Book of Abraham & "God Making" in Nauvoo - John Turner Pt. 28 | Ep. 2104
Mormon Stories Podcast
Why the Papyri Matter to Joseph
John Turner explains Joseph’s motivation to translate Egyptian texts and his 1835–1842 hiatus before resuming work.
Welcome to Part 28 of our John G. Turner series of the Joseph Smith Podcast! Today we continue our deep dive into the Egyptian Materials, the Book of Abraham, and how its theology shaped Mormonism’s most distinctive doctrines –including premortal existence, exaltation, intelligences, and the idea of God becoming God.
This episode explores how Joseph Smith resumed work on the papyri in Nauvoo, publicly introduced the Book of Abraham, and used it as a vehicle for unfolding expansive cosmology and theology. We examine the papyri themselves, the facsimiles, translation claims, the catalyst theory, and why there is little evidence that key scrolls are missing.
More importantly, we trace how the Book of Abraham becomes the theological backbone for ideas that later crystalize in the King Follett Discourse, the Plan of Salvation, the War in Heaven, and the belief that humans can become Gods.
This is Part 2 of our discussion on the Egyptian Materials and their lasting influence on Mormon doctrine.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
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