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Mormon Dilemma 487

“This Book” in Egyptian Hieratic Writings

In Smith’s estimation of the ungodly hieratic Egyptian writings we’ve learned just how uninspired this man really was but what’s the take away for us personally in our relationship with Jesus?

Was there ever a time you wanted something so badly that it’s all you could think of until you either went out and purchased it or made it happen?  Was it because it’s what you wanted or what God had laid on your heart?

This is the scenario facing untold thousands of Mormons every day.  They want out and it’s all they can think of, but they don’t know how to go about doing such a thing. Many times they’ll compromise their own good judgment for the sake of not losing what they already have – defunct as that may be.

I’ve received four e-mails this past week from active temple Mormons who are in that situation tonight. They feel they’re stuck because they might lose their families, home and job so they’ve settled in their hearts knowing Joseph Smith was a con-artist and a false prophet. Two of the people who contacted me are grown women with several kids each and live in Utah. Do you suppose there’s a way out for them?  I do!!  It might be scary – I know – but definitely well worth it!

One of the Mormons who contacted me saw the posts on our subject matter we’ve been discussing for the past week or so. He’s well respected in his community and devout Mormon, but has always had a nagging doubt about the facsimiles we see in the Book of Abraham. Pray for him this weekend as he prints out our posts and takes them to his bishop. 

Onto the facsimile translation for today!  Remember Joseph said these things couldn’t be told just yet, but the Egyptologists did it for us.  Here’s figure 15 and 16 is listed afterwards.

Figures 12-15 

Dr. Martin’s quote from Deveria says: 

Four lines of writing similar to the former, of which they are the pendant.

They appear to be numbered upside down, and are illegibly copied. 

From “Translated Correctly it says; 

“Figures 12-15 were apparently damaged in the original, and were “restored” by pasting in hieratic symbols for Hôr’s Breathing Permit — upside-down. A trace of the original hieroglyphic writing can be made out, but only the phrase “his words” can be made out at the end of the line in Fig. 15. The remainder of these lines is filled with hieratic writing taken from lines 4 and 5 of Hôr’s Breathing Permit.”

Figure 15: (upside down) “this book””

Figures 16-17 

From Dr. Martin: 

Two more lines which cannot be deciphered in the copy.

It begins above the god with two human heads, fig.2; and there is in it twice mention made of a sacred dwelling-place in Heliopolis.

From Translated Correctly: 

Figures 16 and 17 should actually be read in the following order:

Figure 16: “and may this soul and its possessor never be desecrated in the netherworld.”

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