The pearl of great price contains the book of moses, the book of abraham, and the. Honestly elders, i believe the book of abraham is an embarrassment to the lds church. Fortunately, we no longer have to go to or rely upon mormon apologists like brian m. It gets stranger because prior to leaving the mormon church they authored a book together about how to suppress ones homosexual tendencies. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. Chase calls truths of the gospel of jesus christ that were previously unknown to church members of joseph smiths day.
The book of abraham, included in the doctrine and covenants, is represented to be the actual writings of abraham. It thus forms a doctrinal foundation for the lds church and mormon fundamentalist. About the lds church reasons exmormons give for leaving the lds church. All the stories together here have helped many people leave mormonism. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 7, no. Why we left personal accounts of leaving mormonism. The book of abraham text is a source of some distinct latter day saint doctrines, which mormon author randal s. Lds church members leaving in droves life after ministry. The boredom i felt at church meetings catalyzed me to look elsewhere for mental stimulation. His statement that the book of abraham is not like the book of mormon because there is no verse in it that says, if you pray about it you can find out if it is true or not is laughable. I was born and raised in the church borninthecovenant in a small town in utah. Today mormons are leaving not because of what the church has done, but what it hasnt done.
The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink. Because it doesnt do me any good to go back to a church that has a history of racism against blacks and poligamyabuse of women, among other things. Mormon and nonmormon egyptologists agree that the characters on the fragments do. In the last chapter, we saw some of the problems mormonism faces with the book of mormon and archaeology. I cannot belong to a church which claims a priesthood that is not based upon biblical principles. Theres little an apologist can say about the blatant mistranslations. Historicity of the book of abraham, the lds church suggests the relationship of these documents to the book of abraham is not fully understood. But do not expect them to leave mormonism that day. When the results of a survey were complete asking members why they left the church the top reasons were spoke volumes. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds doesnt take an official. I am convinced that the pearl of great price particularly the book of. Leaving the church, part 2 book of abraham mormon bandwagon. Beck is now highly critical of the mormon church, in 1990, she and her husband, john c.
No wonder the book of abraham is not the center of mormonism. The lds church admits on their website that the book of abraham is not a translation of the papyri joseph claimed it was a translation of. Nancy ashment nancy ashments husband ed is an egyptologist and the author of the book of abraham facsimiles. This leaves it open enough for people to study it out in their own minds and.
Background perhaps the most problematic issue undermining the church is the book of abraham. Disproves lds claims that joseph smith received the book of abraham through revelation and proves that joseph smiths source for his translation was a pagan egyptian text, the book of breathings. Turning to the book of abraham itself, lds historian, general authority and scholar. The reason is because there is plenty of evidence to show this lds scripture is fraudulent. This series on fmh went a long way to shaking my beliefs in joseph smith. None of the characters on the papyrus fragments mentioned abrahams name or any of the events recorded in the book of abraham. An essay on the churchs website, titled translation and historicity of the book of abraham, explains. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints has no official position on which papyri joseph smith translated the book of abraham from. Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. Mormon bandwagon leaving the church, part 2 book of abraham 4 pyri, journal of near eastern studies, july 2003 issue, volume 62, number 3, pp. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism. When the results of a survey were complete asking members why.
This some people includes the mormon church, which under the direction of apostle n. This book of scripture is important to members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. My life has gotten so much better since leaving and i cant imagine going back. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Is the lds church going to abandon the book of abraham. A portion of the papyri used by joseph smith as the source of the book of abraham. Peterson for answers on the problems of the book of abraham. But the fact that it is possible at all, with utah a reliably patriotic part of the united states, is one of the many ways in which, 150 years later, we still live in abraham lincolns america. A document from mormonleaks has caused a stir this week, attributed to church employee clint melander as a powerpoint for a meeting of the quorum of the twelve apostles the most controversial and interesting part of this powerpoint presentation was a slide titled issues and ideas leading people away from the gospel with 17.
A lot of good people joined and put their financial status in jeopardy by paying a tithe. The book of abraham, revelation, and you the church of jesus. When it came to the historical reasons for leaving the church, the issues causing the greatest problems were the book of abraham, polygamypolyandry, blacks. The above donut chart shows percentages of the book of abraham section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on if one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 90. The explanation for facsimile 2, figure 5 states that the sun is said to borrow it light from kolob through the medium of kaeevanrash.
The bible and the book of abraham both identify the strange land as the land of canaan see genesis 17. But, if the mormon church happened to be only true church in the whole world, even if they proved it, i still wouldnt go back to the mormon church. Jan 01, 2005 i found out that the author and her husband subsequently divorced and both indicate that they are actually homosexuals. The book of abraham the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Whether a mormon will ever succeed lincoln remains to be seen. Eldon tanner, sent out for the translation, expecting it to prove smiths true translation abilities. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. After having the book, did he actually change his opinion of the mormons and begin to treat them kinder than any american president had up until that time. My family has been members from 57 generations on all sides. Mar 10, 2017 why are people leaving the mormon church.
Today were going to point our skeptical eye at one of the supposedly ancient scriptures of the mormon church, the book of abraham. I also find it impossible to embrace the book of abraham as being authentic when credible egyptologists have agreed that joseph smiths translation of his papyri was completely erroneous. Both the bible and the book of mormon declare themselves to be ancient, historical, and reliable rules of faiththe very word of god. This is why the recent church essay translation and historicity of the book of. Exmormonssometimes referred to as exmo or postmo may neither believe in nor affiliate with the lds church. The book of abraham, it is hardly necessary to say, is a pure fabrication.
Did lincoln begin to insert book of mormon principleseven direct book of mormon languageinto his speeches and policies. I am convinced the lds church is not the restored gospel. The papyri contained egyptian hieroglyphics, which intrigued joseph. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham the church of.
Nancy ashment nancy ashments husband ed is an egyptologist and the author of. In 1835 the church came into possession of some egyptian papyri, said to have been translated with divine guidance by their prophet, joseph smith. Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. I left mormonism because i discovered the fact that the church is not what it claims to be. In july of 1835, a traveling showman named michael chandler brought an exhibit consisting of four egyptian mummies and papyri to kirtland, ohio, then the home of the latterday saints. The book of abraham in the pearl of great price was originally documented on ancient egyptian papyrus scrolls and translated by the power of god through the prophet joseph smith. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Jun 26, 2007 the lost book of abraham is an awardwinning documentary that investigates the remarkable claim that mormon founder joseph smith translated a lost book of scripture from an egyptian papyrus scroll. Hauglid, michael rhodes, john gee, william hamblin, paul hoskisson, and daniel c. Even if joseph smith fell or the church strayed away, i would still. The book of abrahams reference to light is not referring to photons leaving the surface of the sun. Joseph smiths interpretation of these cuts is a farrago of nonsense from beginning to end. Diversity and unity in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. After leaving, the singular piece of evidence i encountered that documents the falsehood of mormonism, is the truth about the book of abraham.
Here is a brief account of my recent experience regarding the mormon church lds. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints embraces the book of abraham as scripture. Theyve not been completely truthful about the polygamy issue and the book of abraham. Joseph smith and the lds church for over 170 years have claimed that the book of abraham is a translation of a portion of the papyri scrolls purchased by the church in 1835 kirtland, ohio, and that this portion contains the writings of abraham written by abrahams own hand. A document from mormonleaks has caused a stir this week, attributed to church employee clint melander as a powerpoint for a meeting of the quorum of the twelve apostles. Leaving the church, part 2 book of abraham by eric. I did not leave because my feelings were hurt or because of sin. It introduces what scholars call a catalyst theory to hypothesize how smith created the text through revelation from god, being inspired by the papyri artifacts. Lds church apologists and gas are dismissing the book of abraham. The papyri which joseph smith said he translated the book of abraham from have been exposed to be nothing more than funeral texts from ancient egypt at least eight egyptologists and semitists have studied the papyri and.
It is not the same land possessed by the people of canaan as recorded in moses 7. The book of abraham is part of the pearl of great price, which mormons consider scripture. F or many mormons, an examination of the book of abraham and its true history becomes the most significant stumbling block to joseph smiths claim as a prophetic translator of ancient languages. Abraham did not teach the egyptians that photons leaving the sun came from kolob. Oct 18, 20 today mormons are leaving not because of what the church has done, but what it hasnt done. I am 40 years old, and up until about a year ago, i was 100% mormon. I turned 19 today which celebrates my one year of leaving the church. Mormon and nonmormon egyptologists agree that the characters on the fragments do not match the translation. I am convinced that the book of mormon is a contrived document and not of divine origin. The lost book of abraham is an awardwinning documentary that investigates the remarkable claim that mormon founder joseph smith translated a lost book of scripture from an egyptian papyrus scroll. And this was long before i was aware of issues like book of abraham problems. Cuts 1 and 3 are inaccurate copies of well known scenes on funeral papyri, and cut 2 is a copy of one of the magical discs. He went on to say that he did not let evidence weighted against joseph smith on this persuade him that the book of abraham was not true.
A free thinker, humanist, cultural mormon, or ex mormon who emphasizes mormon culture and history, but does not necessarily believe in the mormon concept of god or in the inerrancy and inspiration of the bible or book of mormon. Leaving the church, part 4 book of mormon translation. The mormon church hoped the book of abraham would vindicate joseph smith as a true prophet of god. Exmormon or postmormon refers to a disaffiliate of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church or any of its schismatic breakoffs, collectively called mormonism.
Abraham 1 becomes very much a christcentered text of scripture when viewed in the context of abrahams entire life. That afternoon i went over to my friends house and asked them questions. The book of abraham is perhaps the biggest reason church members are leaving mormonism. When it came to the historical reasons for leaving the church, the issues causing the greatest problems were the book of abraham, polygamypolyandry, blacks and the priesthood, and dna and the book of mormon. He also made up priesthood, visions, book of mormon plates, book of abraham translation, kinderhook translation, etc one after another after another just to impress people to stay andor join the church. Three former momons talk about what led them to leave the mormon church. Until someone can make a convincing case that their interpretation of these things is the only reasonable one, any faithpromoting proof from abrahams astronomy is a flimsy house of cards and any faithdestroying attack on some strawman interpretation is. As a mormon, why do you think there are so many people. The book of abraham narrative clearly demonstrates the manner in which the lds church has worked diligently to massage the facts to continue to defend its truth claims. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. Mormon and nonmormon egyptologists agree that the characters on the fragments do not match the translation given in the book of abraham. The book of mormon seemed to be compelling evidence that joseph smith was a prophet. If we forget the limited nature of what we learn by the academic process, we leave ourselves open to the danger of trusting in mans wisdom more than gods. I started learning more about church history and reading nom blogs.
Survey explains reasons why mormons leave fold mormonism. A mormon daughters book stirs a storm the new york times. The book of abraham s reference to light is not referring to photons leaving the surface of the sun. As one who is in the throws of a faith transition, one in which i have not yet determined my decision or the outcome, i wish to state that in my per. Beck, had a book published by a company owned by the mormon church arguing that homosexuality is a. These claims have historically been taken on faith. This book, a record of the biblical prophet and patriarch abraham.
Lds church members leaving in droves life after ministries. I found out that the author and her husband subsequently divorced and both indicate that they are actually homosexuals. Osiris and isis were morphed into pharoah and abraham. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham. Ashments book, the use of magical papyri to authenticate the book of abraham. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept. This is a clear attempt to say that it doesnt matter if the book of abraham is true or not, and insinuating that it might not be. Following that account is a document with my thoughts on polygamy that i would like to share on the mormonthink website. In this chapter we will examine another book of the mormon scriptures called the book of abraham.
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