Chris
Elders, have you taken the time to read the
Gospel Topics Essays on lds.org?
Elder Smith
A few of them.
Chris
There is an important one released in 2014
titled: “Translation and Historicity of
the Book of Abraham”.
It starts off by stating, “The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embraces
the book of Abraham as scripture.”
Elder Smith
We would agree with that.
Chris
I’m surprised Church leaders embrace the
Book of Abraham after all the problems I pointed
out in our previous conversations.
The Book of Abraham is perhaps the biggest
reason church members are leaving Mormonism.
Elder Young
The biggest reason?
Why is that?
Chris
The reason is because there is plenty of evidence
to show this LDS Scripture is fraudulent.
Honestly Elders, I believe the Book of Abraham
is an embarrassment to the LDS Church.
The Book of Abraham is supposed to be evidence
of the inspired calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
But it turns out, Smith never translated the
ancient writings of Abraham
like he claimed he did.
That has been proven beyond a doubt.
Elder Smith
But haven’t LDS scholars proposed a number,
of theories to support the reliability of
the Book of Abraham?
Chris
Yes, but none of these theories has been able
to hold up when all the evidence is considered.
It would be worth your time to read “By
His Own Hand Upon Papyrus” by Charles Larson
for explanations of those theories.
He shows that there is absolutely no support
for Smith’s translation.
Egyptologists all agree that Smith’s translation
was inaccurate and that his papyrus source
was, in fact, of pagan origin, having nothing
to do with father Abraham.
To put it another way - Not a single word,
thought, or concept, including his explanations
of his three facsimiles, is in any way related
to the subject matter of the Egyptian texts
from which they were supposedly translated.
Elder Smith
It says here in the essay,
Chris
You’re saying, the greatest evidence of
the truthfulness of the book of Abraham is
not found in an analysis of the physical evidence
nor historical background, but it is primarily
a matter of faith.
Elder Young
That’s right.
Chris
The Bible is very clear that we must “prove
all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
We are supposed to “try the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets
are gone out into the word” (1 John 4:1).
The Bereans were considered nobler than the
Thessalonians because they tested the truth
of everything against scripture (Acts 17:11).
It is completely unbiblical for the essay
to say that facts ought to
take a back seat to faith.
Here’s another thing to consider – There
is no evidence a Jew like Abraham ever wrote
in the Egyptian language.
Elder Smith
It says in Genesis that Abraham traveled to
Egypt and stayed for a while.
Chris
But ask yourself – Why would Abraham have
written in Egyptian hieroglyphics belonging
to foreign pagans who worshiped other gods?
It is simply illogical!
Elder Smith
The essay says,
Chris
It is clear, that Joseph Smith plagiarized
the Book of Abraham from the Book of Genesis
to make it sound biblical.
It is obvious why the Mormon Church needs
to maintain the Book of Abraham as authentic.
As an intellectual leader and historian of
the LDS Church, B.H. Roberts noted:
(Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, Vol. 2 p. 138)
Elder Smith
The essay concludes:
Chris
It is time for the LDS Church to de-canonize
the Book of Abraham.
But, the Book of Abraham is so full of distinct
LDS doctrines that it can never be discounted
as inauthentic without throwing Joseph Smith’s
reputation out the window.
The Gospel Topic Essay regarding the translation
of the Book of Abraham does not provide the
answers necessary to stem the tide of defection
among Latter-day Saints.
I realize many members won’t care how Joseph
did it.
All they know is that it was done.
If members begin to question, they are regarded
as weak in their faith, so most never allow
themselves to do so.
As a, result they fall for another JosephSmyth.
