Book of Mormon and DNA

disputed · not applicable

The church's DNA essay acknowledges reported findings that most Native American DNA identified so far resembles eastern Asian populations, and it argues that DNA studies cannot decisively confirm or reject Book of Mormon historicity. The underlying genetics papers are not indexed here.

Needs human verification

documented fact · not applicable

Genetic studies trace the ancestry of Native Americans mainly to Asia; geneticist Simon Southerton and anthropologist Thomas Murphy argue this contradicts the traditional teaching that Lamanites were principal ancestors of Native Americans.

Needs human verification

documented fact · past practice

Church teaching once broadly identified Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples as Lamanites, including through the Indian Student Placement Program (1947-2000); the Church now uses that identification much more narrowly.

Needs human verification

Gospel Topics Essay: Book of Mormon and DNA Studies

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints · 2016

This Gospel Topics essay says the Book of Mormon describes migrations to the ancient Americas and that critics argue those migrations are incompatible with DNA studies because most Native American DNA identified so far resembles eastern Asian populations. The essay argues that DNA studies cannot decisively confirm or reject Book of Mormon historicity, and it says some arguments from defenders are also speculative. This library has not indexed the underlying population-genetics papers, so the essay's summary of the science still needs checking. A church study page associates the essay with 2016. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

Indian Student Placement Program (Church History Topics)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Event date discussed: 1947-2000

This Church History topic describes the Indian Student Placement Program, which from 1947 to 2000 placed tens of thousands of Native American Latter-day Saint students in member homes during the school year, and notes mixed experiences among participants. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

Lamanite Identity (Church History Topics)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

This Church History topic traces how early Latter-day Saints identified Native Americans and later Pacific Islanders and Latin Americans as Lamanites, and how the Church has moved away from that broad identification while still teaching the Book of Mormon's promises. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

Making Lamanites: Mormons, Native Americans, and the Indian Student Placement Program, 1947-2000

Matthew Garrett · University of Utah Press · 2016

A historian uses archives and interviews to study the Indian Student Placement Program, showing how it grew from Church teachings about Lamanites, what Native students and families experienced, and why the program ended. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

Tribal members settle abuse cases against Mormon church

Associated Press · 2018-09

The Associated Press reported in September 2018 that four Native American plaintiffs dismissed Navajo Nation court cases after confidential settlements with the Church; they said they were sexually abused as children by people connected to host families in the Indian Student Placement Program. The settlements included no admission of wrongdoing. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

Independent journalism. Reports events, allegations, and responses; not peer-reviewed scholarship and not a court finding.

Interpreter Foundation

Interpreter Foundation

The Interpreter Foundation publishes faithful-apologetic scholarship on Latter-day Saint scripture and history. It is not an official church publisher. This entry identifies the organization. It should not be cited as proof of a narrow factual claim unless a specific article is added to the library. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

Faithful-apologetic publisher. Not an official church statement.

American Apocrypha: Essays on the Book of Mormon

Dan Vogel and Brent Lee Metcalfe, eds. · Signature Books · 2002

Essays reading the Book of Mormon as a nineteenth-century text, including Thomas Murphy on DNA, David Wright on Isaiah, and Dan Vogel on the witnesses. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

CES Letter

Jeremy Runnells · cesletter.org · 2013

The CES Letter, by Jeremy Runnells, is a public critical document, first circulated as a letter to a Church Educational System director. It gathers objections about the Book of Abraham, the Book of Mormon, First Vision accounts, plural marriage, the priesthood and temple restriction, and other topics. It is critical advocacy, not a primary historical edition and not a church publication. Claims in it should be checked against the underlying documents, including the Joseph Smith Papers and the church's own essays. This library does not copy the letter. The 2013 date is the commonly cited origin year and still needs confirmation. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

Critical advocacy. Not a primary source.

CES Letter: Book of Mormon

Jeremy Runnells · CES Letter

The Book of Mormon section of the CES Letter lists the author's main objections to Book of Mormon historicity: passages that copy the 1769 King James Bible including its italicized words and translation errors, Isaiah chapters that scholars date after Lehi left Jerusalem, DNA evidence pointing to Asian origins for Native Americans, anachronisms such as horses, steel, and silk, the lack of archaeological confirmation, and parallels to earlier books such as View of the Hebrews and The Late War. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

Critical advocacy. Argues against Church truth claims. Not peer-reviewed and not an official Church source.

Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church

Simon G. Southerton · Signature Books · 2004

Southerton, a molecular biologist and former bishop, reviews genetic studies showing Native American ancestry traces to Asia, not ancient Israel, and argues this contradicts long-taught Church claims about Lamanite origins. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

MormonThink: Conflicts with Science and Mormonism

MormonThink · MormonThink

MormonThink's science page lists areas where critics see conflict between Church teachings and science, including evolution, the age of the earth, the flood, and Native American DNA. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification

Critical website. Presents critic and apologist views but is written to raise problems with Church claims. Not peer-reviewed.

Simply Implausible: DNA and a Mesoamerican Setting for the Book of Mormon

Thomas W. Murphy · Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought · 2003

Anthropologist Thomas Murphy argues that genetic data give no support for Israelite ancestry in Mesoamerica and that the limited-geography theory does not rescue Book of Mormon historicity. Summary, not a quotation.

Summary, not a quotation · needs human verification