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Let's Talk About the Book of Abraham
Let’s Talk about the Book of Abraham is part of the Let’s Talk About series―small, approachable books on important Latter-day Saint topics, written by trusted, faithful scholars who can thoroughly explain crucial issues in a digestible way. For people who have sincere questions and are seeking answers, this series will provide access to the some of the best thinking in the Church. Let’s Talk about the Book of Abraham begins with various stories related to the book of Abraham to help readers better understand Abraham’s experience, ancient Egypt, Joseph Smith’s translation of the papyri, and beyond. It then delves into questions about the book of Abraham and explores a variety of issues, assumptions commonly made about them, and possible answers, some of which can be found through the academic process and some which must be left to revelation. This faith-affirming exploration of a challenging topic intentionally offers a variety of viewpoints and possibilities to help readers better understand the issues surrounding this important and unique book of scripture.
133 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
17 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
January 6, 2022
Written by a historian. Offers a fuller perspective of history, research, fact, and myth.
The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there.
The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there.
November 19, 2024
I knew veeeerrrry little about the history of the Book of Abraham prior to reading this. I didnt realize how many assumptions I had about the Book of Abraham. It was great to get a broader view.
Very informative. Well researched. Obviously written by someone who knows what they are doing.
Very informative. Well researched. Obviously written by someone who knows what they are doing.
July 2, 2022
I appreciated that Muhlestein discusses this topic from both an academic and spiritual/revelatory approach. He points out different hypothesis or assumptions that people make about the book of Abraham, possible issues with these assumptions and what the historical and academic approaches teach us. In many cases he shows what we know is not true and then explains possibilities while being careful to state when we can't know for sure. I found the book well written, fascinating, faith promoting but also academic.
January 21, 2022
Informative
October 18, 2025
Absolutely atrocious scholarship! This book is little more than apologetics masquerading as scholarship. While I read it I wondered if the author was engaging in satire, that is how bad the book is.
If you are looking for HONEST and LEGITIMATE scholarship on this topic, see anything written by the Late Dr. Robert Ritner. His work is far superior to the joke that is this book.
If you are looking for HONEST and LEGITIMATE scholarship on this topic, see anything written by the Late Dr. Robert Ritner. His work is far superior to the joke that is this book.
October 15, 2023
Far more apologetic than the other in the series, and more light in the details. A light read w/ some good information on the subject.
November 5, 2023
If I've learned anything about research it's that there are so many variables to consider. Every person's story has factor upon factor determining each step we take. It is the same with the Book of Abraham. It is a bit of a convoluted path that brought it into being. Without revelation as a path to Truth there would be many things left unrevealed to our mortal journey. Recognizing revelation as a means of gaining knowledge is the foundation of understanding the Book of Abraham.
January 11, 2022
This book was interesting and enlightening. It got a little dry in the middle but still interesting. If you have ever had questions about the origin and translation of the Book of Abraham this is a great book to read. The author was genuine in his presentation of the material. You don’t learn much about the writings themselves but a lot about Egyptian history and how it impacts Abraham and the Jews. Some things I found very fascinating.
February 8, 2022
Loved this overview of the Book of Abraham by Dr Muhlestein. This is such a faithful treatment of the controversial subject matter. He carefully walks you through the logic, the alternatives, the various opinions, but in a faith-promoting way. Such a well done work. Dr Muhlestein has the pedigree and experience to be respected in Egyptology circles and we are blessed to have such a faithful scholar write on a subject he is a world's expert in. He does make you wait until the final chapter to really get to the meat of our curiosity, or at least mine, which is "Does the Book of Abraham bring to light any claims, truths, or details that were completely new revelations at the time, but which have in some way been substantiated after the fact?" Yes.
I listened to the audio version of this book on Deseret Bookshelf+ and flew threw it. If you want to read 2+ LDS books per month and save money, I highly recommend it. At just $8-10 a month you can listen to up to 1000 different of audio books and talks and up to 2000 different eBooks. Its totally worth it and is my favorite streaming service by far. I helped to lay the foundation for the Deseret Bookshelf mobile app and audio service 7 years ago. And even though I no longer work there, I'll be a fan for life.
I listened to the audio version of this book on Deseret Bookshelf+ and flew threw it. If you want to read 2+ LDS books per month and save money, I highly recommend it. At just $8-10 a month you can listen to up to 1000 different of audio books and talks and up to 2000 different eBooks. Its totally worth it and is my favorite streaming service by far. I helped to lay the foundation for the Deseret Bookshelf mobile app and audio service 7 years ago. And even though I no longer work there, I'll be a fan for life.
January 25, 2022
Kerry Muhlstein’s Let’s Talk about the Book of Abraham Is the latest entry in a series that Deseret Book has been publishing to address controversial or touchy topics in the Church. Based on my experience with Brittany Chapman Nash’s Let’s Talk About Polygamy (the previous volume in this series of books), I had expected something like the Very Short Introduction series by Oxford University Press, with a scholarly discussion of the topic. Muhlstein’s work does indeed follow this pattern, presenting a concise, readable, and informative in discussing the Book of Abraham. Unlike the Very Short Introduction series, though, it is written from an overtly faithful perspective and is apologetic in its orientation. It is a good, fast-paced introduction for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the ongoing discussion of this controversial entry in the Pearl of Great Price.
The book is divided into three sections. The first explores the history of the Book of Abraham, looking at Abraham, the papyrus scrolls that Joseph Smith would later purchase, the translation project, and eventual publication of the book. The second section explores a series of questions about the Book of Abraham, including questions about the process of translating the Book of Abraham, the facsimiles and explanations offered in the published Book of Abraham, and historical evidences that align with the contents of the Book of Abraham. The final section is small (less than 10 pages) and briefly explores some of the content of the Book of Abraham. At 144 pages (106 of pages text), it’s a very fast read and it’s also highly affordable at $11.99 for the paperback.
I felt like there were a lot of good things going for Let’s Talk About the Book of Abraham. It’s engaging, informative, and covers a lot of ground in a little amount of space. It also briefly discusses several possible ways to interpret the information and presents prevalent theories at most junctures in the book. I was left with a lot to think about when it came to the Book of Abraham that I hadn’t known or thought about before. For example, the detailed explanation of why it’s unlikely the surviving fragments are the sections Joseph Smith studied while working on the translation project was something that made a lot of sense to me that I wasn’t familiar with before. Some of the information about Egyptian studies that support the Book of Abraham were really neat to become more acquainted with. The details about the ancient owner of the papyrus (Hor) was also fascinating. The author has an extensive background in both Egyptology and the history of the Book of Abraham that shows throughout the book.
My main complaint has to do with the writing style rather than the information covered. When I reviewed Chapman’s book, I noted that:
"It is written by a believing Latter-day Saint with believing Latter-day Saints as the primary audience. Because of this, there are apologetic elements woven into the fabric of the book. I appreciated, however, that it didn’t feel like it was being crammed down my throat while reading."
Muhlstein’s book is likewise written by and for believing Latter-day Saints, but this time around, I frequently felt like the testimony and apologetic elements were being crammed down my throat. I’m sure some people will find the constant restatements of Muhlstein’s belief that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that Smith translated the Book of Abraham by the power of God, that we are blessed to have the Book of Abraham, that revelation is the only way to really learn the truth about the Book of Abraham, and discussions about epistemology to be comforting. I personally found it tiring and distracting. To me, this was a detriment to an otherwise engaging and informative book.
My only other complaint was that I would have loved more discussion on a lot of topics. It’s meant to be a brief introduction to the general topic, so it’s understandable that the book wasn’t able to explore every detail about the Book of Abraham. Still, it felt like there were a lot of topics that were mentioned in passing that warranted further discussion. For example, it’s mentioned in passing a couple times that Joseph Smith may have had more involvement in creating the text we have today than we’ve traditionally thought and that his study of Hebrew was connected to the Book of Abraham translation project. There wasn’t a lot of detail shared about the implications of or reasoning behind those statements. One facet of this that could have been explored more deeply is Matthew Grey’s work on exactly how Joseph Smith’s Hebrew studies connect with the text of the Book of Abraham. Grey’s work is referenced in the endnotes, but not really used extensively in the discussion about translation. Another area that could have had more detail is the interpretation of the facsimiles. Muhlestein mentions that Egyptologists have different interpretations but rarely shares what those interpretations are, choosing instead to focus on ways to dismiss those Egyptologists’ interpretations and discussing interpretations that do align with how the facsimiles are presented in the Book of Abraham. There are a lot of areas that I would have liked to see more details and discussion with, though that is most likely due to the nature of the book and its size than anything else.
Thus, overall, I have a positive impression of Kerry Muhlestein’s Let’s Talk About the Book of Abraham. It’s a quick read, but also very informative. I learned a lot that I hadn’t been introduced to before. My only complaints were relatively minor ones (writing style is personal preference and wanting to have more of the book is an indication that I found what we do have to be good enough to warrant more), so I would say it is worth picking up and reading.
The book is divided into three sections. The first explores the history of the Book of Abraham, looking at Abraham, the papyrus scrolls that Joseph Smith would later purchase, the translation project, and eventual publication of the book. The second section explores a series of questions about the Book of Abraham, including questions about the process of translating the Book of Abraham, the facsimiles and explanations offered in the published Book of Abraham, and historical evidences that align with the contents of the Book of Abraham. The final section is small (less than 10 pages) and briefly explores some of the content of the Book of Abraham. At 144 pages (106 of pages text), it’s a very fast read and it’s also highly affordable at $11.99 for the paperback.
I felt like there were a lot of good things going for Let’s Talk About the Book of Abraham. It’s engaging, informative, and covers a lot of ground in a little amount of space. It also briefly discusses several possible ways to interpret the information and presents prevalent theories at most junctures in the book. I was left with a lot to think about when it came to the Book of Abraham that I hadn’t known or thought about before. For example, the detailed explanation of why it’s unlikely the surviving fragments are the sections Joseph Smith studied while working on the translation project was something that made a lot of sense to me that I wasn’t familiar with before. Some of the information about Egyptian studies that support the Book of Abraham were really neat to become more acquainted with. The details about the ancient owner of the papyrus (Hor) was also fascinating. The author has an extensive background in both Egyptology and the history of the Book of Abraham that shows throughout the book.
My main complaint has to do with the writing style rather than the information covered. When I reviewed Chapman’s book, I noted that:
"It is written by a believing Latter-day Saint with believing Latter-day Saints as the primary audience. Because of this, there are apologetic elements woven into the fabric of the book. I appreciated, however, that it didn’t feel like it was being crammed down my throat while reading."
Muhlstein’s book is likewise written by and for believing Latter-day Saints, but this time around, I frequently felt like the testimony and apologetic elements were being crammed down my throat. I’m sure some people will find the constant restatements of Muhlstein’s belief that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that Smith translated the Book of Abraham by the power of God, that we are blessed to have the Book of Abraham, that revelation is the only way to really learn the truth about the Book of Abraham, and discussions about epistemology to be comforting. I personally found it tiring and distracting. To me, this was a detriment to an otherwise engaging and informative book.
My only other complaint was that I would have loved more discussion on a lot of topics. It’s meant to be a brief introduction to the general topic, so it’s understandable that the book wasn’t able to explore every detail about the Book of Abraham. Still, it felt like there were a lot of topics that were mentioned in passing that warranted further discussion. For example, it’s mentioned in passing a couple times that Joseph Smith may have had more involvement in creating the text we have today than we’ve traditionally thought and that his study of Hebrew was connected to the Book of Abraham translation project. There wasn’t a lot of detail shared about the implications of or reasoning behind those statements. One facet of this that could have been explored more deeply is Matthew Grey’s work on exactly how Joseph Smith’s Hebrew studies connect with the text of the Book of Abraham. Grey’s work is referenced in the endnotes, but not really used extensively in the discussion about translation. Another area that could have had more detail is the interpretation of the facsimiles. Muhlestein mentions that Egyptologists have different interpretations but rarely shares what those interpretations are, choosing instead to focus on ways to dismiss those Egyptologists’ interpretations and discussing interpretations that do align with how the facsimiles are presented in the Book of Abraham. There are a lot of areas that I would have liked to see more details and discussion with, though that is most likely due to the nature of the book and its size than anything else.
Thus, overall, I have a positive impression of Kerry Muhlestein’s Let’s Talk About the Book of Abraham. It’s a quick read, but also very informative. I learned a lot that I hadn’t been introduced to before. My only complaints were relatively minor ones (writing style is personal preference and wanting to have more of the book is an indication that I found what we do have to be good enough to warrant more), so I would say it is worth picking up and reading.
April 10, 2022
This short book is a great introduction for anyone who wants an overview of how we got the Book of Abraham, what it says, and how it lines up with our understanding of ancient Egypt. The first half of the book is a summary of how the mummy and scrolls were taken from Egypt to the USA, and what we know about the fragments that remain today. I didn't know this full story, so I really enjoyed learning all this.
The second half of the book is the more apologetic material. Muhlestein is clear about his own biases, but he does try to acknowledge critics and alternate theories. He shows that the Egyptian grammar books that W.W. Phelps and others created had little to do with the symbols on the papyrus or the text of the Book of Abraham we have today. He demonstrates that the Book of Abraham does not come from the existing fragments, which can be explained by the "missing papyrus" or the "catalyst" theories of translation. He states that it is reasonable for Facsimile 1 to be separate from the text, and that it is common for the same symbols to have multiple meanings over the years.
While Muhlestein doesn't try to "prove" the Book of Abraham to be historical, claiming that can only be known by revelation, he does show many instances where it lines up well with what we have learned about Abraham and Egypt. I appreciated that this section of the book (right before he talks about the important doctrines taught) ends with table of Ancient Traditions about Abraham, noting which ones Joseph Smith could not have known about at the time. I would love to read more about these, as well as compare what apologists and critics say. I suppose I'll have to read Gee's and Vogel's books, since this was just a quick overview. I'm glad I read it, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is curious. You can easily finish it in a day or two.
The second half of the book is the more apologetic material. Muhlestein is clear about his own biases, but he does try to acknowledge critics and alternate theories. He shows that the Egyptian grammar books that W.W. Phelps and others created had little to do with the symbols on the papyrus or the text of the Book of Abraham we have today. He demonstrates that the Book of Abraham does not come from the existing fragments, which can be explained by the "missing papyrus" or the "catalyst" theories of translation. He states that it is reasonable for Facsimile 1 to be separate from the text, and that it is common for the same symbols to have multiple meanings over the years.
While Muhlestein doesn't try to "prove" the Book of Abraham to be historical, claiming that can only be known by revelation, he does show many instances where it lines up well with what we have learned about Abraham and Egypt. I appreciated that this section of the book (right before he talks about the important doctrines taught) ends with table of Ancient Traditions about Abraham, noting which ones Joseph Smith could not have known about at the time. I would love to read more about these, as well as compare what apologists and critics say. I suppose I'll have to read Gee's and Vogel's books, since this was just a quick overview. I'm glad I read it, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is curious. You can easily finish it in a day or two.
December 18, 2022
I have read some of the criticisms of the Book of Abraham and seen some argue that the book was not translated by Joseph Smith based on some of the available evidence. Kerry Muhlestein does a good job evaluating the evidence both for and against the Book of Abraham. A few thoughts from the book that resonated with me:
"We should not be surprised, then, when our attempts to learn about things that involve God lead to a barrier beyond which we cannot pass using our normal mental processes." (p. 46).
"Either one believes that God can help people translate ancient records, or one believes that He does not. Neither position can be proved or disproved, and so they both rest in the realm of belief-" (p. 47).
"Unfortunately, the world around us often conveys an unrecognized bias that nonbelief is more objective than belief. It is not. In reality, nonbelief is as much a choice of faith as belief," (p. 47).
"Austin Farrer, when speaking of the work of C. S. Lewis, said that 'rational argument does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish.' ... Science will not be able to prove or disprove holy writ. However enough plausible evidence will come forth to prevent scoffers from having a field day, but not enough to remove the requirement of faith. Believers must be patient during such unfolding."
I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. It is knowledge that has come from revelatory knowledge, not academic knowledge. In matters related to the Book of Abraham, this book provides the rational argument to show that the current thinking of the world does not prove that Joseph Smith was wrong about his translation of the Book of Abraham. Rather, Kerry Muhlestein provides an explanation as to how the current accepted facts fit with the explanation the Joseph translated an ancient record by the power of God.
"We should not be surprised, then, when our attempts to learn about things that involve God lead to a barrier beyond which we cannot pass using our normal mental processes." (p. 46).
"Either one believes that God can help people translate ancient records, or one believes that He does not. Neither position can be proved or disproved, and so they both rest in the realm of belief-" (p. 47).
"Unfortunately, the world around us often conveys an unrecognized bias that nonbelief is more objective than belief. It is not. In reality, nonbelief is as much a choice of faith as belief," (p. 47).
"Austin Farrer, when speaking of the work of C. S. Lewis, said that 'rational argument does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish.' ... Science will not be able to prove or disprove holy writ. However enough plausible evidence will come forth to prevent scoffers from having a field day, but not enough to remove the requirement of faith. Believers must be patient during such unfolding."
I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. It is knowledge that has come from revelatory knowledge, not academic knowledge. In matters related to the Book of Abraham, this book provides the rational argument to show that the current thinking of the world does not prove that Joseph Smith was wrong about his translation of the Book of Abraham. Rather, Kerry Muhlestein provides an explanation as to how the current accepted facts fit with the explanation the Joseph translated an ancient record by the power of God.
June 7, 2022
I remember reading a Hugh Nibley book on the Book of Abraham and almost wanting to throw the book across the room. It was so obvious that it belies simple explanations on either side of the "was Joseph Smith a prophet or a fraud" spectrum.
This book strengthened that view of mine.
Kerry Muhlestein does a great job of giving brief explanations of the basics of the Book of Abraham, and then spends a fair amount of time breaking down assumptions that everybody makes about the book and thus the logic and conclusions they arrive at. Most of those assumptions are unwarranted. (Again, on both sides.)
While it would have been nice to have him detail a bit more some of the criticisms of the book, he does mention them. I doubt a short book from the "non-faithful" side would have mentioned the strengths of the believing position. And those are substantial. And while, as a theologian, I wished he had spent more time detailing the actual text of the book itself and the lessons we learn from it, for such a short book I don't begrudge him how he allocated his page count.
A short read and well worth it for anybody looking to dip their toes into the issues swirling around the Book of Abraham.
This book strengthened that view of mine.
Kerry Muhlestein does a great job of giving brief explanations of the basics of the Book of Abraham, and then spends a fair amount of time breaking down assumptions that everybody makes about the book and thus the logic and conclusions they arrive at. Most of those assumptions are unwarranted. (Again, on both sides.)
While it would have been nice to have him detail a bit more some of the criticisms of the book, he does mention them. I doubt a short book from the "non-faithful" side would have mentioned the strengths of the believing position. And those are substantial. And while, as a theologian, I wished he had spent more time detailing the actual text of the book itself and the lessons we learn from it, for such a short book I don't begrudge him how he allocated his page count.
A short read and well worth it for anybody looking to dip their toes into the issues swirling around the Book of Abraham.
January 2, 2022
It was a great book describing the process of the translation of the book of Abraham. I really enjoyed the part that got into the Egyptian priest Hor and his role in preserving the story, as well as the other examples that explain the plausibility of the ancient documents being used in the translation being authentic. I thought the author did a great job emphasizing the importance of relying on revelatory knowledge over academic knowledge when it comes to the things of God, and was touched by his testimony of that. I really enjoyed the example and reminder of academic knowledge becoming outdated with time, often catching up to what was revealed previously through God. I also really liked the breakdown of what the book of Abraham contains doctrinally in the last chapter. I wish that there had been more of that; for me, I feel like the middle/bulk of the book served as an introduction to the last chapter.
January 20, 2022
This is some great information! When it comes to the Book of Abraham, I have heard so many different things. It has confused me over the years to hear the various opinions on how it’s inspired, fake, and various stories about lost scrolls and papyri. This book finally helped me understand the “controversy” around it.
I appreciated that the author gave as much historical explanation that he could (He’s an Egyptology expert) but also pointed out what we don’t know and where history has its limitations. Long story short, we just don’t have all the details and faith is the key. However, after hearing different historical interpretations and clarification on the history of what we DO know, I feel like I have a better understanding and perspective on the mixed opinions.
This book is relatively short, so it’s a great summary with pretty detailed information if you’re interested in the Book of Abraham and elements of ancient Egyptian rituals.
I appreciated that the author gave as much historical explanation that he could (He’s an Egyptology expert) but also pointed out what we don’t know and where history has its limitations. Long story short, we just don’t have all the details and faith is the key. However, after hearing different historical interpretations and clarification on the history of what we DO know, I feel like I have a better understanding and perspective on the mixed opinions.
This book is relatively short, so it’s a great summary with pretty detailed information if you’re interested in the Book of Abraham and elements of ancient Egyptian rituals.
February 23, 2025
I appreciated Muhlestein's very positive approach to the topic. He doesn't enter into a polemical battle with the naysayers; he just presents an approach to understanding and appreciating the Book of Abraham for its own sake. Of course, his approach requires the reader to accept his premises, but the idea that revelation can trump academic research isn't too hard to accept if you're already a believer.
I am looking forward to going back through his footnotes to find some more good stuff to read. I would like to see him write a more detailed commentary on the Book of Abraham bringing in all of his ancient history knowledge to further inform our reading of this text, since he only scratched the surface in this book--his mandate for this book seems to have been to answer the naysayers more than exploring the text's contents.
I am looking forward to going back through his footnotes to find some more good stuff to read. I would like to see him write a more detailed commentary on the Book of Abraham bringing in all of his ancient history knowledge to further inform our reading of this text, since he only scratched the surface in this book--his mandate for this book seems to have been to answer the naysayers more than exploring the text's contents.
January 17, 2022
Kerry did an excellent job providing an accurate historical analysis and also addressed all the different theories on translation. I've read most of the books published about the Pearl of Great Price and the book of Abraham over the years and found this short work incredibly insightful. Of course I would have loved a deep dive into the theological ramifications of the Book of Abraham, etc., but that was beyond the scope of this work. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Book of Abraham - and how could you not be!!! It's one of my favorite books in the world. While Kerry only referenced a few Abraham stories from other traditions and apocryphal sources - there is a wealth of Abraham material available. Enjoy!
Brett Folkman, Doctor of Ministry
Brett Folkman, Doctor of Ministry
March 10, 2022
Insightful, and I loved his approach to our views, starting with assumptions we already have. We need to assess our assumptions to see if they are true.
Listened to it, and as a result I don’t think I got as much out of it as if I’d had the physical book in front of me to mark up.
It showed that there is nothing to solidly disprove that the book of Abraham is not a true translation or revelation. I loved at the end it said that there will probably never be something that completely proves revelation to be true, because then it would remove the need for faith.
Listened to it, and as a result I don’t think I got as much out of it as if I’d had the physical book in front of me to mark up.
It showed that there is nothing to solidly disprove that the book of Abraham is not a true translation or revelation. I loved at the end it said that there will probably never be something that completely proves revelation to be true, because then it would remove the need for faith.
December 30, 2022
This book is profound, and wonderful! my only complaint is that Deseret book created with it with a very small font. That’s hard for me to understand because it makes it incredibly difficult to read unless you have perfect vision. It’s a book that may you will want to read and having the tiny little font is a royal pain. I hope they never do that again. This book is very worth reading. I think if I were going to buy it knowing how small this font is, I would look for it on Kindle or some other way, than having to purchase this book with the tiny font.
January 9, 2023
I took on reading the rest of the “Let’s Talk About…” series to end my winter break.
There is not much I love more than reading about how academics approach the subjects they study with scholarly rigor accompanied by a dedication to personal faith. I loved this discussion about how to approach study with full acknowledgment of our biases and hopes and honoring the process without pedestaling easy answers. Both faith and learning have never been about answers for me but about processes to honor, and this book is a beautiful example of how to do that.
There is not much I love more than reading about how academics approach the subjects they study with scholarly rigor accompanied by a dedication to personal faith. I loved this discussion about how to approach study with full acknowledgment of our biases and hopes and honoring the process without pedestaling easy answers. Both faith and learning have never been about answers for me but about processes to honor, and this book is a beautiful example of how to do that.
February 5, 2023
This book wasn’t written for me. I’ve read a lot about the Book of Abraham, but I’ve never been too troubled by its origins and historicity. I recognize that there’s a lot we don’t know about it, and I’m content to wait for more light and knowledge on the subject. There are other things that interest me more.
That said, I think this book is a good resource for anyone who wants to know more about the Book of Abraham, and for that reason, I’d recommend it. Mulhlestein knows his subject well and provides readers plenty of places (via his notes) to look for more information.
That said, I think this book is a good resource for anyone who wants to know more about the Book of Abraham, and for that reason, I’d recommend it. Mulhlestein knows his subject well and provides readers plenty of places (via his notes) to look for more information.
June 5, 2024
"Let’s Talk about the Book of Abraham begins with various stories related to the book of Abraham to help readers better understand Abraham’s experience, ancient Egypt, Joseph Smith’s translation of the papyri, and beyond. It then delves into questions about the book of Abraham and explores a variety of issues, assumptions commonly made about them, and possible answers, some of which can be found through the academic process and some which must be left to revelation. This faith-affirming exploration of a challenging topic intentionally offers a variety of viewpoints and possibilities."
January 14, 2026
I found it extremely informative. I think some of it was a little repetitive, which I think was just a result of the author trying to simplify what is clearly a MASSIVE amount of information. But I really appreciate that he summarize the main points at the end of each chapter. I particularly like that throughout the book he emphasized the importance of the “academic process” and “revelatory method” in conjunction with each other. I especially liked that he pointed out the assumptions that have been downfalls of many members’ testimonies, and how to avoid falling prey to the same situation.
February 4, 2022
I was grateful to listen to this year’s first ‘Follow Him’ podcast. This author, Kerry Muhlestein, was the invited guest. His insightful presentation led me to read this great little book. It’s only 100 pages. But gives a succinct history of the coming forth of the book of Abraham and outlines quite well the steps that each person needs to follow to determine for themselves how to honor this pearl of great price.
February 14, 2022
This book is amazing. For anyone who really wants to dive deeper with Kerry who is a fantastic dive guide. He shares with us all that he has learned through his lifelong study of Egyptology and Abraham. He is very fair with the evidence that he has found. I think everyone who wants to really learn about who Abraham should start here and then read the Book of Abraham. Joseph Smith (his revelations from God) got a lot of things right that he couldn't have known otherwise.
August 19, 2023
Muhlestein does a wonderful job addressing criticisms of various kinds that have been made against the authenticity of The Book of Abraham, including its:
- Claimed, translative origin.
- Claims as relating to Abraham personally.
- Claims as relating to Egyptian culture.
This short work demonstrates the plausibility of The Book of Abraham as an inspired text of God and a true history of Abraham.
- Claimed, translative origin.
- Claims as relating to Abraham personally.
- Claims as relating to Egyptian culture.
This short work demonstrates the plausibility of The Book of Abraham as an inspired text of God and a true history of Abraham.
January 17, 2022
Excellent short book. Well researched, well reasoned, and well written. While I knew much of what was shared, having read many books on this topic, I found his connections and conclusions very interesting and beneficial to understand. I now consider this the best primer I've read on the Book of Abraham.
May 11, 2022
Fantastic. Honest in its approach, not trying to prove anything about the Book of Abraham but rather showing how it is plausibly a valid historical and religious text.
Surprisingly comprehensive for a book of this size. I learned a lot that I did not know, and that additional information significant impacted my appreciation for this book of scripture.
Surprisingly comprehensive for a book of this size. I learned a lot that I did not know, and that additional information significant impacted my appreciation for this book of scripture.
January 24, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I didn't think that there was much to talk about with the book of Abraham but this book goes in depth into where it came from and how it was translated and even though there are many things that scholars are still confused about there is a lot that recent research has shown to support the translation as it stands. Pretty cool stuff!
January 30, 2022
Really excellent discussion of the Book of Abraham, with accessible treatment of the history and a transparent interpretive lens by a professional Egyptologist. Highly recommend for all LDS church members.
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