The Book of Mormon and DNA Research: Essays from the Farms Review and the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies

This book is a compilation of essays written by LDS scholars that were previously published in `The FARMS Review' and `The Journal of Book of Mormon Studies' mostly as a response to Simon Southerton's article showing that native American DNA is mostly Asiatic. Southerton claimed that since there is not a significant amount of Jewish mitochondrial DNA in American Indians, that it was proof that the Book of Mormon is false. The book consists of 10 essays that approach the issue from various areas of expertise and point out weaknesses is the claim that the DNA data proves that the Book of Mormon is false. The first essay is by John Sorenson, a BYU anthropology professor and leading proponent of the theory that the Book of Mormon setting was in Mesoamerica (not the entire hemisphere). This was written before the controversy broke and warned of relying too much on using DNA data to prove the truth of the Book of Mormon and basically introduces most of the arguments used on later essays. The next essay is by John M. Butler, a DNA scientist that points out the difficulties of identifying a descendent of Lehi with mitochondrial DNA, since most of the wives of the first few generations would have been descended from the wife of Ishmael, whom we know nothing about her decent. Other essays cover the assumptions some people have that the Book of Mormon took place in the entire hemisphere and point out that the internal evidence suggests that it covered a much smaller region. They also point out that the assumption that only descendants of Lehi inhabited the Americas. Again, internal evidence shows that others must have inhabited the land. Some of the essays go into much more detail on DNA testing and highlight its strengths and weaknesses. Brian D. Stubbs goes over population dynamics and shows how in only a few generations, almost everyone in a relatively large area is related. Overall I found the essays to be very well reasoned and educational. The bottom line is that it is impossible to find a single family that migrated to the Americas over 2600 years ago by using DNA. It is also clear that the assumptions that some LDS make that the Lehites were the only people to inhabit both American continents is false. The Book of Mormon and existing data show that the events in the book took place in a limited geographical area about the size of Israel and other people inhabited the lands along with them. Highly recommended for all LDS and those interested in the LDS response to the DNA and Book of Mormon issue.