Joseph Smith claimed that he translated the Book of Abraham, one of the four Mormon “scriptures,” from ancient Egyptian papyrus manuscripts purchased from antiquities dealer Michael Chandler in 1835. Modern Egyptologists, however, have examined these papyri and found that Smith’s translation bears no connection to the original text — it is completely false. This failure calls into question his ability to translate any document, including the Book of Mormon, which he claimed was translated from Reformed Egyptian plates. If he could not accurately translate the Book of Abraham, how can anyone trust his other claims?
What is even more troubling is how the LDS Church attempted to defend Smith. Instead of acknowledging the inaccuracies in his translation, they suggest that God provided a revelation about Abraham’s life “even if that revelation did not directly correlate to the characters on the papyri.” Essentially, the Church blames divine inspiration for what is clearly human fabrication.
The Bible, in contrast, teaches that God is truthful and cannot lie: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind” (Numbers 23:19) and “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him” (Proverbs 30:5). God does not inspire falsehood or allow His Word to be corrupted by human deceit.
Joseph Smith’s false translation highlights the danger of placing trust in human inventions rather than God’s Word. Scripture reminds us to test all teachings and rely on Christ’s perfect revelation: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1) and “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
For a detailed examination of what the LDS Church now admits about the Book of Abraham, see our tract: What Does the LDS Church Now Admit About the Book of Abraham?
