Click here to view the actual Book of Abraham papyrus scroll Joseph claimed to translate.

What is the significance of this scroll, rediscovered in 1967? It provides an objective means of testing Joseph Smith as a translator. Regarding the rediscovery of the Book of Abraham scroll pieces in 1967, Hugh Nibley, then professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, commented in the journal BYU Studies:

"[the discovery of the BOA scroll is] a far more momentous transaction than might appear on the surface, for it brought back into play for the first time since the angel Moroni took back the golden plates a tangible link between the worlds." (Winter 1968, p. 171)

Click here to view the section of scroll from which Facsimile No. 1 in the Book of Abraham was produced.

Click here to view the section of scroll from which the Book of Abraham is supposed to have been translated, and the actual translation in English done by a professional Egyptologist.

Click here to view the original Book of Abraham translation manuscript. The Egyptian characters in the left margin of this document match up exactly to lines of Egyptian text from Papyrus Joseph Smith 11.

Conclusion: Based on this evidence, many Latter-day Saints have judged Joseph Smith's claim that he translated the Book of Abraham from this Egyptian scroll to be fraudulent. This, in turn, raises serious questions about Joseph's claims to be a Latter-day prophet of God. Further, it raises serious questions about the authority and veracity of the church he founded. To read a fuller treatment of the subject of the Book of Abraham and obtain full color photographs of the entire Joseph Smith Papyrus collection, order the book By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus from the Book of Abraham page on this site. The text of By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus can also be downloaded there.

If you are a member of the LDS Church, feel free to request a free copy of the book, By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus — This acclaimed 240-page book includes the first published color photographs of the entire Joseph Smith papyrus collection and photographs of Joseph Smith's original translation manuscript of the Book of Abraham. The high quality photographs in this book are far superior to what can be displayed on your computer screen.