Thomas murphy should discuss some of these dna, cultural. Murphy concluded that dna research lends no support to traditional mormon beliefs about the origins of native americans and he has likened the book of mormon to inspirational fiction. This belief is now also undermined by genetic research. John dehlin june 21, 2016 best of mormon stories, book of mormon, disciplinary councils 92 comments. What makes his claims so intriguing is that he is a member of the mormon church. The applicability of dna to the book of mormon youtube. Although hebrew dna has been found in a number of specific people groups from other parts of the world, no hebrew dna has ever been found in the dna of native american indians.
Book of mormon using dna data dna studies by two investigators. Native americans, dna and the mormon church, signature books 2004. Claims in recent years by lds anthropologist thomas murphy and former lds molecular biologist simon southerton regarding the lack of. That attention has swirled around declarations made by thomas w. I also sent a copy to byu university, to farms, the mormons branch that is in charge of protecting mormon beliefs, asking how i could refute this dvd. We continue our tour of the gospel topics essays and with the essay book of mormon and dna studies. Dna and the book of mormon the traditional latterday saint position t he book of mormon recounts the story of a small israelite group led by lehi and also one headed by mulek from ancient jerusalem. The applicability of dna to the book of mormon aaron shafovaloff. According to the book, two of these groups originated from ancient israel.
While two different lds scientists have said that dna research discounts the book of mormon as an ancient, historical document, a researcher told participants saturday at the book of mormon lands conference that such claims are faulty when the details and capabilities of dna gene mapping are understood. The goal to share the lds churchs gospel topic essays and help the both the believing member and the non. Dna lamanites book of mormon genetics genealogy genesis. Richard southerton, thomas murphy, joel kramer, jeremy reyes. Book of mormondna evidenceissues identifying ancient dna. Dna and the book of mormon brigham young university. Most, but not all, mormons hold the book s connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. The ability of latterday saint scholars to repeat assertions of a limited geographic setting for the book of mormon should not be confused with actual scientific or historical evidence of an ancient origin.
To that extent, murphy and southerton are not arguing against a straw man. Edmonds community college learn and serve environmental anthropology field leaf school. Order the dvd at for more than 170 years, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has declared the book of mormon. Murphy addresses the argument, haplogroup x shows a connection between israel and american indians. While dna shows that ultimately all human populations are closely related, to date no intimate genetic link has been found between ancient israelites and indigenous americans, much less within the time frame suggested in the book of mormon.
Simon southerton 1 smith, histor y of the church, 1. 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. Dna science challenges lds history christian research. Book of mormon nuggets jeff lindsays site and the shake. The phone hasnt stopped ringing, says thomas murphy, the cultural. Genetics and the book of mormonarchive 1 wikipedia. The extant dna evidence simply confirms what scientists already knew. Murphys dna article that started this current fuss is thomas w. Anthropologist thomas murphy on the book of mormon, dna. I purchased over 50 copies of this dvd and sent them to mormon temples in the united states and abroad. A subreddit for community of christ, formerly known as rlds. Thomas murphy on anthropology and book of mormon lamanite dna pt. 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. Murphy, an anthropology professor at edmonds community college in washington state.
Mormon scientist, church clash over dna test anthropologist may be ousted for questioning teachings about native american ancestry. This is a well done and documented comparison of the two books that the two faiths are built upon. Dna claims rebutted on book of mormon deseret news. Would dna analysis show as taught by the book of mormon that many.
On the erasure of native americans from the book of mormon. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. Mormon interpretations of the scripture led to the popular belief that polynesians, likewise, descended from ancient israelite populations. If the book of mormon is false, joseph smith was not a prophet. Addressing the arguments against the dna evidence part 1. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Purely ad hominem attack that is irrelevant to genetics and the book of mormon. 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. We proclaim jesus christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace. Murphy concluded that dna research lends no support to traditional mormon beliefs about the origins of native americans and he has likened the book of. Gardner the tempest in a teapot dna studies and the book of mormon there has been a tremendous flurry of media attention over the scientific study of human genetic inheritance and the book of mormon. Wayne may book of mormon evidence in north america, the mulekites duration. Murphy set out to test a key principle of his mormon faith with the latest technology. Mauss, since the very founding of the church in 1830, mormons had believed that north american indians were lamanites, described by the book of mormon as literal israelites, the seed of abraham, who would flock to the church as lost sheep responding to the voice of the true shepherd of israel.
He goes on to say, while dna shows that ultimately all human populations are closely related, to date no intimate genetic link has been found between ancient israelites and indigenous americans, much less within the time frame suggested in the book of mormon p. Thomas murphy, anthropologist, mormon scholar, and dna researcher, acknowledges the problem that the dna evidence presents for the historical accuracy of the book of. Thomas murphy on the book of mormon, dna, his cancelled disciplinary council, and native american anthropology. There is generally no direct support amongst mainstream historians and.
Thomas murphy is an lds cultural anthropologist who has written several papers on lamanites and the book of mormon, some of which deal with the implications of dna research for mormon views of american indians. Galileo, mormon, book of mormon, dna, mtdna, genetics, native american, apache, polynesian, indian student placement program, lds family services, paternal rights, adoption, whiteness. Genetic research a galileo event for mormons by thomas. According to noted mormon sociologist and historian armand l. Attacks on the validity of the book of mormon using dna data dna studies by two investigators.
Murphy cites the works of several experts in the field of anthropology. Dna and the book of mormon record mormonism research. Nothing is known about the dna of book of mormon peoples. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. Last updated 05302011, this documents some of the interaction between book of mormon believers and skeptics relating to scientific dna research on lamanites and nephites who lds faithful believe descended from. Dna and a mesoamerican setting for the book of mormon 2003. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon to be false. Subtitled another testament of jesus christ, it recounts the story story. The book of mormon and dna studies religious tolerance. In 2002, anthropologist thomas murphy published an essay in which he argued that.
The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by. A number of investigators have used genetic and blood testing studies to show that native americans are related closely to the inhabitants of siberia. Protests erupted when the lds church initiated and then aborted an effort to excommunicate thomas murphy. If the stories in the book of mormon the corner stone of the mormon faith did not happen, if they are frontier fantasy, where does that leave the mormon faith. The dna truth that the mormon belief that they are related to the american indians is false. No genetic studies have been designed and performed to test the hypothesis that native americans were of lehite descent and that this inheritance is detectable today. Maybe rewrite and add to the thomas murphy article.
Would dna analysis show as taught by the book of mormon that. Thomas murphy, mormon anthropologist, american apocrypha, 2002, p. Whiting works at a university run and attended almost wholely by lds members. If there is no genetic marker that can identify a person as a jew, i would ask thomas murphy and other critics of the book of mormon exactly what dna evidence we should be looking for to test the hypothesis that a tiny handful of hebrew people entered the americas in 600 b. Murphy insists that the book of mormon, touted by fellow members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormons as the most correct book on earth, is incorrect when it claims that native americans are of jewish descent.
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