“Thou Wast Chosen Before Thou Wast Born”: An Egyptian Context for the Election of Abraham

Authors

Stephen O. Smoot, Catholic University of AmericaFollow

Keywords

Book of Abraham, premortal existence, Abraham, Latter-day Saints

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Arguably the most important doctrinal contribution of the Book of Abraham is its teaching about the premortal existence of humankind. As John Gee has recognized, “The largest effect that the Book of Abraham has had on Latter-day Saint thought is its concept of the premortal existence and the purpose of life. Although other Latter-day Saint scriptures discuss the premortal existence, the Book of Abraham provides the clearest explanation of this key Latter-day Saint doctrine.” The importance of the Book of Abraham’s teaching about the premortal existence is confirmed by surveying the LDS Scripture Citation Index, which reveals that General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have cited the range of verses between Abraham 3:22–28 on dozens of occasions to support this Restoration teaching.

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Smoot, Stephen O. "“Thou Wast Chosen Before Thou Wast Born”: An Egyptian Context for the Election of Abraham." Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 22, no. 1 (2021). https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/re/vol22/iss1/7