How can you still take the book of mormon serously when Egyptologists have now translated all the Joseph Smith papyri -- including the parts Joseph said could not yet be revealed -- and we can say without fear of contradiction that the materials have nothing to do with Abraham . They are delightfully pagan in nature, and nothing Jewish can be seen in them. They are part of the Book of Breathings -- a late abridgment of the Egyptian Book of the Dead. In fact, these papyri date from approximately the beginning of the Christian era and are about two thousand years too late to contain the autograph of Abraham!
2006-06-29 07:58:33 · 8 answers · asked by Cindy 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am sure you realize that the Book of Mormon is one book, and the Book of Abraham is another book. You are referring to translations that became a part of the Pearl of Great Price.
No one has the papyri that Joseph Smith used to write the Book of Abraham. Three papyri were discovered in 1967 in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. They are called Joseph Smith Papyri I, XI, and X. Egyptologists have identified these three papyri as being the text of the Book of Breathings, an ancient Egyptian religious text. But did Joseph Smith attempt to translate these papyri? Evidently not. They are just three documents that were once in the possession of Joseph Smith, but are not the source of the Book of Abraham.
The evidence the critics have that indicates that these documents may have been the source of the Book of Abraham comes from some of the earliest manuscripts we have of the Book of Abraham. Some characters from the Book of Breathings are found in the margin of the Book of Abraham manuscripts. Neither the manuscripts, which are in English, nor the notes in the margin are in the handwriting of Joseph Smith. Mostly they are in the handwriting of William W. Phelps, with a few short sections written by Warren Parish. Clearly the Egyptian characters were added later by William W. Phelps and Warren Parrish, and cannot be a part of the translation process. Perhaps they were trying to see if these Egyptian characters fit with the Book of Abraham text, but they were unsuccessful in the attempt. They later fell away from the church, but they never claimed that they had been part of a fraudulent attempt of Joseph Smith to deceive the world. They never denounced Joseph Smith for this, as they surely would have if they could have.
We don't have the documents Joseph Smith used to produce the Book of Abraham.
2006-06-29 12:04:32 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
First of all, the papyrus Joseph translated in part is the Book of Abraham, not the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is a compilation of history and books from prophets in the ancient Americas, translated by Joseph. How do you know they are the exact same scolls as Jospeh had? Could the Lord have hid up what Joseph already translated, as he has the plates?? Hmmm... doesn't change my beliefs.
2006-06-29 15:05:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be fair to the poor lost souls the BOfM has nothing to do with the papyri. Everything you said about the PofPG is fact. Because the church is more culture than a faith it is hard to reach these people with the the truth of Jesus Christ. But that isn't our job to quote a good old song "I can show you where to look but you have to seek to find" Only the Holy Spirit and add to THE church..
2006-06-29 15:05:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to disappoint you and many other "friends" who seem to be so concern of LDS Welfare.
Unfortunately, our faith and loyalty rests on the testimony of the Holy Ghost, and I do not feel what you stated is creditable.
Just by reading the Book of Mormon is not enough for our faith,
it is the Holy Ghost that testify the truth to us.
Once again, thank you for your concern.
We accept other good things or publication, when and only when our living Prophet states it is worth accepting.
You may say we have blind faith, but I call it faith in our prophet and in Jesus Christ our Lord and Master.
Once again, thankyou for your concern.
2006-06-29 17:50:18 · answer #4 · answered by Wahnote 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a look at this link for a few answers. Btw the BoM does not include any translations of that papyri.
I agree with pinkadot here.
2006-06-29 15:24:37 · answer #5 · answered by plastik 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Mormon church cares more about the organization than the Scripture. Why do you think they still expect good members to tithe 10% or their gross income? Give me money. Yum!
2006-06-29 15:10:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.exmormon.org/tract2.htm
2006-06-29 15:05:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you should have written:
question for MORONS!
2006-06-29 15:12:35 · answer #8 · answered by madison018 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋