It really is that simple. It either is or it isn't.

Sure, there are peripheral issues that can be brought up in regards to those things that are not essential for salvation/exaltation. Why would I seek after those things when at the end of the day they don't really matter? I've spent a fair amount of 'ink' giving my thoughts in regards to Book of Abraham issues in the past on other threads. I have no interest in rehashing what has already been said. I know that this is a critical issue for you that leads you to believe that the CofJCofLDS does not hold the keys to salvation/exaltation.

That is your call.

It's not helpful to go around calling people liars when you don't have a grasp on the whole picture. You are in your own head, and I in mine.

Regards,
MG

[Moksha]

It really is that simple. It either is or it isn't.

Regards,
MG

What about something less either/or, such as offering you a sense of belonging and a stable family life as long as you stay in the boat and don't climb out and risk your ankles getting wet by walking to the shore?

Remember, doubt your doubts, and keep your head in the sand!!!