The kolob theorem, a mormons view of gods starry universe kindle edition by. I found your web site while looking for blogs or whatever to share what i have discovered about kolob and abraham chapter 3, which i write about in my new book. Why havent people heard about the mormon planet kolob. An online handbook to the lds church mormon soon after this, some of the saints at kirtland purchased the mummies and papyrus, a description of which will appear hereafter, and with w. In this video, ill talk about the planet kolob, what it is, and where the name originates. Because mormons dont believe in a planet named kolob. After discovering the planet or star and discerning god s will concerning kolob, abraham wrote his revelations on the papyri that was eventually sold to smith. The egyptians discovered the same ramheaded figure, at worlds morn, burning white as dawn on the green fields of the delta. Kolob pic, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. Official response of the mormon church to the book of abraham. Reference to kolob is found in the book of abraham, a work that is traditionally held by adherents of the mormon faith as having been. Astronomy and the creation in the book of abraham book of. Unlike controversial and less respected mormon apologists, mr. Here are some comments from those who have already read this book.
Skeptics begin with the frame that the book of abrahams relationship with the bible deserves to be called into question, and we buy into it. The story of abraham is wellknown to both jews and christians. The book of abraham text is a source of some distinct latter day saint doctrines, which mormon author randal s. I think i\m going to need a web site to promote my book. Soon after this, some of the saints at kirtland purchased the mummies and papyrus, a description of which will appear hereafter, and with w. The wonder of it all is that the plan of salvation is set before us in the night sky. The above donut chart shows percentages of the book of abraham section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on if one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 90. Mormon handbook the book of abraham the church purchased the papyri and joseph claimed to identify its origins. The evidence suggests that the book of abraham reflects concepts of joseph smiths time and place rather than those of an ancient world.
Published serially from 1 march 1842 to 16 may 1842 and canonized by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints on 10 october 1880, the book of abraham has been valued by latterday saints for its important teachings on the nature of the abrahamic covenant, the pre. Phelps and oliver cowdery as scribes, i commenced the translation of some of the characters or hieroglyphics, and much to our joy found that one of the rolls contained the writings of. Sometime in the early 1800s, an antiquities dealer named antonio lebolo returned from egypt with eleven mummies and other artifacts, including. To give evidence to how little most members know about kolob beyond the obscure reference in a. 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. Mar 03, 2020 kolob is a place that is mentioned in one chapter in one of our books of scripture, that in most cases is completely ignored by members of the church. 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. Kolob the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. In the book, jehovah reveals to abraham the nature of the universe and the order of all things, in a personal conversation, including knowledge of the planet kolob, which is close to where god lives. This idea was embraced by the early jehovahs witnesses, apparently leading them to place their god there as well.
Although this claim is undoubted by the mormon church, many scholars today criticize this claim because it is now known that at least part of the papyri consisted of funerary texts. This some people includes the mormon church, which under the direction of apostle n. The book of abraham s reference to light is not referring to photons leaving the surface of the sun. Now the pleiades were thought by some 19th century astronomers to be the geometrical center of the universe. New video explores the historical believability of the book of.
Kolob is a star or planet described in mormon scripture. 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. 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 denominations. Facsimile 2 in the book of abraham says there are 15 governing planets or stars but it doesnt tell us all the planet names. The book of abraham, penned by church of jesus christ of. Published serially from 1 march 1842 to 16 may 1842 and canonized by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints on 10 october 1880, the book of abraham has been valued by latterday saints for its important teachings on the nature of the abrahamic covenant, the premortal existence of humanity, the creation. Based on what is written in the book of abraham, we know that kolob is either a planet or a star that is the closest heavenly body to the throne of god. Abraham was able to impart some of this knowledge to the egyptians, when he sojourned there. And thus there shall be the reckoning of the time of one planet above another, until thou come nigh unto kolob, which kolob is after the reckoning of the lords time. Reference to kolob is found in the book of abraham, a work that is. A mormon apologist has informed me that many of the original references to abraham in the first publishing of the book of abraham were abram, but that they were changed to abraham when it was published by the latter day saints publication, the millennial star, in england. 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. The mormon gods planet kolob full explanation purpose. More to the point, for our purpose here, is the celestial hierarchy described in the apocalypse of abraham, which, as nibley has shown, bears remarkable resemblance to parts of the book of abraham.
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 planet kolob the evidence is coming in mormon theologians agree that god lives on a distant planet, the planet kolob. 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. Abraham, first called abram, was called of god to leave his native country and go to a promised land which would be shown to him. The central figure at the bottom 1 represents kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god.
The picture above is believed to be a repre sentatio n of an egyptian cosmology, with kolob at the center. The mormon gods planet kolob full explanation purpose in. Hauglids essay, i would like to note here that i appreciate mr. Kolob is also the inspiration for the planet kobol within the battlestar galactica universe, created by glen a. May 11, 2018 now the pleiades were thought by some 19th century astronomers to be the geometrical center of the universe. Compared with the book of moses, the book of abraham seems to more forcefully state the idea that all beings could only reproduce after their own kind. Abraham, i show these things unto thee before ye go into egypt, that ye may declare all these words abraham 3. From this, and from facsimile 1, the mormon scripture known as the book of abraham was translated. 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 which was discovered by methusela and also by abraham. Reference to kolob is found in the book of abraham, a work published by latter day saint lds prophet joseph smith, jr. Some who read the passages contained in this text are convinced that kolob may actually be the throne of god. Its located in the constellation cancer, sector 28.
At least one mormon text, the book of abraham, seems to associate kolob with the pleiades. Kolob, the governing one pearl of great price central. Eldon tanner, sent out for the translation, expecting it to prove smiths true translation abilities. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism. Since considering the kolob theorem my mind has not rested. The book of abraham papyri were thought to have been lost in the 1871 great chicago fire. 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. Basically, what is being claimed is that as you move away from the earth and nearer to kolob time slows down so that on the. Kolob gods planet, oliblish planet closest to kolob, enishgoondosh our sun, and. Dec 23, 2015 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. Kaeevanrash spelled later as kaii ven rash also called the grand. Astronomy and the creation in the book of abraham book.
They are now referred to as the joseph smith papyri. A careful study of the book of abraham provides a better measure of the books merits than any hypothesis that treats the text as a conventional translation. There is a text that is attributed to the old testament prophet abraham but that most of judaeochristianity does not consider canonical, but mormons do, which says. Kolob is said to be a great governing star near to where god is 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. 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. Do the book of abrahams claims about kolob contradict. The kolob theorem, a mormons view of gods starry universe. According to the traditional, literal mormon interpretation of the book of abraham, kolob is an actual star or planet in this universe that is, or is near, the physical throne. Kolobhilton2 why is this book important to the reader. 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. According to the book of abraham, kolob is gods first creation. The figures refer to the numbers written onto the facsimile 2 is a drawing made by joseph smith.
Reference to kolob is found in the book of abraham, a work that is traditionally held by adherents of the mormon faith as having been translated from an egyptian papyrus scroll by joseph smith, the founder of the latter day saint movement. The book of abraham gives us the following information. In the book of genesis we learn that he was the son of terah, born in ur of the chaldees genesis 11. The lords time is reckoned according to the time of. Or maybe youve seen the book of mormon musical and have heard that mormons believe that god lives on a planet called kolob. The mere fact that the church has made the decision to distant itself from the controversy surrounding the authenticity of the book of abraham, by attaching less importance to itis the direct cause of mormon critics who have shined the bright light of truth on the bogus book of abrahamand it is that truth that has caused the mormon. Chase calls truths of the gospel of jesus christ that were previously unknown to church members of joseph smiths day. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. The book of abrahams reference to light is not referring to photons leaving the surface of the sun. 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.
The light and power of god extend from his throne to govern all things in the universe. The explanation for facsimile 2, figure 5 states that the sun is said to borrow it light from kolob through the medium of kaeevanrash. While the prophets of the book of mormon were using one set of stones see omni 1. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. That version, according to him, is what is used today, but he had no.
However, in 1966 several fragments of the papyri were found in the archives of the metropolitan museum of art in new york and in the lds church archives. It is a huge star and governs all the rest of heavenly fathers suns and worlds. The kolob theorem allows us to see more clearly the home we lived in before we were. According to this work, kolob is the heavenly body nearest to the throne or residence of god. The background of abraham in genesis and mormon scripture. 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 church answered this question as posed by fox news succinctly. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. Kolob is mentioned in the book of abraham, a mormon scripture that is part of the pearl of great price, which is canonized by the lds. The kolob theorem, a mormons view of gods starry universe kindle edition by hilton, lynn m download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The central figure on facsimile 2, the round hypocephalus, represents kolob, the first creation, as abraham, looking through bright gems, urim and thummim, saw in a vision of the stars. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the kolob theorem, a mormons view of gods starry universe. Kolob in color an egyptologist looks at book of abraham.
Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. Kolob means the first creation which is nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god, abraham 3. Sep 04, 2015 kolob is a star or planet described in mormon scripture. According to the book of abraham, kolob is characterized by the following features. Phelps and oliver cowdery as scribes, i commenced the translation of some of. The book of abraham details some of the revelations abraham was given about the stars and the planets, about the creation of the earth. Watch new book of abraham video crossposted from pearl of great. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. Basically, what is being claimed is that as you move away from the earth and nearer to kolob time slows down so that on the lesser light the moon time goes more slowly. Dec 15, 2011 the planet kolob and the song about it. 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 universe and comprehend the significance of the creation.