The Book of Abraham Who is Abraham and When did He Live? Adam and Eve/ the Fall (approximately 4,000 B.C.) Enoch (approximately 3,000 B.C.) Noah and the flood (approximately 2,400 B.C.) The Tower of Babel (approximately 2,200 B.C.) Abraham’s Birth (approximately 2,000 B.C.) See Bible Chronology

Why did the prophet Joseph say he translated the writings of Abraham when the manuscripts do not date to Abraham’s time? In 1966 eleven fragments of papyri once possessed by the Prophet Joseph Smith were discovered in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. They were given to the Church and have been analyzed by scholars who date them between about 100 B.C. and A.D Joseph Smith never claimed that the papyri were autographic (written by Abraham himself), nor that they dated from the time of Abraham. It is common to refer to an author’s works as “his” writings, whether he penned them himself, dictated them to others, or others copied his writings later.

Joseph indicated that he would publish more of the book of Abraham later, but he was martyred before he was able to do so. Concerning the potential length of the completed translation, Oliver Cowdery once said that “volumes” would be necessary to contain it (Messenger and Advocate, December 1835, 236). In addition to hieroglyphic writings, the manuscript also contained Egyptian drawings. On 23 February 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith asked Reuben Hedlock, a professional wood engraver and member of the Church, to prepare woodcuts of three of those drawings so they could be printed. Hedlock finished the engravings in one week, and Joseph Smith published the copies (facsimiles) along with the book of Abraham. Joseph Smith’s explanations of the drawings accompany the facsimiles.

What happened to the Mummies and the Papyri? After the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the four mummies and the papyri became the property of Joseph’s widowed mother, Lucy Mack Smith. At Lucy’s death in 1856, Emma Smith, the Prophet’s wife, sold the collection to Mr. A. Combs. Several theories have been offered regarding what happened subsequently to the mummies and the papyri. It appears that at least two of the mummies were burned in the great Chicago fire of 1871 (B.H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God, 3 vols. ( ), 2:380-82).

The current whereabouts of the other mummies and the other portions of the papyri are unknown (H. Donl Peterson, “Some Joseph Smith Papyri Rediscovered (1967)” in Studies in Scripture, Volume Two, ).

What is the Significance of the Book of Abraham? The Book of Abraham is an evidence of the inspired calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It came forth at a time when the study of the ancient Egyptian language and culture was just beginning. The scholars of the 1800’s had scarcely begun to explore the field of Egyptology.

“A stranger standing near at the time of the discovery recommended to Mr. Chandler that he seek out the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, as probably the only man who could render a correct translation of the ancient manuscripts. Mr. Chandler, however began to exhibit the mummies in the larger cities of the United States. They very soon became objects of peculiar interest. Mr. Chandler was assured by the learned men of the land that both mummies and papyrus were genuine. Indeed, from some he received certificates testifying to the genuineness of his display and to the characters on the papyrus. It was not until July 3, 1835, that Mr. Chandler reached Kirtland with the Egyptian mummies. Immediately, it appears, he sought out the Prophet Joseph Smith. “There were four human figures,” the latter writes in his history, “together with…hieroglyphic figures and devices. As Mr. Chandler had been told I could translate them, he brought me some characters, and I gave the interpretation, and like a gentleman, he gave me the following certificate:

Kirtland, July 6 th, 1835 “This is to make known to all who may be desirous, concerning the knowledge of Mr. Joseph Smith, Junior, in deciphering the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic characters in my possession, which I have, in many eminent cities, showed to the most learn. And, from the information that I could ever learn or meet with, I find that of Mr. Joseph Smith Junior., to correspond in the most minute matters.” Michael H. Chandler, Traveling with, and proprietor of Egyptian Mummies, Marvelous Work and a Wonder, LeGrand Richards, chapter 29, Summary).