The LDS Restorationist movement,
including the Mormon churches

Attacks on the validity of the
Book of Mormon using DNA data

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Overview:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other denominations in the LDS Restorationist movement have taught that Native Americans are descendents of three groups of ancient Israelites who came to the new world:

The belief that Natives are descendents of Jews was commonly accepted in the early 19th century when the Book of Mormon was published. The idea has since gone out of fashion except among the Mormons.

Scientific studies of DNA, facial structure, blood types, and migration patterns have indicated that Natives are of Siberian origin and are totally unrelated to ancient Jews.

The conflicts have caused some commentators to conclude that the Book of Mormon is a human document and was not translated by Joseph Smith from golden plates given to him by an angel. This has caused some Mormons to depart from their faith.

Topics covered in this section: