The Book of Abraham is a short book of scripture translated by Joseph Smith in 1835. The text presents itself as an ancient record connected to Abraham, containing teachings about covenant, priesthood, premortal existence, creation, and God’s relationship with humanity. It now appears in the Pearl of Great Price.

Joseph Smith stated that the papyri he obtained contained the writings of Abraham and Joseph of Egypt. Joseph’s translation of this record came through revelation rather than by having an understanding of Egyptian or the text itself.

Because the Book of Abraham plays such a central role in critics’ arguments, I have broken its discussion into multiple parts to address the issues clearly and carefully.

Where the Egyptian Papyri Came From

The papyri and mummies associated with the Book of Abraham were uncovered in Egypt in the early nineteenth century, near Thebes, modern-day Luxor. This area was one of the most important religious centers in ancient Egypt and included major temple complexes such as Karnak.

The artifacts eventually came into the possession of an American named Michael H. Chandler. When Chandler first acquired the collection, it reportedly included eleven mummies along with multiple papyri. As Chandler traveled through the United States exhibiting the collection for profit, some of the mummies were sold or otherwise disposed of. By the time he reached Kirtland, Ohio, in 1835, he had four mummies remaining, along with papyrus scrolls and fragments.

Michael Chandler and the Sale to the Church

Chandler made his living by publicly displaying the mummies and papyri and charging admission. This practice was common at the time. While traveling, Chandler heard that Joseph Smith claimed the ability to translate ancient records. Whether Chandler traveled to Kirtland specifically for that reason or recognized it as a profitable stop, he allowed Joseph Smith to examine the papyri.

After examining the papyri, Joseph Smith stated that they contained records of Abraham and Joseph of Egypt. Church leaders were interested primarily in the papyri, but Chandler, who apparently wanted to get out of the business of ancient exhibits, insisted that the mummies be included in the sale. As a result, the Church purchased the entire collection in July 1835.

The Nature of the Papyri

The collection included at least two rolls of papyri, one longer and one shorter, written in both black and red ink, along with several fragments. Only a small portion of these fragments survives today.

The surviving fragments date to roughly 200 BC and were owned by an Egyptian priest named Hor. These fragments are among the oldest known examples of their type.

Egypt in the Time of Hor

Hor lived during the Ptolemaic period, when Egypt was under Greek rule following the conquests of Alexander the Great. Egyptian religion continued during this time, but it existed alongside strong Greek influence and a well-documented Jewish presence in Egypt.

Egyptian priests from this period are known to have collected and adapted religious traditions from other cultures. Jewish figures and stories circulated in Egypt, and priests sometimes incorporated foreign religious material into temple contexts. Given Hor’s role as a temple priest focused on covenant, creation, and approaching the presence of God, interest in traditions associated with Abraham fit this time period perfectly.

This record was about 1,700 years after Abraham lived, meaning the papyrus scrolls Joseph had would likely have been copies of copies of much older records associated with Abraham rather than an original text written personally by Abraham.

Witnesses of the Papyri and Mummies

After the purchase, Joseph Smith displayed the mummies and papyri at times, including at the Mansion House in Nauvoo, charging visitors to view them.

After Joseph Smith’s death, Lucy Mack Smith continued exhibiting the mummies and papyri as a source of income until her death in 1856. After Lucy’s death, the collection passed to Emma Smith and her second husband, Lewis Bidamon, who sold the artifacts.

The collection eventually ended up in a Chicago museum, where most of the papyri were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. The surviving fragments were rediscovered in the twentieth century and are now held by the Church.

Most of the papyri were later destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 after they had passed out of Church custody.

The Translation of the Book of Abraham

Joseph Smith did not claim to understand the Egyptian language, nor did he present the Book of Abraham as a product of conventional language study. Like the translation of the Book of Mormon and the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham was translated by the gift and power of God through revelation. Much of it was translated the very first day.

After the initial portion of the Book of Abraham was translated by revelation, a group of church leaders including WW Phelps, Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith, Warren Parrish and Willard Richards worked on a mysterious coding project referred to as the Grammar and Egyptian Alphabet or “Egyptian Papers” project. Most thought this had something to do with translation, or creating an egyptian decoding system something like a Rosetta Stone. Modern research shows that these documents likely had nothing to do with translation but instead acted as some kind of cyper encryptian system.

Joseph later pursued the study of languages, including Hebrew, but this came after the translation process and does not explain the production of the Book of Abraham itself.

Publication and Temple Doctrine

Although the Book of Abraham was translated in 1835, it was not published until 1842 in Nauvoo. The text introduces deep doctrine, much of it closely tied to temple themes, including covenant, priesthood authority, premortal existence, divine councils, and creation.

Because of the sacred nature of this doctrine and earlier experiences with backlash and persecution following the release of new teachings, the Church appears not to have rushed the publication of the Book of Abraham. Its content aligns closely with temple-centered revelation that would soon be taught through ordinance rather than public discourse.

More on the Book of Abraham

This article serves as an overview on what the Book of Abraham: its origins, historical context, and method of translation. The articles that follow will examine specific aspects in greater detail, including doctrinal content, the facsimiles, and the Kirtland Egyptian Papers.

The Book of Abraham came from a real historical setting, was produced through revelation, and introduced doctrine that would later be taught primarily through temple worship rather than public text. It contains some of the most deep and divine doctrine, and because it is so complex, I will answer the claims as part of a 7 part series.

 


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