[James E. Talmage]
... A point of seeming importance is that the oriental scholars whose opinions are quoted by Bishop Spalding all say that fac-simile #3, as it appears in the Pearl of Great Price, is a scene found in the 'Book of the Dead' and that representations of this scene are common in the documents found with the mummies of Egypt. This would seem rather to be a argument in favor of the genuineness of the Book of Abraham pictures than otherwise. It is stated, however, that such representations were not common in Abraham's day and really date from a time 500 to 1000 years after [A]braham. This again fails as evidence against the genuineness of the original records as writings of Abraham. From the present state of our knowledge it would appear as probable that the writing of Abraham constitute the original from which afterward arose the many and somewhat varied accounts and representations familiar to students of the Book of the Dead. Among those who have replied to Bishop Spalding, each one writing from a different point of view are Elder B. H. Roberts, whose article appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune of Sunday; Elder J[anne]. M. Sjodahl, Editor of the Deseret news, whose article appears in today's news; and Dr. Fred J. Pack, whose article is to appear in the Christmas News to be issued on the 21st.
[Source: James E. Talmage, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
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