Kirtland Egyptian Papers

[Chris Smith]

Hey Anijen,

Most of the texts you and others are citing actually post-date Abraham by something like 2000 years, or more. It is the biblical texts about him that may post-date him by only a thousand. Although Joseph Smith did postdate most of these texts by 1500 to 2000 years, he and they had a common source in the Bible and in the Western theological tradition.

I do not think that Joseph Smith was extremely well-read, but he and/or his associates did read the relevant portions of Josephus and Jasher, as their own comments demonstrate. There's an awful lot in those two books (especially Josephus) that helps account for the ideas in the Book of Abraham. And of course, like nearly everyone in nineteenth-century America, Joseph was well-versed in the Bible (no pun intended).

I am a firm believer in the CoJCoLDS but lets say its false I die and I go to heaven and get judged I sincerely doubt that I will face punishment from deriving spiritual upliftment from the BoA. Or lets say The CoJCoLDS is true (in which this is what I think) and I am judged I also do not worry about punishment because I was spiritually uplifted from the BoA and find out it was all JS imagination.

With this I can heartily agree. I do not believe in hell, and I fully support being uplifted by the theology and narrative of the Book of Abraham. For various reasons I prefer that people not take it too literally, but even then I recognize that they have a right to do so and I will defend that right to the death.

Blessings,

-Chris

[volgadon]

Stars play an important part in Abraham's life according to Jewish traditions. The only hint of this in the Biblical record is when the Lord asks him to count the stars.