Does Egyptian papyri prove Joseph Smith made up the Book of Abraham?! Ep. 82

Key Concepts:

• Book of Abraham: A Latter-day Saint scripture believed to be a translation of ancient Egyptian papyri containing the writings of Abraham.
• Joseph Smith: The founder of the Latter-day Saint movement, who translated the Book of Abraham.
• Egyptian Papyri: Ancient Egyptian documents that Joseph Smith possessed and believed to be the source of the Book of Abraham.
• Facsimiles: Illustrations from the Egyptian papyri included in the Book of Abraham.
• Document of Breathings Made by Isis (Book of Breathings): An ancient Egyptian funerary text found on some of the surviving papyri.
• Book of the Dead: Another ancient Egyptian funerary text found on some of the surviving papyri.
• Urim and Thummim/Seer Stones: Objects used by Joseph Smith in the process of translation and revelation.
• Revelation: The process by which Joseph Smith received divine knowledge and translated scriptures.

1. Introduction to the Controversy

• The Book of Abraham is a controversial aspect of the Latter-day Saint faith.
• The exact process by which Joseph Smith translated and received revelations is not fully understood.
• Different methods were used for different projects, including the Urim and Thummim, seer stones, and revelatory scriptural expansion.
• The process underlying the Book of Abraham is particularly unclear.

2. The Egyptian Papyri and the Chicago Fire

• Joseph Smith possessed ancient Egyptian papyri believed to contain the writings of Abraham.
• A significant portion of the original papyri was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
• Fragments resurfaced in the 1960s, including the vignette for Facsimile 1.

3. Egyptological Analysis and the Discrepancy

• Egyptologists, both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint, agree that the surviving papyri do not translate to the text of the Book of Abraham.
• The surviving fragments contain funerary texts, such as the Document of Breathings Made by Isis (Book of Breathings) belonging to Hor and copies of the Book of the Dead.

4. Three Theories on the Relationship Between the Papyri and the Book of Abraham (as outlined by Egyptologist John Gee)

• Theory 1: Translation from Surviving Fragments:
  • Advocated by critics of the faith.
  • The surviving fragments translate to funerary texts, not the Book of Abraham.
  • This theory discredits Joseph Smith as a prophet if he was attempting to translate these fragments.
  • However, this theory contradicts eyewitness accounts.
  • Eyewitnesses (Mormon and non-Mormon) described a long roll of papyrus in the 1840s and 1850s.
  • The current fragments were mounted on paper and framed in 1837, making them distinct from the described long roll.
• Theory 2: Translation from Destroyed Papyri:
  • Joseph Smith translated the Book of Abraham from a long roll of papyrus that has since been destroyed.
  • Accommodates eyewitness evidence.
  • Challenges:
    • Scholarly debate on whether the scroll would have been long enough for both the Book of Breathings and the Book of Abraham if Facsimile 1 was attached.
    • The long roll may have been one of the other destroyed scrolls.
  • Frustrating because it cannot be verified.
• Theory 3: Papyri as a Catalyst for Revelation:
  • The papyri served as a catalyst that sparked the flow of revelation, but the text revealed to Joseph had nothing to do with the papyri.
  • Precedent in other works of Joseph Smith.
  • Challenge:
    • Joseph Smith believed he had a physical document containing Abrahamic writings.
    • This theory assumes Joseph was wrong about that.

5. Facsimile 1 and its Context

• The presence of Facsimile 1 on the surviving papyri raises questions.
• In ancient Egyptian scrolls, illustrations sometimes had no clear relationship with the surrounding text.
• Hor also owned a copy of the Book of the Dead written by the same scribe and illustrator, and more than half of the pictures don't match with the text surrounded.
• There are no other instances of this scene being adjacent to the Book of Breathings.
• The text may not belong to the Book of Abraham, but it also doesn't seem to belong to Facsimile 1.

6. Conclusion

• Individuals are free to believe any of the theories or none at all.
• Unanswered questions remain regarding Joseph Smith's interpretations of the facsimiles and the historical believability of the Book of Abraham.
• Future episodes will address the facsimiles and historical believability.
• Resources are available for further information.