Did the LDS Church Get the Lamanites Wrong?
For more than 170 years, LDS prophets and apostles taught that Native Americans—and, at various times, Polynesians and other Indigenous peoples—were descendants of ancient Israelites who migrated to the Americas around 600 BC.
But what happens when those claims are compared with modern DNA research?
In this video, we examine the long history of LDS teachings about the Lamanites, including statements from Joseph Smith-era leaders, Brigham Young, Spencer W. Kimball, and other prominent LDS authorities. We also look at the Book of Mormon's own claims about the origins of the peoples of the Americas.
Then we examine what modern genetics, archaeology, and anthropology tell us about the peopling of the Americas—and why researchers have found no genetic evidence supporting a significant ancient Israelite migration to the Americas.
We also look at the LDS Church's 2006 change to the Book of Mormon introduction, which changed the description of the Lamanites from being "the principal ancestors of the American Indians" to being "among the ancestors of the American Indians."
Finally, we'll examine some of the major apologetic responses to the DNA problem, including genetic drift, population bottlenecks, and the argument that Book of Mormon peoples may have been only a tiny part of the existing population.
Was this simply a clarification of doctrine—or a quiet retreat from a teaching that had been promoted for generations?
This video examines the historical record and the scientific evidence so you can decide for yourself.
Topics covered:
* The Book of Mormon and Native American origins
* The Lamanites and the 600 BC migration
* LDS prophets and apostles on Native American ancestry
* Spencer W. Kimball's teachings about the Lamanites
* DNA evidence and Native American ancestry
* The Beringian migration model
* Haplogroup X2a and the proposed Israelite connection
* The LDS Church's 2006 Book of Mormon introduction change
* The 2014 LDS Gospel Topics Essay on DNA and the Book of Mormon
* Genetic drift, bottleneck effects, and other apologetic arguments
* The historical claims surrounding the Lamanites
The question isn't whether faith can survive without DNA evidence. The question is whether the historical claims made by LDS leaders are consistent with what we now know about the origins of the peoples of the Americas.
#Mormonism #LDS #BookOfMormon #DNA #Lamanites #ExMormon #MormonHistory #NativeAmericans #JosephSmith
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