The Book of Abraham, with the facsimiles, is a unique scripture to the Latter-day Saints. Its content is closely related to our understanding of the Plan of Happiness. Numerous books and publications have been written about the Egyptology and science in the facsimiles. However, the Egyptians worshiped pagan gods. This book is a unique attempt to consider the Prophet's "Explanations" of the facsimiles as scripture, with a minimum of Egyptian interference. The facsimiles teach wholesome, uplifting and divine principles. They were received by divine revelation and were meant to be studied by that same influence. The Prophet Joseph Smith obtained the Egyptian papyri in July, 1835. He waited seven years before he published his translation in 1842. This was only a few weeks before he performed the first temple endowments in our dispensation. Nothing sacred to the temple is discussed in this text. However, those who make regular temple worship an important component of their lives may have an especially insightful understanding. The facsimiles depict events that actually happened in the lives of the participants. The Pharaoh attempted to sacrifice Abraham, Facsimile 1. Abraham experienced a cosmic tour of the heavens, Facsimile 2. Shulem was sealed by the Priesthood to his wife for time and all eternity, in an authorized temple ceremony. He drew us a picture of it, in representative form, Facsimile 3.
About the Author: Like most members of the L.D.S. Church, Clifford James Stratton has served in a variety of Church positions over the years. Included are: Bishop of the Sparks Nevada First Ward; Bishop of the University of Nevada Singles Ward; Multiregional Welfare Services Director; and Stake Young Men's President. Over his lifetime, for many years, he has been both an employee and a volunteer teacher for the Church Education System. He has published a variety of articles in the Ensign, Liahona, Tambuli, Church News, and BYU Studies. Professionally, the author received his Ph.D. in biological science and chemistry from the Brigham Young University in 1973. After completing Post-Doctoral training at the UCLA School of Medicine, he was Professor and Chief of Neuroscience at the University of Nevada, School of Medicine, for 35 years; he is now Professor Emeritus. With two of his colleagues, he opened one of the first in vitro fertilization clinics in America, in 1981. He pioneered many of the assisted reproductive technologies used today to assist infertile couples to enjoy biological offspring. He has numerous scientific publications and has been recognized for his work in the academia with several prestigious, teaching and scientific awards. The author served a mission to Wales as a young man (1964-1966). Recently retired, he and his wife have served two Senior Missions to Minnesota (Prostelyting; 2004-2005) and to the Church Curriculum Department (2007) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Between missions, he has served as an ordinance worker in the Reno Nevada Temple from 2004 to the present. He was a Visiting Scholar at BYU (Fall, 2007) where he taught the Human Clinical Embryology Course (PDBIO 484). He and his wife, Marsha Romney, were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple (1968) and have six children and thirteen grandchildren (2010). He has been studying the scriptural significance of the facsimiles in the Book of Abraham for over 30 years. This book is the culmination of that work.