Eyewitness accounts associated with the Joseph Smith Papyri
Eyewitness accounts associated with the Joseph Smith Papyri have been analyzed extensively to understanding the content, purpose and meaning of the Book of Abraham, a canonized text of the Latter Day Saint movement.
[1] Having examined with considerable attention and deep interest, a number of Mummies from the catacombs, near Thebes, in Egypt, and now exhibited in the Arcade, we beg leave to recommend them to the observation of the curious inquirer on subjects of a period so long elapsed; probably not less than three thousand year ago.
The features of some of these Mummies are in perfect expression.— The papyrus, covered with black or red ink, or paint, in excellent preservation, are very interesting.
W. E. HORNER, M. D.[2]"This is to make known to all who may be desirous, concerning the knowledge of Mr. Joseph Smith, jr, in deciphering the ancient Egyptian hierogliphic
"[5]We stayed at Kirtland about a week and had the privilege of hearing Joseph preach in that thing the Baptist said they called a meetinghouse [temple], which proved to be a very good house.
The parchment appeared to be made of fine linen cloth, starched or sized with some kind of gum, then ironed smooth and written in charter, figures, hieroglyphics, and conveying the Egyptian language.
He was also the steward during the imprisonment at Liberty, at which time he had many conversations with the Prophet Joseph, who presented him with a Book of Mormon, which is highly prized by him.
He also saw the rolls of Papyrus from which the Pearl of Great Price was translated, and procured a piece of the bandage that was wrapped around one of the mummies exhibited by Mr.
"[13]"While at Far West I happened in John Corl's or the church store and my attention was called by Vincent Knights who was opening some boxes of goods.
Joseph a visit.... Viewed four mummies, one male and three females, brought from Ancient Thebes in Egypt, saw the Rolls of Papyrus, and the writing thereon, taken from off the bosom of the Male Mummy, being some of the writings of ancient Abraham and of Joseph, that was sold into Egypt.
There are also representations of men, beasts, Birds, Idols, and oxen attached to a kind of a Plough, and a female guiding it.
A Celestial globe, with the planet Kolob or first creation of the supreme Being —a planet of light, which planet—makes a revolution once in a thousand years,—Also the Lord revealing the Grand key words of the Holy Priesthood, to Adam in the garden of Eden, as also to Seth, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, and to all whom the Priesthood was revealed.
-Abraham also in the Court of Pharaoh sitting upon the King's throne reasoning upon Astronomy, with a crown upon his head, representing the Priesthood as emblematical of the grand Presidency in Heaven, with the scepter of Justice and Judgment in his hand.
Likewise where the Idolatrous Priest "Elkenah" attempted to offer up Abraham as a sacrifice to their Idol gods, in Egypt (as represented by the Altar etc.
When we asked to see them, she lit a candle and conducted us up a short, narrow stairway to a low, dark room under the roof.
They were purchased with her own money, at a cost of six thousand dollars;" and then with deep feeling, were added the words, "And that woman was turned out upon the prairie in the dead of night by a mob."
The parchment last referred to showed a rude drawing of a man and woman, and a serpent walking upon a pair of legs.
... "Gentlemen," said the bourgeois Mohammed, as he closed the cabinets, "those who see these curiosities generally pay my mother a quarter of a dollar.
[25]After we had obtained all the information we could at the Temple, we visited the Mother of the Prophet, (a respectable looking old lady) who has four Mummies for exhibition, who (she says) were a King and Queen, and their Son and Daughter, and gives the names of each.
She produced a black looking roll (which she told us was papyrus) found upon the breast of the King, part of which the Prophet had unrolled and read; and she had pasted the deciphered sheets on the leaves of a book which she showed us.
The roll was as dark as the bones of the Mummies, and bore very much the same appearance; but the opened sheets were exceedingly like thin parchment, and of quite a light color.
There were birds, fishes, and fantastic looking people, interspersed amidst hyeroglyphics; but the old lady explained the meaning of them all, as Joseph had interpreted them to her.
The stories appeared to be more particular accounts than our Bible gives us, of Noah, the Ark and the flood—of Abraham and Melchizedec—of Joseph and Pharaoh—and of various other distinguished characters.
She showed us a large book where these things were printed, which of course sealed their truth to Mormon eyes and minds; but we had not time to read them.
[30]This after noon labored on the Egyptian alphabet, in company with brsr O[liver] Cowdery and W[illiam] W. Phelps: The system of astronomy was unfolded.
