Posted by:
Anonymous User
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Date: April 10, 2014 09:39AM
Hi Folks,
Most of you are aware that the LDS Church recently published an essay to address the growing awareness among members that DNA evidence does not support genetic ties between Native American and Middle Eastern people.
https://www.lds.org/topics/book-of-mormon-and-dna-studies?lang=engThe essay relies heavily on the work of LDS scientist, Ugo Perego, who’s own research has led him to believe that Native Americans have lived in the Americas for more than 15,000 years and virtually all of their DNA is derived from Asia. You read that right. Perego is an evolutionist. Perego, like the majority (>99%) of biological scientists, believes that humans evolved from a common ancestor shared by all primates and he believes that our recent ancestors migrated out of Africa about 100,000 years ago and colonized most of the globe during the last 50,000 years.
Ugo believes that Book of Mormon people were absorbed into Native American civilizations soon after their arrival and their DNA was diluted away to undetectable levels. Many Mormons find this difficult to reconcile with the text, however, Perego’s views also appear to conflict with other widely held LDS beliefs (no death before the fall, 7,000 year old earth and the global flood — see D&C 77, 2 Nephi 2:22).
Not only does the essay not answer the troubling DNA question, it raises a host of new issues. After punishing and marginalising scientists and dismissing evolution for decades, the Church is now relying on an evolutionary biologist to defend itself in the face of the DNA problem. Contrast this with how the church treated another evolutionary biologist a few years ago.
Sixteen years ago I raised my concerns about DNA in two private meetings with my Stake President and his counsellors. At the time I had not publicly questioned the church, but within weeks I was branded a critic. I received letters from Area Leaders in Australia in which I was chastised, called to repentance and warned of the dire consequences of my actions. All for doing exactly what members are encouraged to do if they have doubts. Talk privately with their priesthood leaders (I was a bishop). I was so concerned for the church at the time I even wrote to Henry B. Eyring in November 1998 and alerted him to the problems that lay ahead. He never responded. It would be another 18 months before I had the courage to publicly question the church on an exmormon website.
I am now hearing reports that members of my extended LDS family have been reassured by church leaders that the things Simon was troubled about 16 years ago have been "disproven". Like many Mormons, my family have been conditioned to avoid talking about "issues" with questioning family members. Conversations at family gatherings over the last 16 years have been reduced to a few pleasantries at most. Yet all are perfectly comfortable to talk about positive aspects of the church and to share faith-promoting spiritual experiences with me. They want one way conversations about things they want to talk about.
The DNA essay shows clearly that the problems remain and the church still needs to deal with them, and its members, a lot more honestly.
From my blog:
The letters from the Area Presidency
http://simonsoutherton.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/blog-post.html.
My unanswered letter to Elder Eyring
http://simonsoutherton.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/my-unanswered-letter-to-president-henry.htmlMy response to the Church’s DNA essay
http://simonsoutherton.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/response-to-president-newsroom.htmlSome comments on the Church’s double dealing with respect to evolution.
http://simonsoutherton.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/ldsorg-essay-exposes-corporate.htmlMy first public questioning of the church
http://www.exmormon.org/whylft125.htm