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Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church
For the past 175 years, the Latter-day Saint Church has taught that Native Americans and Polynesians are descended from ancient seafaring Israelites. Recent DNA research confirms what anthropologists have been saying for nearly as many years, that Native Americans are originally from Siberia and Polynesians from Southeast Asia. In the current volume, molecular biologist Simon Southerton explains the theology and the science and how the former is being reshaped by the latter. In the Book of Mormon, the Jewish prophet Lehi says the following after arriving by boat in America in 600 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves (2 Ne. 1:9).
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 14, 2011
Simon and I were both faithful Mormons years ago, and at one point I was our local Stake Young Men President when Simon was his Ward Young Men President, and we worked together in our 'callings' here in England. Who would have thought that years later our paths would cross once again as authors and exMormons - me with my Mormon Delusion series and Simon back home in Australia exposing the DNA evidence concerning Mormon claims about Native Americans. Simon's work is academically sound and worthy of reading if you want to put Mormon claims to bed once and for all.
March 5, 2008
A great resource written by a former bishop and molecular biologist for those interested in what DNA can tell us about the origins of the native americans. DNA taken from native tribes across the western hemisphere show that the native tribes came to America from Asia - Siberia at least 10,000 years ago. No pre-columbian native american DNA has been found that can be traced to Semitic ancestors.
These discoveries, which confirm what anthropologists and archeaologists have long believed, probably let to the recent change in the new version of the Book of Mormon introduction. Previous versions of the BOM had stated that the Lamanites were the principle ancestors of the native Americans. The new version has been changed by the church to read that the Lamanites are 'among' the ancestors of the native Americans.
These discoveries, which confirm what anthropologists and archeaologists have long believed, probably let to the recent change in the new version of the Book of Mormon introduction. Previous versions of the BOM had stated that the Lamanites were the principle ancestors of the native Americans. The new version has been changed by the church to read that the Lamanites are 'among' the ancestors of the native Americans.
March 29, 2010
This book does a good job exposing some of the genetic problems with the claim made by the Mormon Church that a cluster of Ancient Hebrews described in the Book of Mormon are among the principle ancestors of the native inhabitants of North and South America today; however, this book fails to discuss the practically unfalsifiable claim that a very small group could have integrated themselves into a continent and culture that was mainly inhabited by an indigenous population that had previously populated the continent prior to their arrival. Finding the genetic markers to support this claim would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. This book also fails to point out the effects of genetic drift and genetic bottlenecking and how these evolutionary processes would increase the difficulty of ever finding the correct genetic markers to prove or disprove the possibility previously described.
August 6, 2008
Prepare yourself for statistical and DNA proof that the lost tribes of Israel DID NOT travel from the Middle East to Missouri as Joseph Smith had proclaimed. A very researched and thourough account of the Human Genome Project and the resistors of the truth in the Mormon heirarchy,
December 19, 2009
Outstanding book. If you believe that archaeology or anthropology supports the Book of Mormon, you're in for a real surprise here!
In fairness, I should warn any Mormon readers: This book will seriously challenge your faith.
--Wag--
In fairness, I should warn any Mormon readers: This book will seriously challenge your faith.
--Wag--
February 11, 2021
Why I read it.
I was probably in the 4th grade. I remember reading and being taught that scientists thought that Native Americans came to the American continents some 10,000 years ago, crossing a land bridge from northern Siberia (Asia). It was unfortunate that my teacher in school merely stated the proposition without explaining any of the science that led to the theory. And of course I was told at home that such wasn't scientific fact, just a theory made up for lack of a better explanation. In our household we knew the true origin of the Native Americans. Coming home from school was like stepping back to the right side of a protective curtain.
From well before those days, the LDS church fought an undeclared war with science over the origins of the Native Americans. In LDS circles, the science was most often called the 'theories of men', and with the help of apologists, good parents did their best to protect their families from theories that conflicted with revealed truth.
Over the years I read articles and books on the emerging science on human origins and migrations, but I never kept up with the evolving responses from Mormon apologists. Simon Southerton's book, Losing a Lost Tribe, brings the science and apologetics together in an excellent summary of the current state of the battle. I found it a compelling drama.
In response to DNA evidence (and a lack of archeological evidence) Book of Mormon apologists have formulated new explanations, but they now walk a knife's edge with their theories, often (and sometimes admittedly) undermining
-the literal, clear reading of Book of Mormon text, or
-the self-proclaimed purpose of the Book of Mormon, or
-the clear teachings of a long line of LDS authorities.
But why read about it?
For me, reading this book seemed a necessary completion of passage from my younger years -- a look back to see that the curtain was indeed gone.
I was probably in the 4th grade. I remember reading and being taught that scientists thought that Native Americans came to the American continents some 10,000 years ago, crossing a land bridge from northern Siberia (Asia). It was unfortunate that my teacher in school merely stated the proposition without explaining any of the science that led to the theory. And of course I was told at home that such wasn't scientific fact, just a theory made up for lack of a better explanation. In our household we knew the true origin of the Native Americans. Coming home from school was like stepping back to the right side of a protective curtain.
From well before those days, the LDS church fought an undeclared war with science over the origins of the Native Americans. In LDS circles, the science was most often called the 'theories of men', and with the help of apologists, good parents did their best to protect their families from theories that conflicted with revealed truth.
Over the years I read articles and books on the emerging science on human origins and migrations, but I never kept up with the evolving responses from Mormon apologists. Simon Southerton's book, Losing a Lost Tribe, brings the science and apologetics together in an excellent summary of the current state of the battle. I found it a compelling drama.
In response to DNA evidence (and a lack of archeological evidence) Book of Mormon apologists have formulated new explanations, but they now walk a knife's edge with their theories, often (and sometimes admittedly) undermining
-the literal, clear reading of Book of Mormon text, or
-the self-proclaimed purpose of the Book of Mormon, or
-the clear teachings of a long line of LDS authorities.
But why read about it?
For me, reading this book seemed a necessary completion of passage from my younger years -- a look back to see that the curtain was indeed gone.
October 6, 2021
Simon Southerton, a molecular biologist professionally and a former Mormon bishop, explores and explains the pickle the Mormon Church is in with its insistence the Book Of Mormon is a detailed history of the origin of native peoples of the Americas and Pacific Islands. Mormons are convinced these peoples derive from Jerusalem around 600 BC. DNA evidence of their claims is non-existent. Well researched. Well explained. Bravo for someone willing to look for truth above faith. Updated 10-6-21 to add: shortly after this book was published, the Mormon Church changed its title page to the Book Of Mormon, deleting the 200+ year original title page written by Joseph Smith, that claimed the book was the literal history of the Native American Indians and Pacific Islanders. Now it says “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” Fascinating.
March 1, 2010
A very readable explanation of the genetic hurdle facing the BOM by a molecular biologist and former bishop. Considering the Meldrum drama currently unfolding, Southerton's comments on apologists are especially poignant.
July 7, 2017
In "Losing a Lost Tribe," Simon Southerton does a great job of giving an even-handed overview of the believing perspective, as well as an overview for why the believing perspective is untenable when confronted with scientific fact.
September 9, 2021
It’s sometimes hard to read something that forces you to confront beliefs you once held so dear, but it is good to gain perspective, too. It’s amazing how clear it is that there is zero evidence to support the Book of Mormon as anything but fiction.
March 9, 2009
What is Mormonism without full veracity of its founding text?
July 17, 2014
Excellent book on the Mormon Church and DNA evidence.
November 7, 2024
Published 20 years ago (2004). Discusses the lack of DNA, archaeological, and geographical evidence to support traditional claims of the Book of Mormon as a history of people who migrated from Jerusalem to America and became the ancestors of Native Americans.
The author asserts that “The faith of most Latter-day Saints is anchored by an emotional, feeling based “knowledge” that the Book of Mormon is a true history of the Americas – a knowledge that is unencumbered be the facts.” He goes on to say, “For Mormons who choose to deepen their faith in the Book of Mormon through scholarship, learning about the limited archaeological evidence to support the book can be a shock.” But, as he points out in the following paragraph, most won’t even try to do that. “Few Mormons ever come face to face with research that threatens their traditional beliefs. The closest contact for almost all members is through second-hand accounts from church leaders or LDS apologists who tell them how scientists continue to get it wrong. There is a strong taboo in Mormonism that prevents most members from reading books that are suspected of being critical of the church or challenging to its doctrines. This, combined with the fact that most members follow their leaders without question, ensures that members are effectively immunized against anything that undermines their fundamentalist beliefs. Gentile scientists who discover uncomfortable truths are commonly suspected of being in cahoots with “anti-Mormons.”
He concludes, “It seems that among the obstacles facing the church, the real stumbling block is not the failure to find evidence for horses, metallurgy, or the wheel in the New World, or the fact that there is no evidence for a Hebrew influence in Mesoamerica, or the preponderance of Asian DNA among living Native Americans and Polynesians. The real challenge comes from a failure to openly confront the evidence and state what it means for the church, as well as a failure to accommodate the apologists, who themselves feel hemmed in by the church’s insistence that members believe tenets that are clearly untrue.”
Since the book’s publication, the LDS church (~2006) changed the wording of the Book of Mormon from “…and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.” to “…and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.” The Church also published a “Gospel Topics Essay” (~2014) titled “Book of Mormon and DNA studies” in which they further backed away from the historicity of the Book of Mormon stating “Although the primary purpose of the Book of Mormon is more spiritual than historical, …” before delving into the alignment/lack of alignment of the book with science.
The author asserts that “The faith of most Latter-day Saints is anchored by an emotional, feeling based “knowledge” that the Book of Mormon is a true history of the Americas – a knowledge that is unencumbered be the facts.” He goes on to say, “For Mormons who choose to deepen their faith in the Book of Mormon through scholarship, learning about the limited archaeological evidence to support the book can be a shock.” But, as he points out in the following paragraph, most won’t even try to do that. “Few Mormons ever come face to face with research that threatens their traditional beliefs. The closest contact for almost all members is through second-hand accounts from church leaders or LDS apologists who tell them how scientists continue to get it wrong. There is a strong taboo in Mormonism that prevents most members from reading books that are suspected of being critical of the church or challenging to its doctrines. This, combined with the fact that most members follow their leaders without question, ensures that members are effectively immunized against anything that undermines their fundamentalist beliefs. Gentile scientists who discover uncomfortable truths are commonly suspected of being in cahoots with “anti-Mormons.”
He concludes, “It seems that among the obstacles facing the church, the real stumbling block is not the failure to find evidence for horses, metallurgy, or the wheel in the New World, or the fact that there is no evidence for a Hebrew influence in Mesoamerica, or the preponderance of Asian DNA among living Native Americans and Polynesians. The real challenge comes from a failure to openly confront the evidence and state what it means for the church, as well as a failure to accommodate the apologists, who themselves feel hemmed in by the church’s insistence that members believe tenets that are clearly untrue.”
Since the book’s publication, the LDS church (~2006) changed the wording of the Book of Mormon from “…and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.” to “…and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.” The Church also published a “Gospel Topics Essay” (~2014) titled “Book of Mormon and DNA studies” in which they further backed away from the historicity of the Book of Mormon stating “Although the primary purpose of the Book of Mormon is more spiritual than historical, …” before delving into the alignment/lack of alignment of the book with science.
March 14, 2025
Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church by Simon G. Southerton offers an insightful, clear, and compelling look at the intersection of science, history, and religion. Southerton, a former Mormon and geneticist, deftly tackles the controversial claims of the Mormon Church regarding the origins of Native Americans, particularly the idea that they are descended from ancient Israelites. What sets this book apart is its ability to present complex scientific concepts in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner, making it accessible to readers with varying levels of knowledge about genetics or the Mormon faith.
The book's strength lies in its irrefutable scientific analysis. Southerton meticulously examines DNA evidence, explaining how it challenges long-held religious narratives about the peopling of the Americas. His clear explanations of genetics, combined with a respectful but firm critique of the Mormon Church's claims, offer a balanced and thought-provoking perspective. Southerton’s conclusions are backed by years of scientific research, making his case both credible and convincing.
For anyone interested in the intersection of faith and science, Losing a Lost Tribe is a must-read. It offers not only a deep dive into the genetic evidence but also a personal narrative of Southerton's own journey from belief to skepticism. Ultimately, the book provides readers with an undeniable scientific perspective that reshapes our understanding of Native American ancestry and the claims made by religious institutions.
The book's strength lies in its irrefutable scientific analysis. Southerton meticulously examines DNA evidence, explaining how it challenges long-held religious narratives about the peopling of the Americas. His clear explanations of genetics, combined with a respectful but firm critique of the Mormon Church's claims, offer a balanced and thought-provoking perspective. Southerton’s conclusions are backed by years of scientific research, making his case both credible and convincing.
For anyone interested in the intersection of faith and science, Losing a Lost Tribe is a must-read. It offers not only a deep dive into the genetic evidence but also a personal narrative of Southerton's own journey from belief to skepticism. Ultimately, the book provides readers with an undeniable scientific perspective that reshapes our understanding of Native American ancestry and the claims made by religious institutions.
February 28, 2021
If found this book to covers well the often confusing and technologically detailed issue with DNA and the Native American lineage as well as the ever changing stories that the Mormon church has had on this subject.
May 31, 2022
Geneticist, Simon Southerton's fascinating information on the actual genetics, including DNA, of Native Americans, and how it compares to the story told in the Book of Mormon. Surely worth reading for anyone interested in discovering truth.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews