Facsimiles 2–3
and Abraham 4 & 5
1. Abraham was a willing representative of the Lord. He
went to Egypt and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the
Egyptians (Facsimile 3, figures 1–6; also Helaman 8:16–18;).
2. Abraham 3:15- Abraham Taught the Egyptians
3.
The figures in the facsimiles are symbolic. Explanations of the facsimiles
other than those provided by the Prophet Joseph Smith, which are printed with
the facsimiles in the Pearl of Great Price, are tentative and subject to
revision by additional revelation and insight from modern prophets.
4.
The type of drawing depicted in facsimile 2 is known among scholars as a
“hypocephalus,” which means “under or beneath the head.” “A hypocephalus is a
small disk-shaped object made of papyrus, stuccoed linen, bronze, gold, wood,
or clay, which the Egyptians placed under the head of their dead. They believed
it would magically cause the head and body to be enveloped in flames or
radiance, thus making the deceased divine. The hypocephalus itself symbolized
the eye of Re or Horus, i.e., the sun, and the scenes portrayed on it relate to
the Egyptian concept of the resurrection and life after death”
(Michael D. Rhodes, The Joseph Smith Hypocephalus … 17 Years Later [F.A.R.M.S.
paper, RHO-94], 1).
5.
If the hypocephalus represents the eye of God, as explained above, what might
be depicted on it? We know that God’s focus and attention are upon bringing to
pass the immortality and eternal life of His children (Moses 1:39). It is not strange, therefore, that the symbolic drawing
of the eye of God, as represented by Abraham facsimile 2, shows this great hope
for all of His children. Indeed, facsimile 2 contains figures and explanations
relating to the Lord’s plan of salvation. For example, the explanations for
figures 3, 7, and 8 establish a clear relationship between the contents of
facsimile 2 and the ordinances of the temple.
6.
“Abraham wrote things and sealed them up
that they cannot be read. They cannot be revealed unto the world, but are to be
had in the holy temple of God. They are certain keys and blessings that are
obtained in the house of the Lord that we must have if we are to obtain
exaltation” (JFSmith, DS, 2:253).
7.
Facsimile 2, figure 1. Kolob- The center of facsimile 2 contains a
representation of Kolob. In his explanation for figure 1, the Prophet Joseph
Smith said that Kolob is “first in government, the last pertaining to the
measurement of time.” This means that Kolob is the star nearest to the presence
of God (Abraham 3:2–3), is the governing star in
all the universe and that time passes more slowly on Kolob than on any other
star in this order. Kolob is also symbolic of Jesus Christ, the central figure
in God’s plan of salvation.
8.
Facsimile 2, figure 3. A Crown of Eternal Light- Note in the explanation for
figure 3 the mention of the crown of eternal light upon God’s head. Note also
that the stars represented by figures 22–23 receive their light from Kolob (as
given in the explanation for figure 5). Jesus Christ is the source of all light
(D&C 88:7–13).
9.
Facsimile 2, figure 5. Enish-go-on-dosh- The drawing shown in figure 5
represents another of the great stars in the expanse of space that help govern
with power (Abraham 3:2, 13). The moon, earth, and sun
in our solar system are examples of these kinds of stars. These stars could
also be symbolic of other great and noble spirits in the premortal existence (Abraham 3:22–23). Note how close in this
facsimile this “ noble and great” one is to the central drawing of Kolob, or
Jesus Christ.
10.
Facsimile 2, figures 7–8. Returning to God’s Presence- Egyptologists suggest
that hypocephali contain information to help deceased persons return to the
presence of God. Similarly, the Lord has given Latter-day Saints divine help to
return to His presence. “Your [temple] endowment is, to receive all those
ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you
have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the
Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels” (Discourses of Brigham
Young, 416).
11.
Facsimile 3. General Information- In Abraham 3:15, the Lord told Abraham that he was to teach the Egyptians
the things he had learned. Commenting on this, the Prophet Joseph Smith said:
“The learning of the Egyptians, and their knowledge of astronomy was no doubt
taught them by Abraham and Joseph, as their records testify, who received it
from the Lord” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 251).
12.
Facsimile 3, figure 1. Abraham upon Pharaoh’s Throne- In figure 1 of facsimile
3, Abraham is shown seated upon the throne of Pharaoh, “reasoning upon the
principles of Astronomy, in the king’s court” (explanation for facsimile 3; see
also the explanation for figure 1). It is clear in Abraham 3:1–16 and facsimile 2, figures 1–5, that Abraham gained
great knowledge of the principles of astronomy. Figure 1 could also be symbolic
of Abraham receiving his exaltation and sitting upon a throne in the presence
of God (D&C 132:37).
Abraham
4–5: Abraham's Vision of the Creation of the Earth
“A Harmony of the Creation Accounts,”
Student Manual pp. 82–92
2. Abraham 4:1; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:1–2-
The Gods worked together to organize and form the heavens and the earth
3. Abraham 4:2-
The Prophet Joseph indicated that the translation "without form and void," as found in Genesis 1:2 &
Moses 2:2, should read "empty & desolate," as it does in Abraham 4:2. (TPJS, 181)
4. Abraham 4:2-
"Brooding" is what a hen does with her eggs and chicks; she broods
over them, meaning she protects, warms, nurtures, and defends them. Jesus used
this analogy of a hen gathering her chicks in His description of what He will
do for His followers (Matt. 23:37; 3 Nephi 10:3-6) In this sense, the Spirit is
still brooding over the creations of God
5. "In the
ultimate and final sense of the word, the Father is the Creator of all things.
That he used the Son and others to perform many of the creative acts,
delegating to them His creative powers, does not make the others creators in
their own right, independent of Him. He is the source of all creative power,
and he simply chooses others to act for him in many of his creative
enterprises. (BRM, ANWFTAOF, 63)
6. Abraham 4:5-
One of the interesting differences between the Abraham account of the Creation
& the other scriptural accounts is the idea found in 4:5: "From the
evening until morning they called night, and from the morning until the evening
they called day" (vv. 8, 13, 19, 23, 31). The other accounts simply refer
to each creative period as a day. Additionally, the creative periods in Abraham
4 are called "times," not days.
7. Abraham 4:12-
Compared with the book of Moses, the book of Abraham seems to more forcefully
state the idea that all beings could only reproduce after their own kind.
"There was no provision for evolvement or change from one species to
another." (Ensign, June, 1982)
8.
Abraham 4:31; 5:1–3, 5- "Before this earth was
created, the Lord made a blueprint, as any great contractor will do before
constructing. He drew up the plans, wrote the specifications, and presented
them. He outlined it and we were associated with him… Our Father called us all
together as explained in the scripture, and plans were perfected now for
forming an earth. In his own words.' And
there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who
were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of
these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will
prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord
their God shall command them, (vs. 24-25). That assemblage included us all. The
gods would make land, water, and atmosphere and then the animal kingdom, and
give dominion over it all to man. That was the plan…God was the Master-worker,
and he created us and brought us into existence." (The Teachings of
Spencer W. Kimball, p. 29-30) Luke 14:28-30
9.
Abraham 5:7- Moses 3:7 states that God "formed man from the dust of the
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul." Abraham 5:7 helps us understand that the breath of life was the
man's spirit (TPJS 301). Man is a dual being, made up of mortal flesh and an
immortal spirit (D&C 88:15)
10.
5:13- "When this earth was created, it was not according to our present
time, but it was created according to Kolob's time, for the Lord has said it
was created on celestial time which is Kolob's time. then he revealed to
Abraham that Adam was subject to Kolob's time before his transgression."
(DS,
1:79) This helps us understand the Lord's warning to Adam and Eve regarding
their partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil:
"In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Moses 3:17;
Genesis 2:17) After Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they did not die
physically within a 24 hour period, as we now measure a day. Adam did, however
die, within the period on one Kolob day (1000 earth years, as measured after
the Fall. facsimile 2, figure 1; see also 2 Peter 3:8). Moses 6:12 indicates that Adam died 930 years after the Fall.
11.
The belief of traditional Christianity is that God created all things, ex
nihilo, which means, "out of nothing. The prophet Joseph taught there is
no such thing as immaterial matter. (D&C 131:7) and the Lord said that the
elements are eternal (D&C 93:33). The word create, as found in the Genesis
account of the creation, is from a
Hebrew word that means "to organize." (Gen. 1:1, footnote c, Abraham
3:24) Joseph Smith likened the creative activity to the building of a ship,
(TPJS, 350). Just as a ship-builder needs materials to create the ship, the
Creator made the heavens and the earth out of existing materials.
12.
Abraham 5:21 was the last verse of the book of Abraham that the
Prophet Joseph Smith published before his death (although we know that the book
of Abraham contained much more).
I recall an experience that shows the effect of
her teachings. Just before Christmas one year, our bishop asked me, as a
deacon, to help him deliver Christmas baskets to the widows of the ward. I
carried a basket to each door with his greetings. When he drove me home, there
was one basket remaining. He handed it to me and said it was for my mother. As
he drove away, I stood in the falling snow wondering why there was a basket for
my mother. She never referred to herself as a widow, and it had never occurred
to me that she was. To a 12-year-old boy, she wasn’t a widow. She had a
husband, and we had a father. He was just away for a while. DHO, Ot. 05
