I’ve been asked several times about how the Book of Abraham is to be referenced in the Second Edition of the RE Scriptures. Those working on the project have also been asked repeatedly. Because of these frequent inquiries, this is intended to let everyone know how it is being handled.
I’ve pointed out in a talk that the text of the Book of Abraham discusses events that happened prior to Abraham’s entry into Egypt. The account ends with him at the border of Egypt, and before he entered into the Egyptian kingdom. That talk can be read here: The Religion of the Fathers
In the talk I suggested the text of the Book of Abraham should be read in the account of Genesis expanding Gen. 6, paragraph 8 through Gen. 7, first two sentences of paragraph 4. (References using the RE Edition of scripture.) Those comments resulted in a proposal that was voted on in the last conference. The proposal asked if there should be something done to acknowledge that placement in the upcoming new edition of the scriptures. The vote determined by a single vote to do something about acknowledging the placement.
Looking at the vote totals after the conference, 147 voted FOR doing something, and 146 voted AGAINST doing anything to acknowledge this placement. One vote separated the FOR from the AGAINST. Then two options were voted on about how to then do the acknowledgment. After a total of 293 votes were cast, neither option about how to include a reference received enough votes to be approved. Only 73 of the 293 votes favored putting the entire text in Genesis. That is less than a majority of the total 293 votes, and even less than a majority of the 147 votes in favor of doing something to acknowledge where the text belongs. Only 65 voted for the other option: to acknowledge placement using an asterisk. That, too, was less than a majority of either the total or those voting FOR acknowledgement.
Once the issue was ambiguously decided I was asked how to solve the dilemma. Something in Genesis needed to be done, because the vote favored some acknowledgement. But how to do so was left unresolved by the voice of the people. I spent time weighing what to do, reached a reasoned conclusion, prayed about the resolution, and then responded to the people working on typesetting the text that there needed to be some acknowledgement in the text, because it passed. And since how to accomplish that was not approved by a majority vote, the minimum way to respect the vote would be to include in Genesis a reference stating: “Gen. 6:8-7:4 RE expanded by the Book of Abraham T&C 145.” That is how the text of the Book of Abraham will be referenced in the text of Genesis of the Second Edition of the scriptures. That language will be printed in red ink to call attention to the insertion.