“The remainder of this month, I was continually engaged in translating an alphabet to the Book of Abraham, and [arranging] a grammar of the Egyptian language as practiced by the ancients.” — Joseph Smith¹

In 1835, Joseph Smith purchased mummies and Egyptian papyri from Michael Chandler and began translating the scrolls, believing they contained the writings of Abraham.² Parts of these divinely inspired translations became the Book of Abraham, the first part of which was published in 1842. Other than the Book of Abraham, the scrolls also told the story of Joseph of Egypt.³ When Joseph was not translating the scrolls, he had them up for display alongside the mummies.²

1. History, 1838–1856, volume B-1, 597

2. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 20, 219-221

3. "Introduction to Book of Abraham Manuscripts, circa July–circa November 1835," josephsmithpapers.org