User:InProgress/Lost Book of Abraham

Claim

• Joseph needed to raise money for the Kirtland Temple. When Michael Chandler came to town with his mummies, for a "small price" you could see "fragments of mysterious writings."

Response
 FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources

Claim

• The plates are claimed to been inscribed with a "mysterious language" called "Reformed Egyptian."

Author's source(s)

• Note 2

Response
 FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources

• The video shows Chandler holding up a roll of papyrus that resembles the fragments upon which Facsimile 1 are found, yet we know that there are two other facsimiles that were on the papyrus, thus indicating that there are missing portions of the scroll.

Wilford Woodruff letter July 20, 1835 - describes the arrival of Chandler.

• Joseph claimed that a few of the Egyptian characters were immediately recognizable to him, and he interpreted them for Chandler.

• Joseph: "I have commenced the translation of some of the characters, or hieroglyphics, and much to our joy have found that one of the rolls contained the writings of Abraham, another with the writings of Joseph of Egypt - a more full account of which will appear in its place, as I proceed to examine or unfold them. Truly we can say, the Lord is beginning to reveal the abundance of peace and truth." July 5, 1835.

• According to the narrator, Joseph "records in his diary that he began by developing an alphabet and grammar of the Egyptian language."

• Joseph "I was continually engaged in translating an alphabet of the Book of Abraham, and arranging a grammar of the Egyptian language, as practiced by the ancients." July 1835.

• Joseph "In the afternoon, I waited on most of the 12 apostles in my house and exhibited to them the ancient records and gave explanations. This day passed off with the blessing of the Lord." October 3, 1835.

• Joseph "This afternoon, I labored on the Egyptian alphabet, in company with brothers Oliver Cowdery and W.W. Phelps, and during the research, the principles of astronomy, as understood by father Abraham and the ancients, unfolded to our understanding, the particulars of which will appear hereafter." October 1, 1835.

• Joseph "This afternoon I recommenced translating from the ancient records." October 7, 1835.

• Joseph: "I returned home and spent the day in translating the Egyptian records. A warm and pleasant day." November 19, 1835.

• Joseph: "Spent the forenoon instructing those that called to inquire concerning the things of God in the last days. And in the afternoon we translated some of the Egyptian records." November 24, 1835.

• Joseph: "Spent the day translating." November 25, 1835.

• Joseph: "At home. We spent the day in transcribing Egyptian characters from the papyrus. I am severely afflicted with a cold." November 26, 1835.