Question for Mormons?

Question

What do you think about the DNA thing?

I recently saw an article about new DNA evidence that will supposedly disprove the Book Of Mormon.
Do any of you have any takes on that?

Hey Foto there are no "wrong" answers to my questions.
I am not Mormon but I still respect you and your beliefs.

Answer 1

Oh, DNA doesn't disprove the Book of Mormon. It's already been disproven because it talks about horses. And elephants. And honeybees. And EVERYONE knows that they didn't exist in America before the coming of the Europeans...

My take....I believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. I do not see in any way that it contradicts the Bible. It testifies of Jesus Christ. It is a model of the history of mankind. It provides both hope and censure, showing us that God will forgive if we come unto Him.

I don't know who these "scientists" are, what their agenda is, or who is paying their salaries. I do know that there has to be a salary, an identity and an agenda. I also know that DNA changes...if mankind came from Adam and Eve, how do we explain the differing races of mankind. Keep in mind that the family of Lehi would have left Jerusalem some 2600 years ago, and a lot of changes have occured in Jerusalem since then.

I will continue to believe the Book of Mormon, despite the "proof" of science.

Now give me my thumbs down because that was certainly the wrong answer, wasn't it?

Answer 2

According to the Book of Mormon, Lehi (who descended from Manasseh) and his family traveled from Jerusalem to the Western Hemisphere. Also according to the Book of Mormon, they weren't the only ones who traveled to the Western Hemisphere from other lands. There are a handful of individuals mentioned in the Book of Mormon, whose background we know nothing about. Plus, the Book of Mormon does not preclude the possibility that additional people could have moved to the Western Hemisphere, without being recognized by the writers of the Book of Mormon. After all, it is more of a religious text than a historical record; its writers were mostly concerned with recording things pertaining to the gospel.

Therefore, with all of this information taken into consideration, there is no reason to believe that "DNA evidence" will carry any weight in the effort to disprove Mormonism. In order for this DNA evidence to disprove Mormonism, you would basically have to make the assumption that all Native Americans descended from Lehi (an assumption which is not supported by the Book of Mormon), and that no significant alterations in the DNA occurred among all the descendants of Israel.

Answer 3

Not much. It makes sense to me for many reasons.
1. There Book of Mormon tells about at least two other groups, and it never says there weren't others, so it is very likely that there were more groups in America.
2. The skin of the Lamanites became dark once they cam to America. It is likely that this came from having children with other people.
3. Lehi and his family traveled east out of Jerusalem for quite some time (they were out in the wilderness for 8 years) before reaching setting sail. It is likely they passed through Asia. This ties in with number 2 in some aspects.

Since there is no way to know exactly what happened and the such and there is just as much evidence for as there is against the Book of Mormon, I really on my testimony that I have gained through the Holy Ghost and on my faith.

I am assuming that this DNA evidence is that which has been around for a while and was taught in a purely academic manner (without mention of the Book of Mormon at all) in one of my classes at the University of Utah. This evidence is that the mytochondral DNA (which is passed by the mother) of Native Americans is most similar to that of East Asians.

Answer 4

First the Jaredites came...they were all killed.

Then Lehi came...and in his tribe they accepted non-Jews into their community...so would his genes be purely Jewish? No.

Then the Mulek party came...

There are only 34 "DNA contributors" in the BoM then, it would be safe to assume there were some others...so lets just say 50 people total...

Most of them were killed off...so that takes it back down to the 20s-30s...

Do you think that in a few thousand years, those 20-30 people's DNA would really stand out in the millions of Native Americans? Also, how do we know that those descendants of the people were killed off a few hundred years ago in the small pox and other disease outbreaks?

There is no way to prove, or disprove the BoM there are too many "what ifs" that can be put into it.

Answer 5

Which DNA evidence are you talking about? The one that points to a more Oriental origin instead of the supposed middle East origins? If that is it case, it doesn't prove it wrong, just that there were other people on the continent before the time of the BoM.


Does this concern me? Not really. I always thought that there were probably other people here to begin with, seeing as the world is so big and people generally only traveled a short distance away from home. It is very probable and possible that there were other people here. Doesn't bother me at all.

Answer 6

I am a firm believer in Science. I am also disgusted by "Bad Science" such as when the dog was feed more than 50% of it's body weight in Chocolate in order to "prove" Chocolate was bad for dogs.

Genome mapping is still in it's infancy.

My favourite quote comes not from Scripture but from Albert Eienstien. "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the universe.

Answer 7

DNA experts will tell you that DNA can't prove or disprove the Book of Mormon.

Answer 8

I've spent approximately 40 years in bishoprics, top councils, and clerk positions, and I've noticeable a quantity of folks go away the Church. I've sat on a quantity of disciplinary councils. None of them left the Church due to the fact of "proof" towards the Church. There are a few who simply regularly go with the flow away into inaction. Sometimes it's due to the fact of a lack of religion, triggered by means of doubts brought about by means of some thing they have got learn. One of my brothers used to be like that, despite the fact that he has considering that come again to Church. He did not wish to inform me approximately his doubts due to the fact he had turn out to be satisfied that there used to be no reply to his doubts, and he did not wish to burden me along with his doubts. It is just too dangerous he did not speak to me, due to the fact there may be consistently an reply. Part of his quandary even though used to be that he used to be watching for a cause to not cross on a venture, and "blindly" comply with the instance of his older brothers. It used to be partially a pleasure predicament. I have a concept approximately folks who go away the Church and declare it used to be due to the fact of proof. They fall into 3 agencies. (one million) Some are truthfully harassed by means of the arguments of guys. (two) Some appear for proof the Church isn't real, however deep down they understand the truly cause used to be they had been angry or they felt responsible approximately their sins. (three) And others do not appreciate their possess reasons. In a psychology magnificence I as soon as took I heard of an exciting scan related to this 3rd organization. A individual in one more psychology magnificence used to be hypnotized and given a publish-hypnotic idea. The hypnotized pupil used to be informed that after the trainer coughed the pupil could rise up from his seat and open the window to the school room. He would not do not forget whatever he used to be informed whilst hypnotized. He used to be then wake up from his hypnotic trance and informed to return to his seat. The pupil remembered not anything of what he used to be informed even as hypnotized. The trainer after a couple of mins coughed, and the pupil received up and opened the window. Now here's the factor of this tale. When requested why he opened the window his mind instantly synthetic a cause. He stated he used to be scorching, and unusually ample his frame proved it by means of getting crimson and sweaty.

Answer 9

Well for me it's simple. The remaining people from that era were the ones that were physically changed. They were changed to separate them from their brethren. To me it just makes sense that in order for the appearance to be changed, and the appearance of all their offspring, their genetic code had to be changed. That is just a small explanation of what I think.

Answer 10

I don't dwell on it. There were people in the americas when Nephi got here, and maybe all their descendants bloodlines faded out. It happens.