The volume has long invited scrutiny from all branches of science. Truth shall spring forth out of the earth, journal of book of mormon studies, vol. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. The dvd is based upon a popular presentation given in a number of fireside. Mormons and mitochondrial dna by chad ressler in august 2004 simon southerton released a book entitled losing a lost tribe. 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. Over 66,000 people viewed the video in the two weeks after it appeared. Dna research and mormon scholars changing basic beliefs. The dvd is based upon a popular presentation given in a number of. Wayne may presents the supporting evidence for the heartland model, that the book of mormon nephites and jaredites lived in north america. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Murphy, lamanite genesis, genealogy, and genetics, inamerican apocrypha.
While evidence against the book of mormon and its miraculous origins has been steadily accumulating for more than a century, modern dna techniques provide new and irrefutable evidence to further bolster decades of anthropology, archaeology and linguistic study. In early 2008 rodney meldrum published a dvd titled dna evidence for book of mormon geography. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormon. 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. This post latterday saint blogs is a portal for mainstream blogs about the church of jesus christ of latterday. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence that proves the book of mormon. In an essay titled does the dna evidence refute the book of mormon. In this post i wanted to emphasize physical evidencesstuff you can touch, see, feel. Perego, the book of mormon and the origin of native americans from a maternally. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube. 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. Now the same dna evidence used in courts of law can credibly speak to the validity of the book of mormon, which serves as the foundation of the mormon religion. Some argue dna disproves the historicity of the book of mormon while others say it offers supporting evidence. The conclusion states, much as critics and defenders of the book of mormon would like to use dna studies to support their views, the evidence is simply inconclusive.
The church of jesus christ of latterday saints affirms that the book of mormon is a volume of sacred scripture comparable to the bible. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies. While evidence against the book of mormon and its miraculous origins has been steadily accumulating for more than a century, modern dna techniques provide. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove these very. Dna analysis has concluded that native american indians do not originate from the middle east or from israelites but rather from asia. Dna evidence supporting the book of mormon there is no dna evidence supporting the book of mormon. The lds church released an essay on their website titled book of mormon and dna studies.
Response to rodney meldrums incredible new dna evidence. For more on the relationship of dna studies and the book of mormon generally see ugo a. This must mean that amerindians are not descended from book of mormon peoples, and the book of mormon is false. Dna evidence of the book of mormon in north america, linking native americans to the jewish population in the middle east. 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. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded. David read the surprising new dna evidence supports the book of mormon 40m. 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. The nhm inscription is the most important piece of geographical evidence book of mormon supporters have for their claims. The book of mormon teaches that the people of the americas are decendants from lamanites, who originally crossed the oceans from jerusalem, sometime near 600 b. 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. Dna marker x2aj is probably the greatest dna evidence for the book of mormon thus far. Critics who attempt to rely on dna evidence to attack the truth of the book of mormon mi. Rather, he calls us to prove all things 1 thessalonians 5.
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 information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Evidence for nephis bountiful, journal of book of mormon studies, 71 1998. They flatly reject the hemispheric geography, the view accepted by most mormons and all the prophets. Book of mormon dna evidence is the holy grail for mormons and antimormons alike.
The evidence assembled to date suggests that the majority of native americans carry largely asian dna. Ces letter links to a poorly written wikipedia article as the basis of their sweeping claim. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. Examples of book of mormon criticisms based on alleged dna evidence are found in simon g. Produced by fair, a nonprofit organization that sponsors conferences and websites in defence of the church, this video dispells what for some is a. David read the surprising new dna evidence supports the.
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. Jun 09, 2009 in an essay titled does the dna evidence refute the book of mormon. Dna science challenges lds history christian research institute. 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. 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 israelite dna even if present. At this point, dna evidence simply cannot disprove or prove the historicity of the book of mormon. Archaeology itself can be divided and subdivided into numerous disciplines. Thomas murphy, anthropologist, mormon scholar, and dna researcher, acknowledges the problem that the dna evidence presents for the historical accuracy of the book of mormon.
Dna research and mormon scholars changing basic beliefs lds. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon is false. Simon southerton submitted to us as to why he left mormonism due to dna evidence is at whyleft125. Is there any dna evidence to support the book of mormons. Are israelites the principal ancestors of native americans.
Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and cultural evidence. The book of mormon presents the evidence from dna researchers. The book of mormon tells the story of a family from ancient jerusalem that crossed the ocean and colonized somewhere in the western. 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. Thomas stuart ferguson lay in his hammock, certain that he had found. In the book of mormon there are three meanings of the word jew including resident of jerusalem. A closer examination demonstrates that dna evidence does not discredit traditional lds beliefs, and that the claims of critics are based on nonfactual. Dna evidence conflicts with book of mormon lds facts.
Book of mormon is neither easily corroborated nor refuted by dna evidence. The book of mormon documentary examines and compares genetic evidence identifying the dna fingerprints of the jewish populations and american indian populations, and presents the testimony of several dna experts in seeking to answer the question, are israelites the principal ancestors of native american indians. Book of mormon and dna studies church of jesus christ. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. A youtube clip entitled dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence is causing a stir among mormons as it has appeared on websites such as, ldsliving, prepare to serve youtube site and lds smile.
Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints need to realize that god does not seek to confuse us and lead us away from him through the use of our intellect. The strongest evidence yet against the book of mormon. Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. Critics who attempt to rely on dna evidence to attack the truth of the book of mormon misinterpret or misconstrue what. I couldnt possibly cover every book of mormon correlation in one sitting. Two of the most prevalent claims for the book of mormon are, there is much archaeological proof to the book of mormon, and the american indians are descendants of israelites who came to america as described in the book of mormon. The book of mormon makes several scientific claims that can be tested. 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 only true statements in the book of mormon are those taken from the bible. Its been a few years since i talked about dna and the book of mormon. The nahom case provides evidence, not of the authenticity of the book of mormon, but of the willingness of lds scholars to look anywhere to find validation for a historically accurate reading of the book of mormon.
Another testament of jesus christ, is true, not false. Now im not a geneticist but if you want to hear a population geneticist give you the long version of what i just said, check out the links in the description and have. The criticism of the mormon church is the following. Reviews of dna evidence for book of mormon geography. Dna samples taken from modern american indians show no connection to the dna of the peoples of the middle east.
Dna science challenges lds history christian research. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Its the 5ton elephant in the room that researchers geneticist do not want to talk about. Reviews of dna evidence for book of mormon geography fairmormon. Updates on dna and the book of mormon latterday saint. If anyone tries to tell you differently in either direction, be very skeptical. Dna puts to rest that any of the culture, civilization or peoples of the book of mormon ever existed. The book of mormon and the new world dna deseret book. Scientists theorize that in an era that predated book of. As dna tests and sequencing has become more common critics of the book of mormon have pointed out that if there really was a group of people that traveled to the americas from the middle east west asia then there should be some dna evidence of that found in the modern descendants of those people. 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. 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. Dna evidence proves book of mormon claims about ancient. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormon by rich deem introduction.
Its not all neat and orderly, as previous generations of latterday saints assumed, or as we would like. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon to be false. Native americans, dna, and the mormon churchsalt lake city. Nov 06, 2006 now the same dna evidence used in courts of law can credibly speak to the validity of the book of mormon, which serves as the foundation of the mormon religion. New scientific support for the truthfulness of the book of mormon. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may.
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. 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. Mormon scientist jeff lindsay wrote, for the book of mormon, it now appears that a nineteenthcentury assumption that many leaders and members of the church made about the text is incorrect. Smithsonian institution statement on the book of mormon. Some of you may be interested in my responses so i have posted these below. Jan 21, 2016 a youtube clip entitled dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence is causing a stir among mormons as it has appeared on websites such as, ldsliving, prepare to serve youtube site and lds smile. Simon southerton during my trip behind the zion curtain i became more familiar with the dominant lines of defense in response to the dna evidence challenging the book of mormon. Sep 10, 2016 dna marker x2aj is probably the greatest dna evidence for the book of mormon thus far. Related topics including the book of mormon and dna. In summary, dna evidence and the book of mormon is long overdue. If the book of mormon is false, joseph smith was not a prophet. The book of mormon and the origin of native americans from.
X2aj is not found in north america but its importance to native american dna is virtually unknown. 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. Updates on dna and the book of mormonits been a few years since i talked about dna and the book of mormon. 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. Before dna evidence was found the mormon church even produced a filmstrip, which was shown by their missionaries in many countries, called ancient america speaks, where it presented what the rest of the world identifies as inca and mayan ruins, as ruins of the book of mormon peoples. 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. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon.