In mormon doctrine blacks are considered to suffer from the curse of cain. Hauglid has acknowledged that most of my concerns and questions presented in the book of abraham section of the ces letter are legitimate questions and concerns. The figures refer to the numbers written onto the facsimile 2 is a drawing made by joseph smith. Does the promise in the book of mormon to pray and ask god if it is true doesnt apply to the book of abraham. Canon what constitutes official scripture in the mormon church has evolved over the years. The lords time is reckoned according to the time of kolob, abr. The mormon tried very hard to hide this fact, and they say it is a metaphor example. Examples include the nature of the priesthood, an understanding of the cosmos.
In this video, ill talk about the planet kolob, what it is, and where the name originates. The picture above is believed to be a repre sentatio n of an egyptian cosmology, with kolob at the center. According to the book of abraham, kolob is gods first creation. Facsimile number two from the book of abraham which joseph smith says discusses kolob. Joseph smith began the translation in 1835 after obtaining some egyptian papyri. Kolob is a star or planet described in mormon scripture that is, or is near, the physical throne of god. The book contains several doctrines that are unique to mormonism such as the idea.
Based on this verse, the lds church claims that kolob is the star nearest to the presence of god and the governing star in all the universe. Smith, inventor of mormonism found in his translation of the book of abraham the rationale for withholding mormon priesthood from black males. Lynn advocates the theory that the great star kolob which is near unto gods throne is located in the center of our milky way galaxy. The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus. The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink.
Mormons believe that the characters of the papyri are written by abrahams. Phelps was, of course, inspired by kolob in the book of abraham. Its located in the constellation cancer, sector 28. Joseph smith did not provide a full description or explanation of kolob nor did he assign the idea particular significance in relation to the churchs core doctrines.
Mention of a celestial body by that name is found in the book of abraham, which is canonized by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, mormon fundamentalist organizations, the restoration church of jesus christ, and other brighamite latter day saint. At least one mormon text, the book of abraham, seems to associate kolob with the pleiades. Upon joseph smiths assassination in 1844, the artifacts were passed to his mother, and then to his widow, who sold them to a collector by the name of abel combs. The translation was published serially in the times and seasons beginning march 1, 1842, at nauvoo, illinois. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. The book of abraham translated from the papyrus, by joseph smith a translation of some ancient records, that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of egypt.
Peterson the stars are described in a passage which will fatigue most modern readers, though it might fatigue us less if our education had not left us so ignorant of astronomy. Book of abraham, facsimile 2, figure 5 kolob signifies the first great grand governing fixed star which is the farthest that ever has been discovered by the fathers. Joseph smith claims he translated the book of abraham from. Astronomy and the creation in the book of abraham book. How can you trust that the book of abraham is the word of god.
Watch new book of abraham video crossposted from pearl of great. The book of abraham in the mormon holy book describe it specifically as a star named kolob close to throne of god. According to this work, kolob is the heavenly body nearest to the throne or residence of god. In the mormon book of abraham i was reading the book of abraham, and in chapter 3 where it is talking about kolob, it says verse. From this, and from facsimile 1, the mormon scripture known as the book of abraham was translated worlds in the words of joseph smith fig. These articles address specific issues related to book of abraham astronomical concepts. The book of abraham, with its illustrations, is now included in the pearl of great price, one of the mormon churchs five books of scripture. God do not live in it or near it as the mormon belief. The kolob theorem, a mormons view of gods starry universe kindle edition by. As the book of abraham is one of the strongest physical evidences for the mormon churchs authenticity, this allows them to go on and use physical evidence as a wedge to attack the church. Kolob is a star or planet described in mormon scripture. Do the book of abrahams claims about kolob contradict. And while its not a part of core church doctrine, learning about kolob is a wonderful way to begin to understand each of our places in the. This idea was embraced by the early jehovahs witnesses, apparently leading them to place their god there as well.
A well know mormon hymn also teaches about kolob in the mormon church, hymns are also considered scripture. An inspired translation of the writings of abraham. The kolob theorem, a mormons view of gods starry universe. Since none of this makes any sense, ill let the lds church explain it all for you.
The nonlds answer as to why kolob isnt mentioned in the new testament is that they believe it is a fictional idea created by joseph smith. Or maybe youve seen the book of mormon musical and have heard that mormons believe that god lives on a planet called kolob. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based, he. The central figure at the bottom 1 represents kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. Kolob pic, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. Kolob is a term found in ancient records translated by joseph smith.
Josephs translation of the abraham roll is published as the book of abraham, part of the lds canon pearl of great price. The book of abraham text is a source of some distinct latter day saint doctrines, which mormon author randal s. According to the book of abraham, kolob is characterized by the following features. The book of abraham makes several references to astronomy which draw criticism. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement. Its the planet or star kind of the same thing in mormon cosmology where god lives. Facsimile 2 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Stands next to kolob, called by the egyptians oliblish, which is the next grand. According to smith, kolob is the heavenly body nearest to the throne or residence of god. High priests groups worldwide are still reeling at the church news announcement that questions surrounding the accuracy and authenticity of the book of abraham are not as important as critics suggest because the book is not central to the restored gospel of jesus christ despite its inclusion in the canonized lds standard works.
The planet kolob the evidence is coming in mormon theologians agree that god lives on a distant planet, the planet kolob. The book of abraham is traditionally held by several latter day saint denominations as having been translated from an egyptian papyrus scroll by joseph smith, the founder of the latter day saint movement. The church answered this question as posed by fox news succinctly. In recent years, spurred on by promising discoveries in egyptology and near eastern archaeology, some latterday saint scholars have sought to situate kolob in the ancient world. Nonlds churches believe joseph smith was a fraud and reject the inspiration and authority of all of the mormon scriptures, including the book of abraham, the book where kolob is mentioned. Reference to kolob is found in the book of abraham, a work published by latter day saint lds prophet joseph smith, jr. Tenth mormon president joseph fielding smith wrote, he eternal father revealed to abraham that his throne is near kolob, the great governing star of our universe man. The broadway musical the book of mormon and several primetime television shows over the last few years have done their best to make fun of the mormon belief that god lives on a planet far, far away, named kolob. Abraham had the urim and thummim just like joseph smith.
Kolob, the governing one pearl of great price central. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. Common egyptian hypocephalus comparing the source hypocephalus to the published facsimile while we dont have the original hypocephalus, an early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and. Reference to kolob is found in the book of abraham, a work published by joseph smith, jr. The following is the official lds canon today, also called the standard works. Skeptics begin with the frame that the book of abraham s relationship with the bible deserves to be called into question, and we buy into it. While the prophets of the book of mormon were using one set of stones see. Reference to kolob is found in the book of abraham 3. Generally defined as the place nearest where god dwells, most of what we know about this brieflymentioned governing star comes from a heavenly astronomy lesson found in the book of abraham. In mormonism, kolob is either a planet or a star that is thought to be the.
Mormon handbook the book of abraham introduction in 1835 a traveling exhibit of egyptian mummies visited joseph smiths town. The mormon gods planet kolob full explanation purpose. Chase calls truths of the gospel of jesus christ that were previously unknown to church members of joseph smiths day. The book contains a narrative about some of abrahams life as well as visions he had concerning the premortal life and the creation.
Latter day saints believe they have to have faith that joseph smith is a prophet and that he had the gift to translate. Now the pleiades were thought by some 19th century astronomers to be the geometrical center of the universe. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. Maxwell, we do not know how many inhabited worlds there are, or. Most mormons dont even know about this, but brother joe revealed the names of 14 other god planets. New video explores the historical believability of the book of.
The false translation of the book of abraham, therefore, casts serious doubt on the book of mormon as well, forever debilitating josephs claim he was a true, inspired prophet of god. Kolob is also mentioned in the broadway show the book of mormon when a fictional mormon missionary sings about all the things he believes. It is a huge star and governs all the rest of heavenly fathers suns and worlds. Thousands of mormons left the church as the result of this discovery, while thousands more are completely unaware of this important piece of evidence. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated. More progressiveminded mormons greeted the news enthusiastically, because in establishing that the book of abraham falls outside what is. Hauglids essay, i would like to note here that i appreciate mr. And i saw the stars the book of abraham and ancient geocentric astronomy. Facsimile 2 in the book of abraham is a common egyptian hypocephalus. Kolob is a star or planet described in the book of abraham, a sacred text of the latter day saint movement. The book of abrahams reference to light is not referring to photons leaving the surface of the sun.
Unlike controversial and less respected mormon apologists, mr. Kolob means the first creation which is nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god, abraham 3. The book of abraham gives us the following information. And i saw the stars, that they were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of god. Abraham learned that, like kolob, there were other stars that were very great.
The book of abraham is unique among the books of scripture now in our possession in that it contains a description not only of this earth but also of some of the other planets and. If you know a little about mormons, or if youve seen the book of mormon musical than youve heard about kolob. In mormonism, kolob is a star or planet mentioned in the book of abraham as the one nearest to the throne or residence of god. The opening words to the beloved latterday saint hymn if you could hie to kolob written by w. The explanation for facsimile 2, figure 5 states that the sun is said to borrow it light from kolob through the medium of kaeevanrash.