This is one of the more controversial of the figures. It is found in the lower right quadrant (upper quadrant when printed upside down like the photo above) of the facsimile. Joseph said that it "Represents God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the Priesthood; as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove."
It appears to be a representation of a seated figure with the tail of a falcon, with a human head and a beard. Many Egyptologist identify this figure as Min, a very ancient (before the first dynasty) Egyptian god. He was always depicted as a mummy with his legs bound. He wore the beard of a pharaoh. He was usually pictured standing as a phallic symbol with his right hand holding his aroused penis. He usually held a flail and had his left arm raised to the square. This the Egyptians held to mean "the Sign of Preservation." Also known as Khem, he was the god of reproduction, the creator of all things, "the maker of gods and men." [1]
It is not unusual for ancient civilizations to have gods and goddesses representing fertility and they are almost always sexual in nature. Every ancient culture with the exception of some of Abraham's descendants practiced such fertility rites. That was part of the seduction of idol worship that stole away the loyalty of Abraham's father, Terah, and the bane of the existence of Ancient Israel. As I have studied, I have come to realize that this, too, is a perversion of what was an originally sacred commandment. God bid Adam and Eve to "multiply and replenish the earth" (Genesis 1:28.) and He repeated that commandment to Noah (Genesis 9:1.) Even today, marriage and family are the backbone of the Church and will be the governance of the gospel in the post-mortal life, under the direction of the priesthood, in a patriarchal order. The act of sexual intercourse was "divinely appointed" as a "sacred act of procreation" between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wed [2] Any other use of this power is a mockery of God's original commandment to Adam and Eve.
Let's go back to Joseph's interpretation and I will point out some of the things I have noted in comparison to what Egyptologists say.
- Min is usually portrayed standing, not sitting
- Min usually wears a tall, two-pointed ceremonial hat with streamers; this figure has on a simple Egyptian head covering
- Min's legs are bound together like a mummy without a pronounced ankle and foot; this figure has a very pronounced leg, knee, ankle, and foot.
- Min drawings show the figure's penis where it would anatomically be; this figure's protrusion is in the middle of his stomach, more like a arm making a square at waist level.
- The figure holding the wedjit eye is identified simply as a figure with a bird's head; the entire presentation of this figure does not evoke the image of Sokar or any other god-figure with falcon-like features (curved raptor beak, etc.) It is a much more peaceful bird.
- The figure above the left hand is simply called "an inverted V and the figure below the V is seem as a geometric shape, in this case a right angle. It looks to me like a left arm being raised and forming a square (the right angle, if you will) Even the standing figure above has his left arm raised to the square.
- The "falcon's tail" looks to me like a robe of some sort. I don't know why it would be a falcon's tail. The icon of Min above doesn't show falcon's tail.
Joseph's interpretation brings clarity. Latter-day Saints who can readily see symbolic and familiar things. Joseph said that the bird represented the Holy Ghost. I have no trouble seeing that. The wedjit eye was symbolic of all-knowing and all-seeing qualities of "a supreme celestial deity" [1] I have no trouble seeing "the Key-words of the priesthood" as being represented by the eye. As I study it, I think the bird (the Holy Ghost) may be receiving these words and authority from God rather than giving them to God, preparatory to giving them to Abraham and, ultimately, to us. This interpretation is consistent with Joseph's description (see below.*) I have read elsewhere that the raised hands figure in front of God (that looks a little bit like a tree having lost its leaves) represents prayer with the hands raised above the head. I have seen facsimile 2 dozens, if not hundreds, of times and I have read Joseph's explanation, but I never came close to understanding it until this very moment! Even as I write, new ideas are impressed upon my mind relating to the great endowment God offers His children who worthily seek it.
I challenge you to join me in seeking it. It truly is a Pearl of Great Price.
* "Represents God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the Priesthood; as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove." - Joseph Smith
[1] All quotes from Wikipedia unless otherwise noted.
[2] The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, September, 1995.
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