Book of Abraham Facsimile 3

Much criticism has been made about Joseph Smith when it comes to the Book of Abraham. While, I believe, the original egyptian text from which the Book of Abraham was translated is still lost or was destroyed in the Chicago fire of 1871, some of the source material concerning what are called the Facsimiles or three illustrations associated with the Book of Abraham did survive and can be examined.  

One major criticism of Joseph Smith and the Book of Abraham centers on Facsimile 3 which Joseph Smith said depicts Abraham sitting of the throne of Egypt. Pharoah is standing behind Abraham. However Egyptologists can read the text above the heads of each character and immediately see that what is depicted is Hathor, Pharaoh, Maat and Anubis. So, is that it?. Joseph Smith got this wrong proving him a fraud?

Not at all. We need to remember a key detail about Facsimile 3 that many critics overlook. This vignette is not a simple family portrait. Instead, Facsimile 3 is a depiction of a ritual play. So we should not forget that for each figure in the vignette, we will need to understand the actual person who is participating (Abraham. Pharaoh, Prince, Waiter, Servant) in this possible marriage ceremony ritual. and the Egyptian gods that these characters represent (Hathor. Maat, Anubis, etc).

Again, Fascimile 3 is an illustration of a religious ritual. So, we need to keep in mind that what is being depicted is an actor as well as their respective character. 

This is similar to seeing a photograph of a scene from the movie "Star Wars". You could describe the figures in the scene in terms of the charactors: Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Pincess Leah or in terms of the actual actors Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher. 

It shouldn't be a surprise that God through Joseph Smith is more concerned in telling us how Abraham sat upon the throne and taught the Egyptians principles of astronomy more than telling us about Egypt's false gods. 

Heartland Model Distances

Knoxsville (Clinch River) to Nauvoo = 613 miles (direct), 645 miles (indirect).

Knoxsville to Nashville = 185 miles.

Nashville to Nauvoo = 460 miles.

Nashville to Cairo, Il (Little Egypt) = 168 miles

Mosiah’s 16 explorers travel from the city of Zarahemla to Lehi-Nephi in 40 days = 15 miles/day = 600 miles. (perfect mileage and pace)

Alma fled 8 days from the Waters of Mormon to the “Land of Helam” and 12 days from Helam to the “Land of Zarahemla”. Traveling from the city of Nephi to the city of Zarahemla could represent over 600 miles / 20 days = 30 miles/day. That would be an unrealistic pace on foot with their flocks and grain.

However, this daily mileage could be increased significantly if Alma’s group were 1. on horseback/wagons 2. travelled downriver on barges, and 3. were “fleeing” the armies of King Noah and not pacing themselves for a months-long migration. 4. generally younger and healthy.

Average Daily Mileage:

LDS handcart pioneer = 15.7 miles/day.

Appalachian Trail Thru-hiker = 2200 miles/5 months = 15 miles/day, (20-25 max daily miles)

Horse-Mounted Company = 30 miles/day

Alma traveling with flocks and grain suggests the refugees were utilized domesticated beasts of burden, carts and wagons. Therefore, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Alma’s likely energetic group could have pushed near 2.5 mph for 12 hr/day for 8 days = 240 miles max range. Knoxville to Nashville is a very doable 185 miles (23 mil/day, 2.3 mph for 10 hours/day) 

Also, the Book of Mormon may be counting the distance from the Waters of Mormon only to the borders of the “land of Helam” (Mos 23:3), and not the city of Nephi itself to the city of Helam. (ie adjacent river valley). Also, Mormon reports that it was only 12 days from the city of Helam to the “Land of Zarahemla” and does not specify the city of Zarahemla itself (Mos 24:25). Nashville to the border of the Land of Zarahemla (Cairo, Il) would only be a leisurely 168 miles. (1.5 mph x 10 hours/day = 10.5 mil/day x 12 days).  

So, considering the text, we may save on total distance needed to traveled. And, while Alma’s numbers are tight, they are not an order of magnitude off reality. Also, the Limhi detachment running into the Ohio River instead of the Mississippi and mistakenly following the Ohio River up to Upstate New York (Land of Desolation) is a good fit. 

Monetary System

Religion depends on an equitable government to protect it as well as an equitable economic system to provide equal opportunity to its members. Religious charity is only required to address temporal shortcomings and inequalities that arise. But the correct sysyen can minimize this need, in spite of the poor always being with us. God promises that among His people in Zion, there would be no poor. 

The equation that describes how money works is the Milton Friedman monetarist equation:

M x V = P x G (money supply) x (velocity) = (inflation) x (growth)

Too much money supply or velocity will be inflationary. Not enough will limit economic growth. The perfect money supply would create money at the exact time it was needed (just-in-time), and for real things only. Most money has always been virtually created and generated at the time of loan origination. The problem has always been that when money is created, that it needs to have backing, but to base it on gold and silver only, has always been a problem because there is never enough of it by themselves. The ideal money system will prevent inflation at the same time as being full-reserve which will protect banks.

Safety Society System:

1. Majority of money is created by Congress/US Treasury at loan origination.

2. Simple federal interest rate (prime) controls inflation by making money more or less expensive to barrow vs. saving. Should always been more expensive to purchase something with borrowed money than with savings.

3. Federal government earns prime interest (fee) on nearly 100% of money creation and can then repeal the federal income tax.

4. Local Safety Society System Banks are full reserve and are non-profit and handle loan origination and charge a loan origination fee at time of loan origination. Fees cover overhead/salaries of the bank. 100% of deposited money (mostly virtual) is held by the bank and not re-invested or re-loaned. New money is created, on-demand, by the US Treasury.

5. Loans are granted to individuals or groups based on the projected value of the land, home, minerals, and other real items that are to be purchased, built, mined, and/or produced.

6. Barrowers build equity from their first repayment.

7. Missed payments and depreciation are deducted from borrowers equity. This constitutes a built-in mortgage insurance. Default does not occur until all borrower equity is lost.

8. Loan Default results in bank repossessing home, land, building, factory, mine, (real property), etc. which it can then resell to recoup lost funds.

9. Money is not only based on gold, and silver, but also land, houses, mines, the projected value of the minerals in the mine, and any other real property that possesses long-term intrinsic value which could also apply to certain machinery, and heirloom goods.

10. Money would never be created and loaned in this system to purchase stock or derivatives (paper).

11. SSS is free of speculation. Venture capitalist are free to speculate and invest, (win and lose) as the wish, but their loses can never be bailed out by the government.

12. Money supply (M) always keeps pace with economic need and economic growth (G).

Monetary System

Religion depends on an equitable government to protect it as well as an equitable economic system to provide equal opportunity to its members. Religios charity is only required to address temporal shortcomings and inequalities. 

The equation that describes how money works is the Milton Friedman monetarist equation:

M x V = P x G (money supply) x (velocity) = (inflation) x (growth)

Too much money supply or velocity will be inflationary. Not enough will limit economic growth. The perfect money supply would create money at the exact time it was needed (just-in-time), and for real things only. Most money has always been virtually created and generated at the time of loan origination. The problem has always been that when money is created, that it needs to have backing, but to base it on gold and silver only, has always been a problem because there is never enough of it by themselves. The ideal money system will prevent inflation at the same time as being full-reserve which will protect banks.

Safety Society System:

1. Majority of money is created by Congress/US Treasury at loan origination.

2. Simple federal interest rate (prime) controls inflation by making money more or less expensive to barrow vs. saving. Should always been more expensive to purchase something with borrowed money than with savings.

3. Federal government earns prime interest (fee) on nearly 100% of money creation and can then repeal the federal income tax.

4. Local Safety Society System Banks are full reserve and are non-profit and handle loan origination and charge a loan origination fee at time of loan origination. Fees cover overhead/salaries of the bank. 100% of deposited money (mostly virtual) is held by the bank and not re-invested or re-loaned. New money is created, on-demand, by the US Treasury.

5. Loans are granted to individuals or groups based on the projected value of the land, home, minerals, and other real items that are to be purchased, built, mined, and/or produced.

6. Barrowers build equity from their first repayment.

7. Missed payments and depreciation are deducted from borrowers equity. This constitutes a built-in mortgage insurance. Default does not occur until all borrower equity is lost.

8. Loan Default results in bank repossessing home, land, building, factory, mine, (real property), etc. which it can then resell to recoup lost funds.

9. Money is not only based on gold, and silver, but also land, houses, mines, the projected value of the minerals in the mine, and any other real property that possesses long-term intrinsic value which could also apply to certain machinery, and heirloom goods.

10. Money would never be created and loaned in this system to purchase stock or derivatives (paper).

11. SSS is free of speculation. Venture capitalist are free to speculate and invest, (win and lose) as the wish, but their loses can never be bailed out by the government.

12. Money supply (M) always keeps pace with economic need and economic growth (G).

Priesthood and Priestesshood

https://youtu.be/1NgTyjy5g5s