Their narrative is that dna evidence disqualifies the book of mormon and presents a more sound model of truth. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormonby rich deem introduction. In 2004, plant biologist simon southerton published a book that made a similar argument. Using dna to prove or disprove the book of mormons validity. In recent years, many have wondered what dna studies might contribute to understanding book of mormon origins. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormon by rich deem introduction. 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. If you want and can handle sunset to sunset, that would be the historic way to handle it have dinner earlier the night before and dinner later the next day. Most members i know time it to a meal after sacrament meeting, which might mean skipping dinner and breakfast. I wrote this post back in 2009 and thought it would be timely to repost it here today. Oxford bible church mormonism disproved by new dna evidence.
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. This is an account of the history of the peoples of the americas. Regardless of whether or not the book of mormon is true, something to consider before thinking the bom. Pdf book of mormon dna, artifacts, linguistic, cultural. Prophets who taught of christ were called from among this people for over a millennium, but eventually the people fell. Can the lemba and cohen modal haplotype be used to either prove or disprove the book of mormon. Some argue dna disproves the historicity of the book of mormon while others say it offers supporting evidence. Feb 02, 2012 the book of mormon teaches that these israelites are the principal ancestors of modernday native americans. One of the first assumptions made by critics who believed that dna disproves the book of mormon is that it is the belief of the church that all native american populations, anywhere in north or south america, were descended from the lamanites who were the remaining population after the final battles of extermination described in the book of mormon. 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. Staunch apologists of the faith deny that science disproves the faiths principal scripture. From the formermormons side, there generally was a period in their life of trying to rationalize mutually incompatible claims, and once their conclusion was reached. Rediscovering the book of mormon remnant through dna.
Dna evidence does not disprove the historical claims of the book of mormon. Some evangelical critics have latched onto the claims of dissident and exmormon scholars that modern dna evidence disproves book of mormon historicity in their effort to discredit the lds faith. Would dna analysis show as taught by the book of mormon that many american indians are descended from ancient. The book of mormon, the pearl of great price, and the doctrines and covenants all declare that the native american tribes encountered by the europeans from columbus on through to joseph smiths time were of jewish descent. 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. The videos arguing that dna disproves the book of mormon have been circulating for many years now, and he was offering his response. 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. When we examine the implications of their claims and apply the same standards. Modern dna evidence in no way disproves the traditional lds belief that book of mormon peoples represent the principal ancestors of the american indians. His attempt was to make the case that dna studies do indeed prove the validity, accuracy, and historicity of the book of mormon. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormon.
Recent research has been conducted on native american dna, studies potentially related to the book of mormon that may lend support to its claims. 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 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. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon to be false. Sep 19, 2009 last wednesday, rod meldrum visited nauvoo and gave a presentation on dna and the book of mormon. Jun 21, 2016 but right off the bat ive got a problem as i read the introductory summary. The book of mormon tells the story of a family from ancient jerusalem that crossed the ocean and colonized somewhere in the western. Jan 07, 2018 dna data is only a problem for the book of mormon is one makes unjustified and extreme assumptions about what the text requires. Aug 23, 2008 tagged book of mormon, book of mormon does not agree with mormon doctrine, book of mormon is false, church of jesus christ of later day saints, cult, cult apologetics, dna, dna proves the book of mormon is false, dna vs. The typical dnabased argument against the book of mormon runs like this.
My interest in book of mormon dna issues began several years ago when my bishop in texas asked me to help a lessactive young man who was struggling with this topic. However, recent genetic evidence shows that this claim is. The arguments claiming that near eastern dna is not found in the americas is also disproved by haplogroup x mtdna. The actual science is wildly complicated, and of course people are not going to bother reading and trying to understand all of the studies. The lds church released an essay on their website titled book of mormon and dna studies. 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. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by the mainstream.
In 2002, anthropologist thomas murphy published an essay in which he argued that dna evidence points to native americans being related to asians, and therefore this disproves the book of mormon. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence general. Critics who argue that dna analysis disproves the authenticity of the book of mormon need to demonstrate that the global colonization hypothesis is the only way to interpret the lamanite lineage history and the only hypothesis under question. Does dna disprove the book of mormon claim of native american. The book of mormon teaches that these israelites are the principal ancestors of modernday native americans. Likewise, many learned defenders of the mormon faith, including byu professors, and the lds church leaders themselves have attempted to reconcile this new dna evidence into their faith. The videos arguing that dna disproves the book of mormon have been circulating for many years. Dna evidence disproves key mormon doctrine youtube. The documentary is a must see for all those who view the book of mormon as an accurate history of the native american indians. I purchased over 50 copies of this dvd and sent them to mormon temples in the united states and abroad. Dna and the book of mormon, by cooper johnson does dna evidence refute the book of mormon. 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. Why is there no evidence of a battle at hill cumorah.
Dec 27, 2008 tell me what you think about all of this. There is still much we do not know about the genetics of ancient and modern. Among these, some have proclaimed that dna science definitively disproves the book of mormon,1 while others have declared just the opposite, arguing that there is positive dna evidence supporting the book of mormon. The church of jesus christ of latter day saints teaches that all the native american tribes are descended from a jewish family who came to these uninhabited continents in the sixth century before christ. Rediscovering the bom remnant through dna 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. He claimed the native americans were descendants of the book of mormon. In order for the dna experts theory to work, the bible must be thrown out the window alongside the book of mormon, and the history of the world must be thrown back tens of thousands of years, in order for the world to unrelate itself to the point that would fit the geneticist theories. 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. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon is false. From the former mormon s side, there generally was a period in their life of trying to rationalize mutually incompatible claims, and once their conclusion was reached. The book of mormon itself does not make that claim. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of. The book of mormon presents the evidence from dna researchers, including mormon scientists who are wrestling with the dna dilemma that now faces mormonism. Over at the salt lake tribune resident writer peggy fletcher stack has written a helpful piece summarising a larger piece on the official mormon web site addressing the question of dna and the book of mormon.
I carefully and openmindedly studied the data, and wrote a detailed article to highlight the fallacy of critics arguments. Oct 01, 2019 one of the first assumptions made by critics who believed that dna disproves the book of mormon is that it is the belief of the church that all native american populations, anywhere in north or south america, were descended from the lamanites who were the remaining population after the final battles of extermination described in the book of mormon. Perhaps it disproves what joseph smith said about it. The book of mormon provides little direct information about cultural contact. The book of mormon claims that native americans are descended from hebrews.
Jan 01, 2008 the book of mormon and dna research book. The book of mormon teaches that all native americans are descended exclusively from hebrews dna studies of native americans show that their ancient ancestry is exclusively asian, with no trace of jewish ancestry. Dna and the book of mormon book of mormon archaeological forum. In 2014, the lds church released an essay addressing this issue. Book of mormon and dna studies church of jesus christ. Evangelical protestants dont let secular geneticists saying genetic inference shows we are cousins with apes and noahs ark is a fake get in their way, but are excited to use the same genetics against the book of mormon kind of hypocritical. The presentation was interesting, if tragically unorganized and disconnected, but he made some valid points. The truth is, the book of mormon will never be proved or disproved by science, he said. 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. Ironically, some of these christian people also believe in a literal creation of life on earth according to genesis, something that i personally think is an allegorical story, not literal.
New light on dna and the book of mormon the millennial star. Dna evidence of the book of mormon in north america, linking native americans to the jewish population in the middle east. Joseph smith, prophet and translator of the book of mormon, stated. The religious bias and serious misunderstanding shown in some coverage of that story is also illustrated in recent media coverage on the allegedly embarrassing discovery in dna data that the ancient canaanites were. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube. Contradiction it is not helpful to look for contradictions by narrowing a physical issue down to a binary context. The book of mormon and the new world dna deseret book.
Related topics including the book of mormon and dna. New discoveries in dna research currently allow scientists to test this historical claim. From the believers side, even the mere denial of the historicity of the book of mormon is considered antimormonism or mormon bashing, even if no personal attacks are made. From the believers side, even the mere denial of the historicity of the book of mormon is considered antimormonism or mormonbashing, even if no personal attacks are made. Oct 21, 2017 fake science skeptics frequently appeal to science in their arguments, including this claim that modern science disproves the book of mormon claim of hebrew origins for native americans. Dna cant disprove the book of mormon because dna cant identify jews and we dont have enough information about the origins of the book of mormon people and their intermixing with other groups.
New light on dna and the book of mormon posted on january 7, 2015 by jettboy coming at the scientific community like a ton of bricks, it has been revealed that native. Mormons and mitochondrial dna by chad ressler in august 2004 simon southerton released a book entitled losing a lost tribe. They conclude, dna doesnt prove or disprove the book of mormon. Book of mormon critics attempting to use dna have not given us anything. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints affirms that the book of mormon is a volume of sacred scripture comparable to the bible.
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. 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. Does dna disprove the book of mormon claim of native. The dna truth that the mormon belief that they are related to the american indians is false. Evidence for the binary context seems selfevident and irrefutable, with no need for further explanation. Simon southerton submitted to us as to why he left mormonism due to dna evidence is at whyleft125. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. The claims of critics that dna evidence disproves traditional lds teachings about native american ancestry are based in a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of science and ignorance of history and scripture. Is there any dna evidence to support the book of mormons. If you follow mormon related news, you may have encountered the publicity about a mormon bishop who left the church because of dna evidence, or the story of a mormon scientist who has publicly taught that dna evidence disproves the book of mormon. Thousands of native americans from more than 150 tribes have been tested to determine their ancestry. Evangelical and protestant groups that have latched onto bogus claims of dissident and exmormon scholars that modern dna evidence disproves book of mormon historicity in their effort to combat the mormon threat at any cost. The book of mormon makes several scientific claims that can be tested. Dna and the book of mormon book of mormon archaeological.
The book of mormon recounts the story of small israelite groups led by lehi and mulek who were brought by the hand of the lord from ancient jerusalem to the american continent approximately 600 bc. New light on dna and the book of mormon posted on january 7, 2015 by jettboy coming at the scientific community like a ton of bricks, it has been revealed that native americans are not of exclusively eastern asian heritage. In recent decades, some people have wondered if dna might provide any insight into book of mormon origins. Feb, 2009 there are no dna sequences common to all jews and absent from all nonjews. In the book of mormon there are three meanings of the word jew including resident of jerusalem. 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. The research herein refutes the claim that dna analysis proves the book of mormon false, on the contrary it explores genetic dna evidence that may actually support the claims of the book of mormon. Dna and dating arguments do not present an exclusive challenge to lds teachings, although critics would like to paint them as such. This argument is often heard from the official lds.
Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. They stated that the book of mormon claims that new world people descend from the so called lost tribe of israel. Nothing is known about the dna of book of mormon peoples, and even if their genetic. Nov 06, 2006 the book of mormon teaches that these israelites are the principal ancestors of modernday native americans.
Oct 01, 2004 a new book casts doubts on the plausibility of a basic book of mormon claim. Although most lds scholars have claimed for several decades that the. Its not all neat and orderly, as previous generations of latterday saints assumed, or as we would like. The largest genealogical group out there is the mormon church, so fundamentally every genealogy company makes their software compatible with the churchs free familysearch site, tries to market to mormons, and at.
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