Revision as of 20:51, 20 November 2009

Timeline of events in the production of the Book of Abraham

July 1835

with W. W. Phelps and Oliver Cowdery as scribes, I commenced the translation of some of the characters or hieroglyphics (History of the Church 2:236)

The remainder of this month, I was continually engaged in translating an alphabet to the Book of Abraham, and arranging a grammar of the Egyptian language as practiced by the ancients.
(History of the Church 2:238)

1 October 1835

This after noon labored on the Egyptian alphabet, in company with brsr. O. Cowdery and W. W. Phelps: The system of astronomy was unfolded. (Diary of Joseph Smith, October 1, 1835, p.3)

This after noon labored on the Egyptian alphabet, in company with bro. O. Cowdery and W. W. Phelps: the System of astronomy was unfolded. (History of the Church 2:286)  ^{[needs work]}

24 October 1835

Mr Goodrich and his lady called called to see the antient Records also called at Doct. F G. Williams to see the mummies, Brs. Hawks & Carpenter from Michigan visited us & taried over Sunday and attended meeting[.] (Diary of Joseph Smith, October 24, 1835, p. 9)

17 November 1835

exibited the Alphabet some of the ancient records to Mr. Holmes and some others, went with him to F G. Williams to see the Mumies, we then took the parting hand, and he started for home, being strong in the faith of the gospel of Christ and determined to obey the requirements of the same.

I returned home and spent the day dictating and comparing letters. (Diary of Joseph Smith, November 17, 1835, p. 45)

(History of the Church 2:316)  ^{[needs work]}

30 January 1836

Attended school as usual, & waited upon several visiters & showed them the record of Abraham Mr Seixas our hebrew teacher examined them with deep interest & pronounced them to be original beyound all doubt, he is a man of excellent understanding & has a knowledge of many languages which were spoken by the Ancients[.] (Diary of Joseph Smith, January 30, 1836, p. 148)

3 February 1836

attended our hebrew lecture P. M. & studied with O. Cowdery & Sylvester Smith P. M. received many visiters & showed the records of Abraham[.] (Diary of Joseph Smith, February 3, 1836, p. 150)

17 February 1836

attend[ed] the school and read and translated with my class as usual, and my soul delights in reading the word of the Lord in the original, and I am determined to persue the study of languages untill I shall become master of them, if I am permitted to live long enough, at any rate so long as I do live I am determined to make this my object, and with the blessing of God I shall succed to my sattisfaction, this evening Elder Coe called to make some arangements about the Egyptian records and the mummies, he proposes to hire a room at J[ohn] Johnsons Inn and exibit them there from day to day at certain hours, that some benefit may be derived from them I complied with his request, and only observed that they must be managed with prudence and care especially the manuscripts[.] (Diary of Joseph Smith, February 17, 1836, p. 157)