The Book of Mormon tested
DNA and the Lamanites
The Book of Mormon tells of Israelite families who sailed to the Americas. The Church's own essay says Native Americans carry largely Asian DNA.
What the essay says
For generations many Latter-day Saints, including leaders, assumed that Native Americans descended mainly from Lehi's family. The Church's essay now says the genetic evidence points to Asia, and suggests that the Book of Mormon peoples were a small group among many others who left little genetic trace.
The evidence assembled to date suggests that the majority of Native Americans carry largely Asian DNA.
The Church's own words Gospel Topics essay, "Book of Mormon and DNA Studies" · source
How the Bible's history compares
The Bible names real cities, rulers and peoples that archaeology keeps finding: Jerusalem, the Pool of Siloam, Pontius Pilate, King Hezekiah's tunnel. The Book of Mormon names large cities and nations that have not been located. Christianity invites that kind of checking, because it rests on events that happened in public.
1Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
Luke 1:1-4 (WEB) · context
26For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner.
Acts 26:26 (WEB) · context
21Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (WEB) · context
Sources
- Gospel Topics essay "Book of Mormon and DNA Studies" (churchofjesuschrist.org).