Woodwards presentation on the subject of dna and the book of mormon was timely and extremely enlightening for those in attendance. Brother meldrum has since given presentations across the united states and his research has been seen by tens of thousands of members of the church. Apr 30, 2020 all of these factors are relevant to claims about dna and the book of mormon. Excerpt from the book of mormon and dna studies, lds gospel topic essay.
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. Defenders of the book of mormon have made arguments that center on the idea that the book of mormon peoples from the middle east formed only a small contribution to the population of the americas, and that their genetic heritage may have been diluted beyond what can now be detected. One of the fundamental tenets taught to mormon children and new converts is that the book of mormon is an account of real people and real events. The documentary is a must see for all those who view the book of mormon as an accurate history of the native american indians. Order the dvd at for more than 170 years, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has declared the book of mormon to be a scriptu. Miraculous claims surrounding the coming forth of the book of mormon are an evidence of the prophetic calling of joseph smith. Dna research and mormon scholars changing basic beliefs lds. This contains the complete text of the 1981 edition, but with more modern text formatting. There is generally no direct support amongst mainstream historians and archaeologists for the. Would dna analysis show as taught by the book of mormon that many.
Another testament of jesus christ, is true, not false. If this were to be true, no doubt there would be significant discoverable amounts of dna. The dna evidence might be found in very ancient people and not even on the american continents, but it does make the book of mormon peoples more possible. For these same reasons, arguments that some defenders of the book of mormon make based on dna studies are also speculative. The book of mormon probably originally ended with the book of ether. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in. The foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms was an informal collaboration of academics devoted to latterday saint historical scholarship. It cannot be said the dna of european and middle eastern genomes are found this far back, then they disappear again before the book of mormon can be validated.
Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america. Book of mormon and dna studies great response simon. The book of mormon tells the story of a family from ancient jerusalem that crossed the ocean and colonized somewhere in the western. It neither proves nor disproves the book of mormon.
Book of mormon and dna studies \n great response simon. Joseph smith, prophet and translator of the book of mormon, stated. Response to the genetic challenge from book of mormon defenders book of mormon population models. 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.
Fundamental historical claims of the book of mormon are challenged by new genetic research. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence that proves the book of mormon. Critics argue that since the dna of native americans shares asian rather than middle. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube. Scientists theorize that in an era that predated book of mormon accounts, a relatively small group of people migrated from. Topical guide, book of mormon bible dictionary, ephraim, stick of. Evidence for a faster evolutionary rate of mtdna lineages than y chromosomes. Dna evidence for book of mormon geography book of mormon. Dna and the book of mormon record mormonism research ministry. Whiting, does dna evidence refute the authenticity of the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. 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. Dna and the book of mormon, by david stewart takes traditional position. Not trying to argue here about what some people believe about it.
I plan to read it cover to cover, and add my witty thoughts and comments along the way. The work of mormon stories podcast has been featured in the new york times, national public radio, good morning america, the wall street journal, vh1, the. Joseph smiths dictated text with hundreds of corrections from royal skousens study of the original and printers manuscripts. Attacks on the validity of the book of mormon using dna data support for the book of mormon by mormon academics. Mormon stories podcast operates in partnership with the open stories foundation a 501c3 nonprofit, and obtained over 7. The book of mormon in americas heartland by rodney meldrum the hopewell culture describes the common aspects of the native american culture that flourished along rivers in the northeastern and midwestern united states from 300 bc to 400 ad, in the middle woodland period. Book of mormon and dna stuff you missed in sunday school. There should have been more than enough dna to detect, if the book of mormon were to be believed. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. The book of mormon claims native americans are descended from israelites.
The book of mormon dna debate an interview with ugo perego. All of these factors are relevant to claims about dna and the book of mormon. The book of mormon states that there were three transoceanic migrations by ship, lehis family, the mulekites and the jaredites. Devout mormon, daniel peterson, a professor of asian and near eastern languages at brigham young university, said. However, the book of mormon tells that through divine guidance, relatively small groups of old. Book of mormon and dna studies response to an essay on book of mormon and dna studies was added on 114 in the topical guide of the website. Dna research and mormon scholars changing basic beliefs. Book of mormon and dna studies church of jesus christ. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may. Native americans, dna and the mormon church, which was published by signature. Welch mapping book of mormon geography 101 by larry poulsen mesoamerica speech scrolls by diane wirth.
New light on dna and the book of mormon the millennial star. Mormons and mitochondrial dna claims of native americans. Dna and the book of mormon explained fulllength video youtube. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to latter day saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. A populationwide coalescent analysis of icelandic matrilineal and patrilineal genealogies. Introduction, 20 edition of the book of mormon in recent years, many have wondered what dna studies might contribute to understanding. Oct 03, 2019 the book of mormon in americas heartland by rodney meldrum the hopewell culture describes the common aspects of the native american culture that flourished along rivers in the northeastern and midwestern united states from 300 bc to 400 ad, in the middle woodland period. 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.
May 05, 2020 the destructive personal attacks of mormon apologists and their strained reinterpretations of the book of mormon to accommodate the science, prompted me to post a personal story of my encounter with the dna science in 2000 and to eventually write losing a lost tribe. A number of investigators have used genetic and blood testing studies to show that native americans are related closely to the inhabitants of siberia. The essay asserts that dna studies cannot be used decisively to either affirm or reject the historical authenticity of the book of mormon. While dna shows that ultimately all human populations are closely related, to date no intimate genetic link has been found between ancient israelites and indigenous americans, much less within the time frame suggested in the book of mormon. Book of mormon the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The biggest problem with most anti mormon attacks involving dna and the book of mormon is not so much the lack of scholarship about dna as it is the lack of scholarship concerning the book of mormon.
He addressed a book of mormon lands conference on 2007oct20 in salt lake city, ut. Book of mormon, church of jesus christ of latterday saints, racism. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon is false. According to the book, two of these groups originated from ancient israel. Is there any archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. Dr ugo perego, a respected population geneticist, speaks at the fairmormon conference in kungsbacka, sweden, 18 june 2016. The idea that america may have been overwhelmingly peopled by folks from northeastern asia. Recently, some critics of the lds church have alleged that dna data demonstrating homology between modern native americans and mongolians and central siberians, as well as a seeming lack of homology between modern jewish and native american dna, provides conclusive proof that the book of mormon story of migrations from ancient israel and. It at once shows the book of mormon claims that lehis group was the only one on the continent and that the claimed population was much larger than could have been achieved. Taking on the book of mormon and dna studies beggars bread. Updates on dna and the book of mormon studio et quoque fide. In particular, it seems worth noting that to date, no formal dna study has been carefully designed to specifically look for the unique, nonlocal dna potentially brought to the americas by the small migrations reported in the book of mormon.
The book of mormon and the origin of native americans from a. Theres a good lds article concerning this, but its on my old computer, which i dont feel like starting up again and looking for. Where applicable, we have updated the references to reflect later publications. Jun 25, 2016 the socalled dna evidence used to support the book of mormon has several flaws and limitations. Its last book, moroni, reads something like parts of 2 nephi, but it is obviously a tackedon addition. Does dna evidence refute the authenticity of the book of mormon. It contains a record of gods dealings with three groups of people who migrated from the near east or west asia to the americas hundreds of years before the arrival of europeans. There are two major problems with this dna argument. 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. Additional dna markers from europe, west asia, and africa exist in the dna of modern native populations, but it is difficult to determine whether they are the result of migrations that predated columbus, such as those described in the book of mormon, or whether they stem from genetic mixing that occurred after the european conquest.
Articles which do not invoke any type of limited geography in their discussion include. In an article written for the mormon periodical times and seasons in 1842, joseph smith made it a point to mention that the title page of the book of mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies wikipedia. What does dna science have to say about this doctrine. Polynesian dna the legend of fu sand and the book of mormon is all evidence that the populating of north american was done by ship and not on artic land masses. The dna evidence has exposed the true ancestry of native americans with amazing clarity and also, unfortunately for the lds church, the dubious history of the book of mormon. However, it is my understanding that rod meldrum might actually change some of that argument to be more in line with current scientific evidence regarding mitochondrial dna. 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. Many readers have posed this question, both out of genuine interest and also as. 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. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Wooley book of mormon traditions found only in mesoamerica by diane wirth the book of mormon as a mesoamerican record by donald w. Although the question of limited geography is strongly linked to dna and the book of mormon, we will not be dealing with that in this volume. In 2006, the group became a formal part of the neal a.
A phylogenetic perspective, journal of book of mormon studies 121 2003. Scientists theorize that in an era that predated book of. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence general. Ancient dna from hopewell ohio book of mormon evidence. Book of mormon evidence compiled from video interviews done in 2014, 2016 and 2017. In recent years, many have wondered what dna studies might contribute to understanding book of mormon origins. 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.
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 about 100 genetic studies have been done on about 75 groups out of 500 known native. Are israelites the principal ancestors of native americans. Jan 21, 2010 the basic concept though is that the mitochondrial dna taken from a group of surviving native americans demonstrates that they were descended from asians and not the ten lost tribes of israel as the book of mormon claims. Scientists theorize that in an era that predated book of mormon accounts, a relatively small group of people migrated from northeast asia to the americas by way of a land bridge. The book of mormon is another witness of jesus christ and confirms the truths found in the holy bible. The evidence assembled to date suggests that the majority of native americans carry largely asian dna. Murphy set out to test a key principle of his mormon faith with the latest technology.
Join me, david michael, as i read the book of mormon for the very first time. The origins, authenticity, and historicity of the book of mormon have been subject to considerable criticism from scholars and skeptics since it was first published in 1830. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints affirms that the book of mormon is a volume of sacred scripture comparable to the bible. Nothing is known about the dna of book of mormon peoples, and even if their genetic profile were known, there are sound scientific reasons that it might remain undetected. Now, for the first time in one volume, respected dna scientists, geneticists, and book of mormon scholars provide their views on dna and the book of mormon. For more on this topic, please visit book of mormon and lds prophets identify todays native. Attacks on the validity of the book of mormon using dna data dna studies by two investigators.
The book of mormon dna debate an interview with ugo. Jan, 2008 dna loses its original ethnic traces after so many hundreds of years. Thomas murphy, mormon anthropologist, american apocrypha, 2002, p. M odern dna evidence in no way disproves the traditional lds belief that book of mormon peoples represent the principal ancestors of the american indians. Order the dvd at for more than 170 years, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has declared the book of mormon to be a scriptur. Book of mormondna evidencegeography issues fairmormon. The research is given in support of the truthfulness of book of mormon and the gospel of jesus christ. Rediscovering the bom remnant through dna book of mormon.
The olive leaf foundation 2017 a new approach to studying the book of mormon. No, the evidence is indicating that israelite dna cannot be dismissed. The focus of the 2001 fair conference was the book of mormon, and with the rise of genetic studies of native american mdna that have been reported in various press and media outlets, dr. Basically the book is an instruction manual on how to operate the early mormon church. On its web site, under the mistakes in the news heading, the church declares, recent attacks on the veracity of the book of mormon based on dna evidence are ill considered. A branch of the qp36 lineage m323 is also found in yemenite jews. In 1997, the group became a formal part of brigham young university byu, which is owned and operated by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. The critics are using tentative scientific findings to discredit common misconceptions about the book of mormon, not what the text actually teaches. In the last few years, the topic of how dna research fits in with the text of the book of mormon has become increasingly divisive.
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