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Secondary Questions / Book of Abraham

The Book of Abraham papyri don't translate to the Book of Abraham.

What the question is

The surviving Joseph Smith Papyri fragments, when translated by Egyptologists, do not match the Book of Abraham text. Multiple theories exist about Joseph's translation process, including the catalyst theory and the missing-scroll theory.

Where to read what the Church has published

How to weigh it

‘Translation,’ in Joseph’s prophetic work, was not always a one-to-one rendering of source text. Read the Book of Abraham itself, ask God whether it is scripture, and weigh the witness against the unresolved historical questions.

A reminder before you scroll on

This is one secondary question. It is real. It is not, by itself, load-bearing. The primary questions are. If you have not yet worked through them — or if it’s been a while — start there.

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