The book of mormon teaches that these israelites are the principal ancestors of modernday native americans. The book of mormon tells the story of a family from ancient jerusalem that crossed the ocean and colonized somewhere in the western. As book of mormon students increasingly understand that the book of mormon actually describes a very limited geographical area in its accounts, and as they recognize that mesoamerica southern mexico, guatemala, and surrounding territory offers the best candidate for the setting of the book of mormon, they also recognize that the dna attacks. Nov 20, 2018 dna and the book of mormon salt lake city, ut. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube.
While the church has pinned its hopes on the work of limited geography apologetics, the essay makes no mention of geography at all. The dna truth that the mormon belief that they are related to the american indians is false. Recently, some persons have announced that modern dna research has conclusively proved that the book of mormon is false and that joseph smith was a fraud. Dna and the book of mormon archives mormon stories essays. The largest genealogical group out there is the mormon church, so fundamentally every genealogy company makes their software compatible with the churchs free. On january 31, 2014, the lds church published an essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies in the gospel topics series on its official website. A recently published book claims that dna evidence proves that the book of mormon, a book of scripture used in conjunction with the bible by the mormon church, is incorrect. Fundamental historical claims of the book of mormon are. Dna puts to rest that any of the culture, civilization or peoples of the book of mormon ever existed. In this episode, three geneticists respond to the lds essay book of mormon and dna studies, and to apologist michael ashs article entitled the dna challenge to the book of mormon. Dna and the book of mormon explained fulllength video youtube. Genetic attacks on the book of mormon focus on the fact that amerindian dna seems closest to asian dna, and not dna from the middle east or jewish dna. After years of studying maps, mormon scripture, and spanish chronicles, ferguson had concluded that the book of mormon took place around the isthmus of tehuantepec, the narrowest.
Its been a few years since i talked about dna and the book of mormon. Simon is married to jane who is an english teacherlibrarian. A recently published book claims that dna evidence proves that the book of mormon, a book of scripture used in conjunction with the bible by the mormon church, is incorrect and points to an asiatic origin versus a middle eastern origin for the inhabitants of the american continents. However, this attack ignores several key points, among which is the fact that the book of mormon states that lehi and his family are clearly not jews. The remainder of the video features interviews with experts in history, biology, anthropology, linguistics and archaeology. Critics of the lds church recently latched onto dna studies that point to a predominant asiatic origin to the american indians and conclude that the book of mormon cannot be an ancient record as claimed by joseph smith. Subtitled another testament of jesus christ, it recounts the story story of an israelite family who immigrated to and fully populated the american continents. Phylogenetic perspective that book of mormon critics attempting to use dna. Nov 06, 2006 the book of mormon teaches that these israelites are the principal ancestors of modernday native americans. New discoveries in dna research currently allow scientists to test this historical claim.
Dna and the book of mormon record mormonism research ministry. The lds church released an essay on their website titled book of mormon and dna studies. I have also written an extensive article on the topic, with many references that you can check yourself. But being the strongest evidence so far against the book of mormon is a relative thing, akin to selecting the best smelling skunk in your local forest. Some mormon researchers claim that it is not valid to use genetics to attempt to prove or disprove the historicity of the book of mormon, citing a lack of source genes and the improbability of tracing.
The essay asserts that dna studies cannot be used decisively to either affirm or reject the historical authenticity of the book of mormon. Dna science challenges lds history christian research. The book of mormon, the founding document of the latter day saint movement and one of the four books of scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, is an account of three groups of people. The introduction to the book of mormon states that the book is holy scripture comparable to the bible and that it is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas. It was released by the church to help explain how the book of mormon s credibility is not harmed due to recent dna evidence which concludes that the native americans are not the descendants of the book of mormon people, and to explain why the churchs credibility is not harmed due to having such a. Sep 16, 2015 in response to mormon apologetics in 2004 he published losing a lost tribe, which explores the origins of amerindian and polynesian dna and its implications for lds beliefs arising from the book of mormon. It is important to remember that most dna apologists defending the book of mormon, do so on the assumption that lehi and his family made a small genetic impact in the americas. Dna evidence of the book of mormon in north america, linking native americans to the jewish population in the middle east. Simon has written a book that examines lds beliefs about the origins of native americans and polynesians. In this article, we will provide some background on this issue focusing on the scientific issues, followed by a point by point response to various statements made in the essay about the book of mormon. The conclusion of dna evidence brings us the fascinating testimony of an ex. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormon by rich deem introduction. David stewart in his online article found on the churchs website titled dna and the book of mormon, quotes fellow lds scholar martin tanner, contributor to the neil a. Dallin oaks on the book of mormon a mormon apostle.
In an essay titled does the dna evidence refute the book of mormon. The book of mormon documentary accurately presents the consensus of the scientific community that northern asia not israel is the place of origin of the native american indians. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormon. Vern holly maps shows bofm names are of recent origin. The book of mormon and dna evidence, dna, archive ugo a. The documentary is a must see for all those who view the book of mormon as an accurate history of the native american indians. There is generally no direct support amongst mainstream historians and archaeologists for the. Cherokeephoenician dna connection book of mormon evidence. The book of mormon and the new world dna deseret book. According to the book of mormon, bountiful was one of the first areas settled by the nephites, ancient people who supposedly sailed from israel. Antimormon groups claim that a lack of dna evidence connecting the people of south and central america to the middle east is proof that the book of mormon is not a true record of jewish. Jan 18, 2018 after years of studying maps, mormon scripture, and spanish chronicles, ferguson had concluded that the book of mormon took place around the isthmus of tehuantepec, the narrowest part of mexico. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand.
The strongest evidence yet against the book of mormon. No, definitely notbut it does force rethinking some common. First, it assumes that mesoamerica is the land of the book of mormon. The book of mormon recounts the story of small israelite groups headed by lehi and mulek that were brought from ancient. Annotated book of mormon by david hocking and rod meldrum page 91. This new evidence, in contrast to the first, appears to provide. The issue of dna and the book of mormon involves quite a number of interesting issues. Nothing is known about the extent of intermarriage and genetic mixing between book of mormon peoples or their descendants and other inhabitants of the americas, though some mixing appears evident, even. In 2014 the church quietly published book of mormon and dna studies, an essay which distills an avalanche of mormon apologetics published solely in lds journals, and attempts to address. I carefully and openmindedly studied the data, and wrote a detailed article to highlight the fallacy of critics arguments. One useful new resource in this area is dna and the book of mormon by david stewart, m. Miraculous claims surrounding the coming forth of the book of mormon are an evidence of the prophetic calling of joseph smith.
John dehlins mormon stories essay on dna and the book of mormon makes the following claim. Sorenson molecular genealogy foundation book of mormon. Sorenson molecular genealogy foundation book of mormon and dna. Book of mormon and dna studies church of jesus christ. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no. Jul 26, 2015 anti mormon groups claim that a lack of dna evidence connecting the people of south and central america to the middle east is proof that the book of mormon is not a true record of jewish people in the new world. In the past few years, dna studies have been used to provide what may be the strongest and most convincing evidence so far against the authenticity of the book of mormon. Since 2014which was the last time i discussed lehis missing dna theres been a few articles of interest that i thought i would mention and comment on.
Archaeological and historical evidence dna and the book. In the book of mormon, the book of nephi tells the story of a hebrew family that flees the city of jerusalem around 600 b. Ekins, is decrypting the genetic legacy of americas indigenous populations key to the historicity of the book of mormon. According to the book, two of these groups originated from ancient israel. The conclusion of dna evidence brings us the fascinating testimony of an exmormon. Nothing is known about the extent of intermarriage and genetic mixing between book of mormon peoples or their descendants and other inhabitants of the americas, though some mixing appears evident, even during the period covered by the books text. Apparently the same story, a test of faith, dna research challenges the. May 11, 2009 a recently published book claims that dna evidence proves the book of mormon, one of the books of scripture used by the mormon church, incorrect. Mormons and mitochondrial dna by chad ressler in august 2004 simon southerton released a book entitled losing a lost tribe. David stewart in his online article found on the churchs website titled dna and. The mainstream scientific consensus about the origin of the ancient americans and peoples is at odds with the claims put forth in the book of mormon, though mormon apologists have made efforts to reconcile these contradictions. Thousands of native americans from more than 150 tribes have been tested to determine their ancestry.
In short, dna studies cannot be used decisively to either affirm or reject the historical authenticity of the book of mormon. I also sent a copy to byu university, to farms, the mormons branch that is in charge of protecting mormon beliefs, asking how i could refute this dvd. Mormon scientist jeff lindsay wrote, for the book of mormon, it now appears that a nineteenthcentury assumption that. Nothing is known about the extent of intermarriage and genetic mixing between book of mormon peoples or their descendants and other inhabitants of the americas, though some mixing appears evident, even during the period covered by the book s text. The only true statements in the book of mormon are those taken from the bible. The book of mormon claims that the native american peoples are descended from the house of israel, but the dna evidence, according to this book, points to an asiatic origin for the american continents native people. Nov 03, 2019 annotated book of mormon by david hocking and rod meldrum page 91. This interpretation, still dominant among members of the lds church, remained in the introduction to the book of mormon until recently. Dna genealogies of american indians and the book of mormon. The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies.
Maxwell institute for religious scholarship formerly farms, who explains his position. The chief claim, and the premise of the entire book, is that hebrews carried the message of the coming messiah on a voyage across the atlantic. Perego, is decrypting the genetic legacy of americas indigenous populations key to the historicity of. Dna and the book of mormon record mormonism research. The book of mormon for more than 170 years, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has declared the book of mormon to be a scriptural and literal history. Whiting journal of book of mormon studies 121 2003. The book of mormon makes several scientific claims that can be tested. The lenba sic are a group of 80,000 south africans who claim jewish heritage, practice many jewish. Dna research and mormon scholars changing basic beliefs lds. An essay on book of mormon and dna studies was added on 114 in the topical guide of the website. Critics of the lds church recently latched onto dna studies that point to a predominant asiatic origin to the american indians and conclude that the book of mormon cannot be an ancient record as claimed. Book of mormon studies and dna gospel topic page on published january 2014.
Some argue dna disproves the historicity of the book of mormon while others say it offers supporting evidence. A recently published book claims that dna evidence proves the book of mormon, one of the books of scripture used by the mormon church, incorrect. Dna research and mormon scholars changing basic beliefs. There are two major problems with this dna argument. In 2014 the church quietly published book of mormon and dna studies, an essay which distills an avalanche of mormon apologetics published solely in lds journals, and attempts to address population genetics. Sep 08, 2016 on january 31, 2014, the lds church published an essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies in the gospel topics series on its official website. May 07, 2004 the issue of dna and the book of mormon involves quite a number of interesting issues. Fairmormon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing welldocumented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of the church of jesus. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon is false.
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