Four Corners of Earth or the Sons of Horus
While Joseph Smith was busy translating Egyptian hieroglyphs into the new Mormon word of God he was also busy prophesying to his group the end of the world was near. See D&C 104-105. This period of time in Mormonism was precarious indeed. There were lots of new prophecies of how some people would never die, how the world would soon come to an end and now Joseph was telling them God was speaking to them from the dust of the ground. Sadly for the Mormon people these prophecies also proved to be false as well.
This time we’ll see how his wild imagination was way off in part six of our series. Joseph’s interpretation of Figure six is listed first, followed by the true translation.
6. Represents this earth in its four quarters.
These were funerary deities also referred to as the four sons of Horus; Amset, Hapy, Tioumautew (Duamutef), and Kebhsoniw. Each “son” guarded by a different goddess was a personified canopic jar charged with holding different organs of the body at death and buried with the deceased.
Imseti: his canopic jar held the liver. Not associated with any animal and always depicted in human form.
Hapy (Hapi): Nile god of the inundation who brought floods to the deltas which provided rich silt to farmers. Also known as the bull deity of Memphis. He protected the throne of Osiris in the Underworld. Depicted with head of a baboon. His canopic jar held the lungs of the deceased.
Tioumautew: meaning “who adores his mother with the heart”. Held the stomach in his canopic jar. Sometimes depicted with the head of a jackal and at other times a falcon. Also known as Duamutef.
Kebhsoniw: protector god of the west. His canopic jar held the large intestines of the deceased. He was depicted as a mummy with a falcon or hawk head. He’s also known as Qebehsenuef.
Question: How does a baboon represent a corner of the earth? What about a jackal; what role did he play in creation? The falcon? Maybe the intestines each canopic jar held? Do they represent the four corners of the earth and if so in what manner?
Never in Mormon scripture does God’s warning become so clear than with the Book of Abraham. (Deut. 4:16-19 – Don’t worship any graven image) Everywhere you turn there’s another example of idolatry.
For the sake of the argument let’s say these really do represent the four corners of the earth. What does it mean for the Mormon and how can he/she spiritually apply it to their daily walk with Jesus?
Have there been any teachings about or from Jesus in this Facsimile? Ask your Mormon friend why that is! Jesus is the center of everything if you’re a Christian – at least I know He is in my life…where is He in this circle of gods?
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