A house divided book of mormon apologetics in the 21st. Apr 20, 2009 most of you believe that the book of mormon occurred in central america, right. Nov 06, 2006 the book of mormon teaches that these israelites are the principal ancestors of modernday native americans. 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. I read ardis recent report on her gospel doctrine introducing the book of mormon you should too.
Many lds academics and theologians are now promoting a limited geography theory. The book of mormon and the origin of native americans from a. Book of mormon apologetics in the 21st century simons dna. The limited geography model of the book of mormon supports this position.
Most of you believe that the book of mormon occurred in central america, right. Related topics including the book of mormon and dna. The dna challenge to the book of mormon main street. The book of mormon references many other inhabitants in america see footnote 1. In their hour of need church leaders have turned to lds evolutionary biologists to help defend the. One of his followers recently claimed on the mormon evidence facebook page that the native american x lineage is only found in one other. The book of mormon text refers to the language it is written in as reformed egyptian. Articles which do not invoke any type of limited geography in their discussion include. This page is an appendix to dna and the book of mormon. Its been over a year since someone posted something on book of mormon geography, so i think its about time.
The book of mormon claims that native americans are principally descended from a people group called lamanites, who are of israelite origin. Mar 15, 2015 anyone who disagrees with the content of this video, didnt watch it. The documentary is a must see for all those who view the book of mormon as an accurate history of the native american indians. Book of mormon geography, archives edition by common. What has science found about dna of book of mormon people. Did joseph smith know the geography of the book of mormon. There is generally no support amongst mainstream historians and archaeologists for.
The basic premise of the research engaged in by the author, rod meldrum, was that there was sufficient evidence in the book of mormon and from the prophet jos smith jr. The x lineage occurs at its highest frequency in north american tribes, and meldrum is convinced it originated in israel. 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. Perego, the book of mormon and the origin of native americans from a maternally inherited dna standpoint, in no weapon shall prosper. Dna evidence of the book of mormon in north america, linking native americans to the jewish population in the middle east. Dna research, however, indicates that native americans are from the region of asia around mongolia. Nothing is known about the dna of book of mormon peoples, and even if. Hi, i just finished watching a dvd titled dna evidence for book of mormon geography. The book of mormon, one of the four books of scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints see standard works, is an account of three groups of people. The book of mormon and the new world dna deseret book. The book of mormon and the origin of native americans from.
While the church has pinned its hopes on the work of limited geography apologetics, the essay makes no mention of geography at all. Attempts to resolve conflicts between the book of mormon and dna findings. The fact that near eastern dna cant be identified among modern native groups in america doesnt prove that lehi and his descendants did not live in america anciently. Mormon revisionists today believe that moroni went from one hill cumorah to the next to bury the plates. Older lds interpretations of the book of mormon implied that north american natives are all descendents of jews. Despite the translation of egyptian and numerous american indian languages, reformed egyptian remains unknown. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube. The dna challenge to the book of mormon main street church. The lds church released an essay on their website titled book of mormon and dna studies. 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.
In 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. As the modern lds church tries to shore up belief in the prophet joseph smith and his special powers of translation, it continues to try to argue for something more than a fictional narrative for the book of mormon. Generations of mormons grew up with the notion that american indians are descended from a lost tribe from the house of israel, offspring of a book of mormon figure named lehi, who left jerusalem and sailed to the americas around 600 b. But no entity outside of the mormon church refers to reformed egyptian as a real, written language. Apr 30, 2014 the book of mormon references many other inhabitants in america see footnote 1.
Sep 08, 2016 response to the essay book of mormon and dna studies in the rest of this article, we will comment on specific statements in the essay book of mormon and dna studies pertaining to what it says about the science of dna research as it applies to the issues raised by the book of mormon. It is conceivable that much of the dna of book of mormon peoples did not survive for the same reason. New scientific support for the truthfulness of the book of mormon. Native americans, dna and the mormon church, was published a year ago by salt lakebased signature books, a publishing house for western and mormon studies. The journal was a venue for new scholarship from a faithful lds perspective about book of mormon geography old world and new world, literary structures, name meanings, ongoing research, and other topics. Well documented facts, and he covered so many different aspects of evidence to back up his video presentation, aside from the compelling dna evidence, he used weather, animal migration, mapping, rivers, water bodies, descriptions from the book of mormon and matched them to the local geography. 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. 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 scriptural and literal history. Reviews of dna evidence for book of mormon geography. We at book of mormon christian believe that if you take the record alone without any alleged statements by joseph smith, the truth will speak very loud and very clear. Genetics and the book of mormon religionwiki fandom. Continuing studies provide new insights, and some challenge previous conclusions. In recent years, this theory, which challenges the traditional paradigm of central america as a primary location for book of mormon geography, has become a movement among some latter day saints.
Rod meldrum and book of mormon dna byu scholarsarchive. Apr 15, 2008 hi, i just finished watching a dvd titled dna evidence for book of mormon geography. Hence, moroni had to carry the plates from central america to new york. Kristen moulton, book of mormon geography stirring controversy, salt lake. That mission is invoked because the core of rod meldrums presentation is not book of mormon geography or dna.
Church statement dismisses dna challenges to book of mormon more than a year after dna evidence was first used to chal lenge the notion that native americans are descended from book of mormon peoples who migrated from the middle east. Appendix from the book a promised land, the land of promise located at. The book of mormon geography and map with dna evidence and the location of lands and cities such as zarahemla, cumorah, the narrow neck, mexico, caribbean sea, american indians, and true evidence are all here. I argue that dna testing challenges some common faulty assumptions some people have made about. Downloads book of mormon evidence the book of mormon geography. Sadly, all other book of mormon believing denominations are following the lead of the lds church and believe in a mesoamerican model as well. 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. A phylogenetic perspective, journal of book of mormon studies 121 2003. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city, deseret book, 1985. Salt lake city plant geneticist simon southerton was a mormon bishop in brisbane, australia, when he woke up the morning of aug. Dna research, however, indicates that native americans are. Hemispheric geography theory lds have traditionally interpreted the text hemispherically and assumed a blank continent.
As stated in this book, this does not mean that descendants of book of mormon peoples did not eventually migrate to other parts of the hemisphere and the world during or. In 1977, long before the advent of dna population studies. It used established dna data to rebut book of mormon teachings that ancient american inhabitants were descendants of israelite patriarch lehi. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. 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. I argue that dna testing challenges some common faulty assumptions some people have made about the book of mormon, but does not attack the text itself. Book of mormondna evidencegeography issues fairmormon. Dna essay exposes mormon doublethink simons dna musings.
Science challenges mormon beliefs religion news blog. I have previously commented on the scientific content of the dna essay on my blog, but this essay raises another important issue. Miller author matthew roper when the book of mormon first appeared, skeptics said that references to horses, asses, elephants, and other animals such as swine and cows were out of place. A house divided book of mormon apologetics in the 21st century. If the findings and the conclusions of the research are correct, then the entire mormon belief system is based on a lie. In 1991, john sorensen of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events.
He received his bs from weber state university, his ma from brigham young university, and his phd from the university of. Jul 24, 2004 dna research contradicts religions teachings on the origin of american indians. Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and cultural evidence. The journal, along with farms, operated from the assumption that the book of mormon was historically ancient and divine scripture. 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. The book of mormon, the founding document of the latter day saint movement and one of the. This concept of two cumorahs should not be taught as official church doctrine. The understanding of joseph smith, and, traditionally, of mormons in general, is that the book of mormon indicates that the lamanites, descended from lehi, are a remnant of the house of israel and were the principal ancestors of the american indians. Older lds interpretations of the book of mormon implied that north american natives are all descendents of jews who emigrated from the middle east. We at book of mormon christian believe that if you take the record alone without any alleged statements by joseph.
Church statement dismisses dna challenges to book of mormon more than a year after dna evidence was first used to challenge the notion that native americans are descended from book of mormon peoples who migrated from the middle east, lds leaders have issued a 125word press release reaffirming the book of mormons historicity and dismissing. Dna strands in the book of mormon sunstone magazine. Thus, after the lamanites destroyed all the nephites there would no longer be any full israelite dna in south america his book of mormon geography model. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence general. Reviews of dna evidence for book of mormon geography fairmormon. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon matters. Simon southerton submitted to us as to why he left mormonism due to dna evidence is at whyleft125.
Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. A radically different book of mormon geography theory. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 2011, 171217. Given the uncertainty in the genetic origins of the groups mentioned in the book of mormon, one cannot accurately claim that genetic evidence has somehow disproved the book of mormon see my article, why should we expect to find jewish dna in native americans. The arguments claiming that near eastern dna is not found in the americas is. The book of mormon teaches that these israelites are the principal ancestors of modernday native americans. The book of mormon geography book, a promised land, the land of promise, uses the book to show mormon geography along with prophetic statements. The book is not a complete historical record of all the people who have lived in america.
In 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. Leading experts of the early americas disavow the historicity of the book of mormon narrative. The real problem is not that the dna evidence challenges the book of. New discoveries in dna research currently allow scientists to test this historical claim. Anyone who disagrees with the content of this video, didnt watch it. As stated in this book, this does not mean that descendants of book of mormon peoples did not eventually migrate to other parts of the hemisphere and the world during or following book of mormon times.
A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. Overview of the genetic challenges to the book of mormon story the genetic challenge. The book of mormon was released in march of 2003, the lds church was only beginning to wrestle with the implications of dna research that posed serious challenges to the historical validity of the book of mormon. Instead, it is a challenge to core issues of lds doctrine, belief and practice, which have been entrusted by the lord to the sole province of the leaders of the church. In early 2008 rodney meldrum published a dvd titled dna evidence for book of mormon geography. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Thousands of native americans from more than 150 tribes have been tested to determine their ancestry. Book of mormon geography, lands, map, dna true evidence.
Dna evidence for book of mormon geography miscellaneous. Dna research contradicts religions teachings on the origin of american indians. Genetic drift particularly affects mitochondrial dna and ychromosome dna, but it also leads to the loss of variation in autosomal dna. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Proponents see this new model as a way of better supporting the historical authenticity of the book of mormon. In late january 2014, the lds church responded to challenges to book of mormon historicity from dna science in an essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies. Book of mormon geography march 6, 2018 enter your password to view comments. Her section documenting the shifting language about the ancestry of native americans reminded me of a couple of relevant documents. What is at the heart of the dna challenge to the book of mormon. The typical dnabased argument against the book of mormon runs like this.
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