I was discussing the Book of Abraham with a mormon apologetic and he implied that the papyri Joseph Smith translated was not the Book of Abraham, but the Book of Breathings. What is he talking about?

Under the section of LDS Scriptures

http://www.exmormon.org/whylft131.htm

http://www.bookofabraham.com/boamathie/BOA_TOC.html

The short answer is that no matter what the apologist says, the facsimiles ARE the ones that Joseph used, and everyone including the LDS scholars agree that they do not say anything that is in the Book of Abraham.

All sources agree- Joseph did say that he did translate the facsimiles that we have in the Book of Abraham.

Here's some pictures of the actual scrolls that Joseph himself used and drew on:
http://www.bookofabraham.com/boamathie/BOA_5.html

Here's the translations from the Breathing Permit of Hor:

http://www.bookofabraham.com/boamathie/BOA_6.html

Here's the translations from the hypocephalus(facsimile2):
http://www.bookofabraham.com/boamathie/BOA_7.html


The thing about Joseph translating the Book of Breathings into the Book of Abraham is that the content of the Book of Abraham has no business in a magical text which enables the dead to pass through to the Field of Reeds and to again draw breath as a living being.

It would be like reading from a car parts catalog during the sealing ceremony.