Book of Joseph

A promotional flyer created by Chandler states that the mummies "may have lived in the days of Jacob, Moses, or David".

[9] According to Smith, the scrolls contained the writings of Abraham and Joseph, as well as the history of an Egyptian princess named "Katumin".

John Whitmer wrote in his history about the papyri: "Joseph the Seer saw these records and by the revelation of Jesus Christ could translate these records which gave an account of our forefathers, much of which was written by Joseph of Egypt who was sold by his brethren, which when all translated will be a pleasing history and of great value to the Saints.

The scroll that is most commonly identified as the Book of Joseph belonged to an Egyptian woman named Ta-sherit-Min(also Tshemmin, Semminis)[13] Joseph Smith Papyri II, V–IX, and most of IV have been identified by Egyptologists as "The Book of the Dead belonging to the lady Ta-sherit-Min (also Tshemmin, Semminis).

Prospective deceased would pick and choose which spells (sometimes referred to as chapters) they wanted in their book to assist them in the afterlife.

Also part of the Joseph Smith Papyri collection is a fragment of a Book of the Dead scroll for a woman named Nefer-ir-nebu.

The fragment contains a vignette that matches the description given by Oliver Cowdery of a final judgement scene he said came from the Book of Joseph.

The inner end of the same roll, (Joseph's record,) presents a representation of the judgement: At one view you behold the Savior seated upon his throne, crowned, and holding the sceptres of righteousness and power, before whom also, are assembled the twelve tribes of Israel, the nations, languages and tongues of the earth, the kingdoms of the world over which satan is represented as reigning.

He soon knew what they were and said they, the 'rolls of papyrus,' contained the sacred record kept of Joseph in Pharaoh's Court in Egypt, and the teachings of Father Abraham.

[1] Albert Brown, a convert to the church, wrote to his parents on November 1, 1835, indicating that there were prophecies of the patriarch Jacob on the Joseph scroll: "I will relate one incident that happened not long since in our favour by some men that had four egyptian mummis which th[e]y were carr[y]ing through the world to exibiat and also an ancient record that was found in their coffins this record containing som of the history of josef while in egypt and also of jacob and many prophesies delivered by them.

"[19]Oliver Cowdery described the interpretation of various vignettes accompanying "Joseph's record" as follows: "The representation of the god-head--three, yet in one, is curiously drawn to give simply, though impressively, the writers views of that exalted personage.

I might continue my communication to a great length upon the different figures and characters represented upon the two rolls, but I have no doubt my subject has already become sufficiently prolix for your patience:"When the papyri were re-discovered in the 1960s, LDS Church General Authority Milton R. Hunter told N. Eldon Tanner, second counselor in the LDS Church First Presidency, about Cowdery's connection of the vignettes to the Book of Joseph.

As LDS Scholar Quinten Barney states, "There is no grounds for assuming that Oliver’s interpretations of the vignettes need be products of his own mind.

They say the mummies were Egyptian, but the records are those of Abraham and Joseph, and contain important information respecting the creation, the fall of man, the deluge, the patriarchs, the book of Mormon, the lost tribe, the gathering, the end of the world, the judgment, &c. &c. This is as near as I can recollect it; if there is an error I hope some of the Mormons will point it out, and I will recall it.

There are also representations of men, beasts, Birds, Idols and oxen attached to a kind of plough, and a female guiding it.

Brigham Young University professor H. Donl Peterson wrote, "Oliver Cowdery's explanation of the contents of the book of Joseph, seem to have relevance with regard to the temple ceremony.

"[28] It is unknown how long the text would be, but Oliver Cowdery gave an indication in 1835 that it could be quite large: "When the translation of these valuable documents will be completed, I am unable to say; neither can I gave you a probable idea how large volumes they will make; but judging from their size, and the comprehensiveness of the language, one might reasonably expect to see sufficient to develop much on the mighty of the ancient men of God.