An Introduction to the Book of Abraham
Description
•••••
When the Book of Abraham was first published to the world in
1842, it was published asa translation of some ancient records
that have fallen into [Joseph Smiths] hands from the catacombs
of Egypt, purporting to be the writings of Abraham while he was
in Egypt, calledThe Book of Abraham, Written by his Own Hand,
upon Papyrus. The resultant record was thus connected with
the papyri once owned by Joseph Smith, though which papyrus
of the four or five in his possession was never specified. Those
papyri would likely interest only a few specialists except that they
are bound up in a religious controversy. This controversy covers
a number of interrelated issues, and an even greater number
of theories have been put forward about these issues. Given the
amount of information available, the various theories, and the
variety of fields of study the subject requires, misunderstandings
and misinformation often prevail. An Introduction to the Book of
Abraham makes reliable information accessible to the general
reader.
