The Book of Abraham: Origins and Controversies

The Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith’s final translation project, is easily one of the most controversial books of scripture in the Latter-day Saint canon, and we want to talk about it. In today’s episode of Church History Matters, we dig into the fascinating story of how the exploits of a 19th-century grave robber in Egypt ended up expanding our scriptural canon. We look at where in Egypt the papyri from which the Book of Abraham was purportedly translated came from, and how Joseph Smith came to possess both this papyri and a couple pair of mummies. We look at the three theories of what source material Joseph Smith translated from and how he did it, and we trace what we know of what happened to the papyri after Joseph’s death, how many fragments have survived to this day, and what modern Egyptologists think about those surviving fragments, which is the source of the two biggest controversies about the Book of Abraham.

Originally published October 3, 2023

DISCLAIMER: While we try very hard to be historically and doctrinally accurate in what we say on this podcast, please remember that all views expressed in this and every episode are our views alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Scripture Central or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[alanyoung]

Happy to be a Jack Mormon.

Very much appreciate the scholarship and the amount of work you have put into a quality program.

[deborahrhodes]

We have been promised personal revelation if we regularly read and study the Book of Mormon. I have experienced this often.

[hLia]

If I had the words to describe how thankful I am for your work and how it's empowering my relationship with God, I'd type those words here ☺️🕊️

[danielraycre]

I'm so glad you covered this one. Looking forward to listening to it!

[judigubler]

How do I find your next podcast? I’m disappointed you left us hanging on this important topic. I loved what you taught but I want to hear the rest of the story

[athenabowler]

One gospel doctrine teacher told our class that Joseph Smith was going to translate the Joseph of Egypt papyri but was told by the Lord not to because we were not ready for his writings yet. Have either of you ever heard this?

[Glen.Danielsen]

Towering thank you, brothers Scott and Casey. What Robin Jensen and Brian Hauglid do not admit is that their Joseph Smith Papers volume on the Book of Abraham is not mere ‘documents’ as it self-purports. It is *_viewpoint, _* specifically _theirs._ And it is _secular_ viewpoint. We are getting opinion, profusions of conclusions. Scholars are universally loathe to admit that their stare is limited, that their song could be wrong. The Book of Abraham, like all other Holy Writ, is not a history document. Rather, it is a religious/spiritual document. Jensen’s secularist scholar enclave forbade religious perspective in this religious document, let alone _faithful perspective._ And why not? Secularism is where the praise is, and the thrill of bubble-popping the Saints. It is Liberal gaming, and none dare call it priestcraft, though his hiss is that precise definition.

[-x]

You guys do too much yapping and not enough talking about substance

[paulgregersen]

why the catalyst theory is proven in the way the translation evidence concludes. Link UTube (BOA ep I6)