AboutCindy Beggs Expertise Although I am not a member of the LDS Church, I can answer most of your general questions re: the LDS faith. Please no LDS bashing. I have a love for the Church's history.
Experience Although I am not a member of the LDS faith, I have been facinated with the Church's history for over 30 years.
Organizations Mount St. Mary's Alumni
Publications Master's Thesis in Mount St. Mary's Library in Los Angeles, CA.
Education/Credentials Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts. Minors: Religious Studies and psychology. Master's degree in the Humanities/Cultural Studies.
Expert: Cindy Beggs Date: 11/24/2007 Subject: church history
Question Hello. Thank-you, for your question. Kolob is a star or a planet. It is described in the Book of Abraham (located in the Pearl of Great Price) as being the nearest star or planet nearest the throne of God. During Joseph's time and after he translated the golden plates into the Book of Mormon, a traveling mummy museum visited his area in Kirkland, Ohio. Joseph supposedly translated the Egyptian scrolls that accompanied the mummies. According to Joseph, the scrolls described a vision of Abraham in which Abraham saw the stars, one of which was nearest to the throne of God and that was called, Kolob. Joseph went on to describe Kolob as being nearest to the Celestial Kingdom and the residence of God. David O McCay, president of the LDS Church at the time, referred to Kolob as being a great star out there in the expansive space (Oct. 1969, Conference You profess being a lds church historian yet you are not aware that the book of abraham was translated from a book of egyptian funerary scrolls and that at that time the egyptian hyroglyps were unreadable and had not as of that time been decyphered.I see so many religous organizations rewriting history to suit their own needs. Are you aware that joseph smith was a practicing mason when he founded your religion?
Answer Hello Raymond,
I am not an LDS member. You asked about Kolob and I answered your question. As a historian, I only tell you what happened when it happened. I do not put a "spin" on what happened or give you my particular views on the "whys." I am aware of the scrolls being from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. People did not know in Joseph's time that they were from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. If I tell you what happened during Joseph's time - and we fast forward to today - my answer would have been different. However, since I am trying to tell history as it happened during Joseph's time - I will keep my answer the same. As to your comment about Joseph's masonic affiliation, you say that "joseph smith was a practicing mason when he founded your religion." The fact is, Joseph organized the Church on April 6th, 1830. He became a mason in 1841. So, to say that Joseph Smith was a practicing mason when he founded the LDS religion is not true. You might want to read some LDS history books that are not biased for or against the LDS Church, if you are truly a seeker of knowledge - and not someone merely on a mission to criticize its founder.
