BYU Studies Quarterly
Keywords
Book of Abraham, literary elements, seer, Urim, Thummim
Abstract
A careful reading of the Book of Abraham reveals subtle literary and narrative elements in the text that might otherwise go unappreciated. For instance, a running leitmotif—a recurring theme or concept— throughout the Book of Abraham is that of Abraham as a seer, or someone who sees or otherwise has a visual interaction with divine manifestation (typically or usually aided by a divinatory device such as a seer stone). As seen in both the mention of Abraham’s possession and use of the Urim and Thummim (Abr. 3:1) as well as the repeated use of verbs such as see and show (in their various forms), the Book of Abraham captures this imagery in both explicit and subtle ways.
Recommended Citation
Smoot, Stephen O.; Gee, John; Muhlestein, Kerry; and Thompson, John S.
(2022)
"Abraham the Seer,"
BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 61:
Iss.
4, Article 22.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol61/iss4/22