Author brings case for book of mormon geography to midland. Mormon remnant through dna is his effort to present that evidence. The controversy arises from dna studies of native american peoples. The lds, better known as mormons, believe the book of mormon. Rod meldrum, dna evidence and the book of mormon, 2008 mound builder platform pipe depicting in effigy, a carolina paroquet a north american species of bird believed to be extinct.
Produced by fair, a nonprofit organization that sponsors conferences and websites in defence of the church, this video dispells what for some is a. Joseph smith, prophet and translator of the book of mormon, stated. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. 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. Rod meldrum, author and dna reseacher, gives a talk tuesday evening. 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. 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.
The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. If the findings and the conclusions of the research are correct, then the entire mormon belief system is based on a lie. Understanding the scientific evidence this page supports my main mormon answers page on dna evidence and the book of mormon. However, this attack ignores several key points, among which is the fact that the book of mormon states. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. I have watched more than 20 hours of wayne may book of mormon lecture videos and conversed with both wayne may and rod meldrum in person. 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. I couldnt possibly cover every book of mormon correlation in one sitting. 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. Sjodahl note that weapons of steel were even found in ancient tombs in egypt.
The documentary is a must see for all those who view the book of mormon as an accurate history of the native american indians. 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. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by the mainstream. In this episode, three geneticists respond to the lds essay book of mormon and dna studies, and to apologist michael ashs article entitled the dna challenge to the book of mormon that fizzled.
When talking to mormons, expect to hear them say, i know the book. The book uses genetic evidence to examine the historical accuracy of the. 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. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints affirms that the book of mormon is a volume of sacred scripture comparable to the bible. Anyone who disagrees with the content of this video, didnt watch it. I didnt need evidence since i already knew the book of mormon. Related topics including the book of mormon and dna. The timing of initial entry into the americas is uncertain. 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 firm foundation foundation for indigenous research and mormonism is an organization dedicated to showing forth evidence for the book of mormon in order to provide lds church members with wellresearched information enabling them to powerfully and respectfully defend its historicity and thus its truthfulness with the ultimate goal of bringing. He addressed a book of mormon lands conference on 2007oct20 in salt lake city, ut. Dna evidence does not support the testimony of the lds church mormon doctrine. Atop it a fence of timbers was planted and bound together with vines. The arguments claiming that near eastern dna is not.
According to the book, two of these groups originated from ancient israel. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon is false. Simon southerton completed a phd in plant science at the university of. This must mean that amerindians are not descended from book of mormon peoples, and the book of mormon is false. Archaeology itself can be divided and subdivided into numerous disciplines. Rather, he calls us to prove all things 1 thessalonians 5. Archaeological and historical evidence dna and the book. Dna and the book of mormon record mormonism research ministry. 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. There is generally no direct support amongst mainstream historians and archaeologists for the. The book of mormon 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. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence that proves the book of mormon.
Ancient dna reveals staying power of early people of the andes. The introduction to the book of mormon states that the book is holy scripture comparable to the bible and that it is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas. Simon southerton submitted to us as to why he left mormonism due to dna evidence is at whyleft125. Archaeological and historical evidence dna and the book of. As always, i invite you to study the issues, evaluate what we know and what we dont know, and pray for the guidance. But ferguson, who had grown up in a mormon family in idaho, eagerly took such. Gondwana provides dna testing services to tree breeders to enable them. The fact is proven with final and irrefutable evidence that joseph smith wrote the fictitious tale in the early 19th century and founded the lds church what he falsely claimed was revelation from god. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence general. Nov 06, 2006 the book of mormon teaches that these israelites are the principal ancestors of modernday native americans. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. To date there are no dna studies that link any native american group with west eurasia.
Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Thereafter, the books teachings on israelites became a focus for proselyting work among the maori. Dna samples taken from modern american indians show no connection to the dna of the peoples of the middle east. Attacks on the validity of the book of mormon using dna data support for the book of mormon by mormon academics. Hagoth and the polynesians religious studies center.
Devout mormon, daniel peterson, a professor of asian and near eastern languages at brigham young university, said. Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. Truth shall spring forth out of the earth, journal of book of mormon studies, vol. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormon by rich deem introduction. The book of mormon and the new world dna deseret book. Several authors have published works that suggest that current studies of genetic anthropology using dna evidence do not provide support for the book of mormon. Are israelites the principal ancestors of native americans. Sorenson, siberian dna, and book of mormon directions date.
This dvd delivers on its promise, and provided empirical evidence to those who will listen. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Book of mormon the list of archaeological and historical. A closer examination demonstrates that dna evidence does not discredit. The book of mormon teaches that these israelites are the principal ancestors of modernday native americans. The idea that america may have been overwhelmingly peopled by folks from northeastern asia. Dna and its implications for lds beliefs arising from the book of mormon. That very arrangement is now well documented archaeologically an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, provo, utah. The book of mormon presents the evidence from dna researchers.
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. Mormon researchers such as anthropologist thomas w. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. Jan 23, 2016 long after the book of mormon was published, they found that various combinations of iron and steel existed near jerusalem as early as 600 b. Testing of the ychromosome dna and mitochondrial dna are. Dna lamanites book of mormon genetics genealogy genesis. The book of mormon describes a ditch being dug around the protected area. Three geneticists respond to the lds essay on dna and the. 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.
Wayne may presents the supporting evidence for the heartland model, that the book of mormon nephites and jaredites lived in north america. Firetag 49 comments like many people who consider the book of mormon as scripture, i am fascinated by questions about where it has a setting in ancient historical events. 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. Our first 2020 event will be april 9, 10, and 11th at the mountain america exposition center at 9575 s state st in sandy, ut 84070 this will be the firm foundation expo featuring the 25th international book of mormon evidence conference. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. The volume has long invited scrutiny from all branches of science. Southerton is an australian plant geneticist and cofounder of gondwana genomics, an australian technology firm specialising in markerassisted selection for tree breeding.
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. Simon is married to jane who is an english teacherlibrarian. His library research spurred his first hunt for archaeological evidence, in campeche in 1948. The lds church released an essay on their website titled book of mormon and dna studies. If the book of mormon is false, joseph smith was not a prophet. 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.
While mormon scholars admit valid challenges to mormonism from archaeology and the book of abraham, they say the evidences of mormonisms truthfulness is the book of mormon itself, gods confirmation in your spirit, and the number of changed lives. The evidence assembled to date suggests that the majority of native americans carry largely asian dna. Evidence for nephis bountiful, journal of book of mormon studies, 71 1998. In this post i wanted to emphasize physical evidencesstuff you can touch, see, feel. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. The conference is an annual event sponsored by the book of mormon archeological forum. Mar 26, 2016 the material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. New discoveries in dna research currently allow scientists to test this historical claim. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. As francis kirkham, an lds missionary to the maori in the 1890s remembered, we would go to them, hold up a copy of the book of mormon and tell them that we had a. Today we will talk about some common criticisms of the book of mormon around archaeological evidence that some say proves or disproves the truthfulness of the book of mormon. New scientific support for the truthfulness of the book of mormon. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon to be false.
This is another in my series of article on challenging questions that missionaries will likely face. The scientific fact that native american dna evidence does not in any way support the literal history of the book of mormon destroys the credibility of the book of mormon. Rod meldrum and book of mormon dna byu scholarsarchive. I suggest that if we are serious about assessing whether what the book of mormon teaches is consistent with dna evidence, we must assess it based on. Reviews of dna evidence for book of mormon geography fairmormon. 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.
In early 2008 rodney meldrum published a dvd titled dna evidence for book of mormon geography. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Dna evidence and the book of mormon conclusive proof that. Archaeological evidence of the book of mormon latterday. 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.
The dvd is based upon a popular presentation given in a number of fireside. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. 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 makes several scientific claims that can be tested. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube. The criticism of the mormon church is the following. Brant gardner is a software consultant with training in mesoamerican studies and anthropology. Sorenson, siberian dna, and book of mormon directions. Subtitled another testament of jesus christ, it recounts the story story of an israelite family who immigrated to and fully populated the american continents. 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.
This new evidence, in contrast to the first, appears to provide support for the book of mormon as well as and an interesting geographic paradigm for the events therein. 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. The book of mormon tells the story of a family from ancient jerusalem that crossed the ocean and colonized somewhere in the western. Sep 16, 2015 in response to mormon apologetics in 2004 he published losing a lost tribe, which explores the origins of amerindian and polynesian dna and its implications for lds beliefs arising from the book of mormon. And since the book of mormon is touted by lds church leadership as the keystone of the lds faith, once you remove the keystone, the entire structure crumbles. 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. This site provides you with an overview of what the book of mormon claims from an archeological or historic viewpoint, and compares it to nonapologetic apologetic meaning speak to defend scientific and historical resources. Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and cultural evidence. The nhm inscription is the most important piece of geographical evidence book of mormon supporters have for their claims. 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. As francis kirkham, an lds missionary to the maori in the 1890s remembered, we would go to them, hold up a copy of the book of mormon and tell them that we had a book that told the history of their ancestors barber 1215.
Southerton is an australian plant geneticist and cofounder of gondwana genomics, an australian technology firm specialising in marker assisted selection for tree breeding. While two different lds scientists have said that dna research discounts the book of mormon as an ancient, historical document. While critics may believe that book of mormon dna testing entirely undermines mormon beliefs, it is important to realize that some underlying assumptions may have lead to faulty conclusions. Dna evidence and molecular genetics disprove the book of mormon. Dna evidence and the book of mormon conclusive proof. 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. 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. Reviews of dna evidence for book of mormon geography. The list of archeological and historical claims of the book of mormon compared to nonapologetic evidence. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where. Since 1981 this same introduction claimed that the lamanites are the principle ancestors of the american indians. Dna claims rebutted on book of mormon deseret news.
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