On January 31, 2020, Pearl of Great Price Central published its fortieth Insight related to the Book of Abraham. The publication of Book of Abraham Insight #40 (“The Relationship Between the Book of Abraham and the Joseph Smith Papyri”) marks the culmination of an initial run of articles exploring the Book of Abraham from textual, historical, narrative, linguistic, and doctrinal perspectives. The published Insights explore the Book of Abraham text, the facsimiles, and the coming forth and translation of the record.

As explained on the Pearl of Great Price Central website, “These short articles aim to provide readers with useful insights as they explore this rich and rewarding text and to bolster confidence in Joseph Smith’s claim to have translated the writings of Abraham. The articles have been kept deliberately short so as to not overwhelm readers with sometimes technical and arcane information about ancient languages and cultures. For those wanting to dive deeper into these matters, suggested readings are provided at the end of each article.”

In addition to the published articles, a video has been released drawing from the Insights related to the historical plausibility of the Book of Abraham. Two more videos on the facsimiles and the translation of the Book of Abraham are planned for release later this year. Additional Insights on the Book of Abraham will appear in the future with the advancement of scholarship and the publication of new research.

View All Insights on the Book of Abraham

Insights on the historicity of the Book of Abraham

BOA Insight #1: Abraham and Idrimi

BOA Insight #2: Human Sacrifice

BOA Insight #3: The Plain of Olishem

BOA Insight #4: Ur of the Chaldees

BOA Insight #5: Did Abraham Lie About His Wife Sarai?

BOA Insight #6: The Idolatrous God of Elkenah

BOA Insight #7: Sobek, The God of Pharoah

BOA Insight #8: Zeptah and Egyptes

BOA Insight #9: Shulem, One of the King’s Principal Waiters

BOA Insight #10: The Blood of the Canaanites

BOA Insight #11: Jews in Ancient Egypt

BOA Insight #12: Abrahamic Legends and Lore

BOA Insight #13: The Ancient Egyptian View of Abraham

BOA Insight #14: The Ancient Owners of the Egyptian Papyri

BOA Insight #15: Abrahamic Astronomy

BOA Insight #16: Shinehah, The Sun

BOA Insight #17: Kolob, The Governing One

BOA Insight #18: The Divine Council

BOA Insight #19: Creation from Chaos

BOA Insight #20: Ancient Near Eastern Creation Myths

BOA Insight #21: The Foreordination of Abraham

BOA Insight #22: The Abrahamic Covenant

BOA Insight #23: By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus

BOA Insight #24: Chiasmus in the Book of Abraham

BOA Insight #25: Egyptianisms in the Book of Abraham

BOA Insight #26: The Fall of Lucifer

Insights on the facsimiles of the Book of Abraham

BOA Insight #27: Approaching the Facsimiles

BOA Insight #28: Facsimile 1 as a Sacrifice Scene

BOA Insight #29: The Idolatrous Priest (Facsimile 1, Figure 3)

BOA Insight #30: The Purpose and Function of the Egyptian Hypocephalus

BOA Insight #31: The Hathor Cow (Facsimile 2, Figure 5)

BOA Insight #32: The Four Sons of Horus (Facsimile 2, Figure 6)

BOA Insight #33: God Sitting Upon His Throne (Facsimile 2, Figure 7)

BOA Insight #34: Facsimile 3: Judgment Scene vs. Presentation Scene

BOA Insight #35: Abraham and Osiris (Facsimile 3, Figure 1)

BOA Insight #36: Isis the Pharaoh (Facsimile 3, Figure 2)

Insights on the coming forth and translation of the Book of Abraham

BOA Insight #37: What Egyptian Papyri Did Joseph Smith Possess?

BOA Insight #38: The “Kirtland Egyptian Papers” and the Book of Abraham

BOA Insight #39: How Did Joseph Smith Translate the Book of Abraham?

BOA Insight #40: The Relationship Between the Book of Abraham and the Joseph Smith Papyri