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Book of Abraham facsimiles/Facsimile 2
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Contents
- 1 Book of Abraham Facsimile 2: The hypocephalus
- 1.1 Question: What is the light which comes from the presence of God?
- 1.1.1 The Book of Abraham speaks of "light" which is "borrowed" from Kolob, which is a "governing power" over other planets
- 1.1.2 The light of Christ is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the light of the stars
- 1.1.3 The light of Christ proceeds from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space, and governs all things
- 1.1.4 Revolution Time
- 1.1.5 Figures that were correctly identified
- 1.1.6 Restoration of missing sections of Facsimile 2
- 1.1.7 Egyptian god "Min" representing "God sitting upon his throne"
- 1.1 Question: What is the light which comes from the presence of God?
Book of Abraham Facsimile 2: The hypocephalus
The illustration represented by Facsimile 2 (view) is a hypocephalus, a disc made of linen, papyrus, or bronze, covered with inscriptions and images which relate to one of the last spells in the Book of the Dead. The disc was placed under the head (hypocephalus = Greek: "under the head") of the deceased in the belief that the spell would cause the head and body to be enveloped in flames or radiance, making the deceased divine. Joseph Smith's notes to Facsimile 2 identify several figures as representing God sitting in the heavens among the stars and others of his creations.
Criticisms related to Facsimile 2 are related to Joseph Smith's explanations of the individual elements.
Question: What is the light which comes from the presence of God?
The Book of Abraham speaks of "light" which is "borrowed" from Kolob, which is a "governing power" over other planets
Joseph Smith provided this explanation in Book of Abraham, Facsimile 2, Figure 5:
one of the governing planets also, and is said by the Egyptians to be the Sun, and to borrow its light from Kolob through the medium of Kae-e-vanrash, which is the grand Key, or, in other words, the governing power, which governs fifteen other fixed planets or stars, as also Floeese or the Moon, the Earth and the Sun in their annual revolutions.
Kolob is said to be the planet nearest to the throne of God, "which Kolob is set nigh unto the throne of God, to govern all those planets which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest." Abraham 3꞉9. The light and power of God extend from his throne to govern all things in the universe.
The light of Christ is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the light of the stars
7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.
The light of Christ proceeds from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space, and governs all things
11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;
12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.