The research into Native American DNA conclusively demonstrates that the ancestors of American Indians migrated from Asia, not the Middle East. This has profound implications for the claims of the Book of Mormon. For decades, the Book of Mormon described Lamanites as the “principal ancestors” of American Indians—a key narrative aligning with Joseph Smith’s teachings that Native Americans were descendants of ancient Israelites. However, genetic studies have thoroughly debunked this claim, revealing that Native American populations share no genetic markers with Middle Eastern peoples. Instead, their ancestry is firmly rooted in Asia, particularly Siberia and surrounding regions.
DNA Evidence conclusively shows that American Indians come from Asia and not the Middle East. This discovery led to the Book of Mormon introduction being altered to say that Lamanites are among the ancestors of the American Indians, rather than saying they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians as it said previously.
Alteration of the Book of Mormon Introduction
In response to this scientific evidence, the LDS Church made a subtle yet significant change to the introduction of the Book of Mormon. Originally, the text stated that Lamanites were the “principal ancestors” of the American Indians. In 2006, the introduction was quietly altered to read that Lamanites are “among the ancestors” of the American Indians. This shift acknowledges the scientific findings without directly confronting the theological and historical implications of the Book of Mormon’s narrative. The change represents an attempt to harmonize the text with evidence that contradicts its earlier claims.
After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.
Book of Mormon, Introduction (1981)
After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.
Book of Mormon, Introduction (2004)
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/introduction
Implications of the Change
Even though the Introduction was not included in the Book of Mormon until 1981, this change signifies a significant reduction in the claims of the church.
The introduction to the Book of Mormon was not a part of the original plates; it was first published in the 1981 edition of the Book of Mormon. It introduces the Book of Mormon to the modern reader by providing background information and a description of the book.
Institute Book of Mormon Teacher Resource Manual, The Introduction to the Book of Mormon
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/book-of-mormon-teacher-resource-manual/the-introduction-to-the-book-of-mormon
Doctrinal Reinterpretation
The revision signals a shift away from the church’s longstanding interpretation of the Book of Mormon as a literal history of all Native Americans. This creates a ripple effect on doctrines tied to the Lamanites, such as prophetic claims about their “promised blessings” or missionary efforts specifically targeted at Native American populations.
Erosion of Foundational Claims
The Book of Mormon’s historicity has always been central to its authenticity as scripture. By moving from a definitive claim (“principal ancestors”) to a vague suggestion (“among the ancestors”), the church implicitly acknowledges the problematic nature of the book’s historical assertions. This raises broader questions about its origins and the reliability of Joseph Smith’s revelations.
Transparency Concerns
The quiet nature of the change has led some members and critics to accuse the church of lacking transparency. The alteration was not widely announced or explained, leaving many members unaware of the implications and the reasons behind it. This contrasts sharply with the church’s claim to embrace truth “wherever it might be found.”
Faith Crisis for Some Members
The contradiction between scientific reality and scriptural claims can trigger a faith crisis for members who discover this change alongside the DNA evidence. Many faithful Latter-day Saints have relied on the Book of Mormon’s historicity as a cornerstone of their belief — it is touted as THE keystone of the religion. Confronting evidence that undermines its literal truth often leads to difficult questions about the reliability of other church teachings.
This evidence has given so many members pause that the church has produced a Gospel Topic Essay detailing DNA studies and the peoples of the Book of Mormon. They state the facts that Native Americans carry Asian DNA. The essay then includes multiple apologist-based genetic discussions and excuses as to why this may be.
The majority of Native Americans carry largely Asian DNA. Scientists theorize that in an era that predated Book of Mormon accounts, a relatively small group of people migrated from northeast Asia to the Americas by way of a land bridge that connected Siberia to Alaska. These people, scientists say, spread rapidly to fill North and South America and were likely the primary ancestors of modern American Indians…
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. Nothing is known about the DNA of Book of Mormon peoples.
Gospel Topic Essay, Book of Mormon and DNA Studies
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/book-of-mormon-and-dna-studies
Part of the defense is that “nothing is known about the DNA of Book of Mormon peoples,” which is true. This is like saying that nothing is known about the DNA of Unicorns, so obviously we can’t analyze their DNA compared to Tapirs. This is not defending the story of Unicorns though, it only magnifies the complete absence of evidence that they ever existed.
Do Lamanites need to have existed in order for the Book of Mormon to be true? Do the people in the Book of Mormon need to be real and historic individuals? What does it mean for the Book of Mormon to be True? Is the church moving away from a historical requirement for the Book of Mormon? It has moved away from a “written by the hand of Abraham” narrative for the Book of Abraham, and pushes more that it is inspired, will the same happen to the Book of Mormon? Will they begin to emphasize the scripture as simply inspired words of fiction for our day rather than literal writings from ancient prophets for our day literally translated from Gold Plates by Joseph Smith with a seer stone in his hat? Church leaders seem to be paving the way for this reinterpretation and Bednar even recently stated that the Book of Mormon is not primarily a historical record.
The DNA evidence and the subsequent change to the Book of Mormon introduction highlight a broader pattern within the LDS Church: the tendency to adapt or reinterpret teachings in the face of external challenges without openly addressing the underlying issues. This reactive approach raises concerns about the church’s willingness to engage with truth-seeking in a forthright manner. By reframing the narrative rather than directly addressing the dissonance, the church risks further alienating members who value intellectual honesty and evidence-based belief systems. The Salt Lake Tribune published an article stating this when the Book of Mormon Introduction change was introduced.
The LDS Church has changed a single word in its introduction to the Book of Mormon, a change observers say has serious implications for commonly held LDS beliefs about the ancestry of American Indians…
The book’s current introduction, added by the late LDS apostle, Bruce R. McConkie in 1981, includes this statement: “After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.”
The new version, seen first in Doubleday’s revised edition, reads, “After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.” …
Many Mormons, including several church presidents, have taught that the Americas were largely inhabited by Book of Mormon peoples. In 1971, Church President Spencer W. Kimball said that Lehi, the family patriarch, was “the ancestor of all of the Indian and Mestizo tribes in North and South and Central America and in the islands of the sea.”
After testing the DNA of more than 12,000 Indians, though, most researchers have concluded that the continent’s early inhabitants came from Asia across the Bering Strait.
With this change, the LDS Church is “conceding that mainstream scientific theories about the colonization of the Americas have significant elements of truth in them,” said Simon Southerton, a former Mormon and author of Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA and the Mormon Church.
“DNA has revealed very clearly how closely related American Indians are to their Siberian ancestors, ” Southerton said in an e-mail from his home in Canberra, Australia. “The Lamanites are invisible, not principal ancestors.”
Single word change in Book of Mormon speaks volumes, Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune 11/08/2007
https://web.archive.org/web/20071110071540/http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_7403990
Simon Southerton, who has created a profile on this site states in his own words:
I resigned from the LDS Church in 1998, while serving as a bishop, after encountering molecular genetics research that convinced me that American Indians are not related to Israelites. This seriously challenged my LDS belief that the Lamanites are among the ancestors of the American Indians. To remain in the church I had to choose one of the following three options. 1. Reject the science, 2. Completely change how I interpreted the Book of Mormon by accepting revisionist apologetic scholarship and at the same time reject countless prophetic statements concerning the Book of Mormon or, 3. Keep my doubts to myself and stop thinking.
Neither of these alternatives was palatable to me. I was prepared to have faith in the absence of evidence, but I could not ignore scientific facts or accept frantic LDS apologetics in order to maintain my belief.
Simon Southerton, Why I left
For those grappling with these revelations, sharing your story of navigating this tension can provide clarity and solidarity for others in similar positions. Visit wasmormon.org to share your journey and shed light on the complexities of seeking truth within and beyond the church.
More reading:
- Church and its Inoculation Approach to Addressing Historical Details
- Is the Book of Mormon Historical? True? Does it Matter?
- Changing The Narrative –Reconstructing Mormon History
- Truth and History are Anti-Mormon
- Mormon Truth Claims Crumble With Changing Church History Narrative
- Simon Southerton
- Simon Southerton Was a Mormon, an Ex-Mormon Profile Spotlight
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/introduction?lang=eng
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/book-of-mormon-teacher-resource-manual/the-introduction-to-the-book-of-mormon
- https://juvenileinstructor.org/change-in-book-of-mormon-introduction/