Mormons: DNA and BoM?

Question

I am mormon, and have been my whole life. I believe the church is true, but I have to be honest, most of the so called explanations for the DNA evidence are disturbing to me. I know I have been taught my whole life that American Indians are descendants of the Lamanites. But when this new DNA evidence came out, the church is saying that they never taught it. I thought maybe I just assumed, but upon doing some research on lds.org I found numerous places in the D&C when Joseph Smith, and God in revelation to Joseph Smith refer to the American Indians as Lamanites. I also found numerous references from Prophets and apostles who did the same. Besides the intro which was changed was written by an apostle and it kind of bothers me that the church is throwing Bruce R. McKonkie under the bus to explain why it was wrong. Wasn't it written under direction of the first presidency? I want to believe, but this is trying my faith. Other Mormons, who can you reconcile this with your faith?

Answer 1

To quote from above:

See what happens...you ask a question saying you have a doubt and the anti people jump all over it like a fly to honey. You are expecting science to define faith? Do you really think science can or ever will be able to agree with history 100% ?

Remember, the church is perfect, people aren't.

"See what you did." How dare you question the church, and in public no less. What a response. And the church is perfect, people aren't. How many times have I heard that one, and yet when something is wrong with the church, the excuse is, well it isn't perfect. If the church was perfect, such issues as this wouldn't exist.

This just shows that there is not real concern for you from your fellow Mormons. They are just mad at you for openly questioning your faith and showing everyone that not all Mormons are mindless drones who don't think for themselves. Right now there are probably several Mormons either trying to get this Question deleted, or trying to figure out who you are so they can report you to the general authorities.
I was just like you. I wanted to believe so badly, but I got tired of pretending. I suggest you continue to research your faith and not just with church sanctioned literature, because it is obvious what you will find. If your church is true, you will find nothing to disprove it, but then again you already have. I hope you continue to think for yourself, and pray you will not have as hard a time as I have. If you need advice or help from someone who has gone before email me, or go to Postmormon.org. It is a great site. I wish you well.

Answer 2

Hi!
i'm only seventeen years old and also Mormon, but i'm really going to try to help you out with this question k?
no, i really don't understand a lot about the heritage of all of the lamanites and all. I also have not heard of the Church denying teaching that.
Once I heard that It was very LIKELY that Lamanites are today's native Americans, but not that it 100% for sure. Maybe a certain group of them ONLY are. So maybe that helps, and Maybe the church "denying" that teaching is just really saying that the likelihood actually isn't right. ?? just a thought...

Also, i have learned alot about DNA testing and how it works. Although science can do MANY amazing things today, I don't believe this is something that can disprove the church's truth. It's not like they can go out and take a DNA sample of someone in the Jerusalem area today and a native American, see that they don't match and prove the church wrong! Even if they took ancient DNA samples, how could they know that they were truly from the same geneology of Lehi and the Lamanites in America??!! It just to me seems paradoxical to be so sure that this is it.

to the guy above me who's post-Mormon (who answered quoting a Mormon) and told you to find your own truth, I can see where he's coming from. yeah this can really try your faith, but can this little piece of evidence really keep you from ALL the rest of the truth you know?

This question also came s a shock to me, as I had not realized that they had evidence and that the church saying they never taught it, but if I think about what * I * believe, this is not enought to try my faith.

When you read the scriptures do you feel like it's true? i didn't for a long time, and even though I never had one of those spiritually enlightening moments, I gradually learned and felt it to be true.
no amount of science can take that feeling away from me.

GL. just pray and ask Heavenly Father help you to have the strength to either disregard this evidence, or that he can help *you* to know the truth, if nobody else.

EDIT*
oh yeah, I do know that Asians at one point came across to America, so... yeah, I think the Lamanites are just certain Native Americans today. I mean, It WAS 2000 years ago!!! there were people here before Lehi came. WE KNOW THAT. so yeah, intermarriages all the way.. we don't know which they are today. ("Native American" [Joseph Smith taught as Lamanites] can be any NATIVE american, meaning they were here before the Old world Europe etc.. NOT NECCESARILY ALL INDIANS IN GENERAL for there are many diversities within them.. I think this is where the DNA sample's screwed don't you think??) =] =]

oh and My Mom just told me there were three different groups that came to America so Problem solved! The CHURCH IS TRUE!!!

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Reconcile? what's to reconcile? I always understood that the Nephites & Lamanites [& Mulekites & Jaredites, etc] were only some of the 'other' sheep.

I personally am in a minority among church members, I think there was only 1 'hill cumorah' and it is in upstate New York. I think the ancient Mayans, Incans, etc are a separate culture from what was developed by the descendants of Nephi & Lehi.

The Book of Mormon itself talks about 3 separate groups that found this American continent. No where do I understand it to say they were the only ones to do so. Only that this is a land of promise to those who profess to follow Jesus Christ.

As I study the ancient inhabitants of this American continent, I find many indicators of an understanding of gospel principles and a belief in Christ amongst different civilizations. I also admit, I specifically look for such indicators. Others see the same things and come to different conclusions.

We are here to walk by faith. A perfect knowledge and understanding will only come after a complete trial of your faith. Do not expect to learn the mysteries of God first. The Church is True. The Book of Mormon is True. Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind. Joseph Smith is a True Prophet of God. Know these things first -- the rest becomes academic and of interest but not faith shaking.

Best wishes

Answer 4

Since everyone has dodged your question to oneside or the other, I will try and explain it simply.

When Lehi and his group arrived here Lehi dies and his family are split into two factions Nephites and Lamanites. The Lamanites after a bit rebeled against so much that God cursed them with dark skin. Let's look at the DNA has this happens. The DNA that shows Israelites DNA is literally changed to fit the new appearance of the Lamanites. So when you look at a Lamanite (which I'm a decendant of) you will not find Israelies DNA you will find DNA that can't be linked to Israel at all. Simple DNA lesson. If you have any more questions feel free to contact me.

Answer 5

The Nephites and Lamanites were of the tribe of Manasseh. They were not decendants from Judah. When they have a base DNA sample of the appropriate group, then an examination would be worth while.

I can assume that after a century or two the Nephites ended up calling every native group Laminites with out asking their genealogy. Finding the blood lines of a group that 'went native' without their base sequence would be futile.

Answer 6

In 2013 the new DNA studies came out and guess what?Still no Middle Eastern blood among Native Americans. The science and technology has advanced so much that even 20 Lehites coming here from Israel would be trackable by the DNA markers. Nothing shows. Here's a great place to visit. http://www.simonsoutherton.blogspot.com

Answer 7

You have realized something important....one prophet can cancell out another prophet. At least, according to the LDS demonstrated practice, this is how it works.

And DNA with the Indian is not the first case of "no, we never taught that". I can write a full list and go on and, but I'm not here to continue showing you the falsehoods of LDS...but rather am wanting to reach out and ask you a very important and very simple question.....because it is you that writes "I want to believe..."

1 - are you wanting to continue believing LDS is absolutely correct? (this shows it has it's own problems)
2 - are you wanting to believe Joseph Smith is 100% correct (well, your own research has shown he has said this and now the apostles are saying they never taught it)
3 - are you wanting to continue believing other teachings, such as "as man is, God once was - as God is, man shall be" and are now worried about your own deification?
or...
4 - are you just simply wanting to continue believing in God, even if it means finding out a lot of what you've been taught is wrong?

If your answer is #4, please...please write back. Email stamps are free, and I'll answer any other questions you may have.

† Travelling Prayer Warrior †

Answer 8

I speak very respectfully:

Native American DNA is related closest to Asians, not Lamanites from the Middle East. That is the human-found fact.

The only way to reconcile this with your religion is to disregard the science and adhere to whatever the Church says from time to time.

So, you may decide not to reconcile with the LDS Church (whatever you decide is none of my business), but I will say (even though I am an atheist now) that you could seek out another form of Christianity or believe in God without being religious.

What a journey your soul has come to! Take care.

Answer 9

The races have been mingled a lot over the years. So the dna could have easily become clowed and mixed.
2- I've heard rumors that the person in charge of the dna study was anti mormon, and comming at it with the angle, not to prove the church true, but to try to disprove it, it's easy for someone who doesn't like us, to lie about us and get things wrong on purpose to make us look bad.
3-They might be looking in the wrong place. You have a huge problem when trying to trace dna like that. Isreal didn't stay put in one spot from the time of 600 years before christ to the present day. They have been moved many times over the last 3000 years. And it was only in the last 50 or 60 years that they have been re established in the homeland of isreal. Durring that time it is not logical to assume that when they were in captivity their bloodline remained pure. in fact it's highly unlikely.
You take all of these points, and in a court of law where it was fair and the cards were not pre stacked in the favor of the guyz out to prove the lds church wrong, and you have a miss trial. Or the lds church wins this arguement. The guys in charge the dna study in question loose big when all the evidence is weighed.

Plus, Let me just say, The beliefs of the lds church are such that if your relying on historical evidence alone, Maybe there is enough there to prove it, maybe there is not. There is some archeological proof. but you cant base your belief on that alone, if you do, you will fall. You have got to base your belief on the one sure foundation, where on if men build, you cannot fall. That foundation is written in moroni chapter 10 verse 3 to 5. "and when ye shall recieve these things, I would exort you to ask go, in the name of christ, if these things are ture, and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in christ, God will manifest the truthfulness of these things unto you by the power of the holy ghost. And by the power of the holy ghost, ye may know the truth of all things.

God has promised the humble seeker of truth, real answers, to those who truly want to know. In the book of james in the bible we read, "if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of god, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shalll be given him.
If you will build your faith in the lds church on this foundation, a testimony given directly by god to your soul. You will not be moved, regardless of whatever evidence anyone presents you to the contrary. You must trust god, not man. Trust what he gives you in your heart. and you can not go wrong.

Answer 10

With the weird name you put on and your spin on DNA I have a feeling you aren't LDS. People have populated the americas long before Lehi got here in 600 BC, that's been LDS doctrine. The last remnent of The Lamanites assimilated into the culture of the other tribes around them.
You spelled McConkie wrong too, and you never looked for answer at fairlds.org or farms.byu.edu or other sites that explain DNA and the book of Mormon.