David W. Allan, “DNA and the Book of Mormon” Excerpt from allanstime.com
David W. Allan
Nov. 16, 2007
A review of Rodney Meldrum’s new DNA evidence that has come forth since the DVD, “DNA versus the Book of Mormon” was made. This new evidence, in contrast to the first, appears to provide support for the Book of Mormon as well as and an interesting geographic paradigm for the events therein.
DNA fingerprinting has been validated as a very effective tool in genetic relationships and research. It is used in courts of law as first level evidence and can determine life or death.
Recently, a video was made (© 2002-2003) entitled DNA vs. the Book of Mormon. It is distributed by “Living Hope Ministries” in Brigham City, Utah, and has been distributed widely. Among there statements of faith are, “We believe the Bible is the only inspired, infallible, living word of God, and is relevant and applicable today. God reveals His unchanging Truth through His written word.” It is easy to see why they have an issue with the claims around the Book of Mormon. Every post office box in Fountain Green received a copy of their DNA vs. the Book of Mormon DVD. It was placed on every door in Springville. The missionaries in Salt Lake City are having a hard time – doors are slammed in their faces with comments like, “We know of your fallacious Book of Mormon.” The video’s main thrust is to disprove the Book of Mormon.
The video is being bought mainly by other Christian ministries at an enormous rate. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormons or Latter-day Saints, LDS), which is now the fifth largest Christian denomination in the world, is perceived by them as leading many people astray. They see this video as a very significant tool to combat Mormon proselytizing efforts, and to get people to forsake Mormonism. In an intellectually oriented society, it is working well for them. In addition, many members have left the Church as a result of the information contained in the video. In addition, many Christians believe that we are not Christians, and much literature is circulated by them to enlighten the Latter-day Saints. So this video adds ammunition to their arsenal – proving that “Mormonism” is based on the work of a false-prophet deceiver.
Prior to the video’s production, four DNA haplogroups, A, B, C, & D had been identified from 375 different tribes. A is mainly in Alaska; B is in the N. America SW area, and C & D are in South, Central, and North America. All four groups have been shown to come from Asia with no link to Israel – in contradiction to the typical-LDS, Book of Mormon explanation of the origins of these peoples. This DNA link of the American Indians to Asia is also consistent with the evolutionary model for the human race.
Experts also believe, that the evolution of DNA can be used for dating, and that following all the world’s different haplogroups back, leads us in the beginning to DNA-mitochondrial Eve. They date her at 200,000 years ago. In 1998, some research was done to re-calibrate their mitochondrial clock, and that led to mitochondrial Eve coming forth 6,000 years ago, and they knew that could not be right. So they said, “Back to the bones,” – carbon dating, in other words.
When I first heard of this “DNA proof that the Book of Mormon is not true,” my mind went to a statement of one of Elder James E. Talmage, who was considered to be one of the 10 most learned men in the world and was an Apostle in the Church in the early 1900s. When confronted with claims from Book of Mormon critics of anachronisms in it –the mention of horses, of cimeters or swords, and of silk. Elder Talmage predicted in his journal that the Book of Mormon would be vindicated. And indeed it later was vindicated as all these things were found. His testimony of the Book of Mormon was unaffected, because it was based on faith – not scientific evidence. One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Corinthians 2:, wherein we are taught that the natural man cannot know the things of God. They are foolishness to him, because they are spiritually discerned.
Recently, some dear friends of ours, Blaine and Carolyn Wood, shared with us a talk by an LDS, DNA expert, Rodney Meldrum, <rodneymeldrum {at} hotmail.com>. He spent 2 ½ years researching DNA types in North America. He found in the literature a haplogroup – denoted X2 – that ties directly to Israel, Italy, and Finland, and which came here pre Columbus. The Algonquin tribes are among this haplogroup. Most interestingly, the X2 haplogroup correlates directly with those that the Prophet Joseph said were the descendants of Joseph in Egypt, as Joseph Smith wrote in the Wentworth letter from which we get the Articles of Faith. Hence, this would be consistent with the Book of Mormon. There are several other statements from the Prophet Joseph, that Rodney has found, that tie the Book of Mormon peoples to this X2 haplogroup.
The scientific method has served us well since it was introduced by Bacon, Galileo, Copernicus, and others some 400 years ago. Employing the five senses in this methodology, we have literally seen a technological explosion since that time, and it continues. Man has exploited that technology explosion for good and evil. Fortunately, early in my career, I learned that the scientific method coupled with the sixth sense (the spiritual sense mentioned above in 1 Corinthians 2:) opens one to the truths of God – Truths with a capital “T,” that don’t change with time as they often do in the case of scientific truths.
Unfortunately, it seems the world has moved some backwards in the scientific method in that the data are too often ignored as in the case above with mitochondrial Eve. Since the data didn’t fit the evolutionary theory, it was discarded. Similarly, there have been uncovered a large number of ancient relics among the X2 haplogroup here in America that have Hebrew and/or Christian images or symbolisms, but they have been labeled as fallacious, since they don’t line up with the scientific models of our day. In other words, throw away or ignore the data if it doesn’t fit your paradigm. This takes us back to the dark ages and the Aristotelian thought processes for how we answer life’s questions.
I find it ironic that the many Christians, who believe the Bible, and are trying to stop “Mormonism” and to discourage people from reading the Book of Mormon, seem to have forgotten the story in Acts, chapter five, where Peter and John were preaching the gospel openly and with fervor. They were imprisoned by the Jews, then let out of prison by an angel and immediately go to the temple and teach again. They were brought before the council, where again they preach Christ Jesus and how those there in the council crucified the Lord. The Council immediately wanted to “slay them,” but the respected doctor of the law, member of the Council, Gamaliel, brought wisdom to bear. Gamaliel recited how many others had risen up – seeking a following – and their works had come to naught. He then wisely said, “Refrain from these men [Peter and John], and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”
The Lord commanded that the gospel be taken to all nations. Over the history of the Church, there is a direct correlation with the number of members and the number of languages into which the Book of Mormon has been translated. Outside of the Bible, the Book of Mormon has brought more people to Christ than any other book, and the Savior said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” The Lord gave this as an absolute proof as to whether a prophet is true or false. By this proof we can know that the Book of Mormon is true and Joseph is His prophet.
I am very happy that my testimony of my Loving Heavenly Father, of His Beloved Son – our Savior, of the Bible, and of the Book of Mormon are based on personal, spiritual experiences. “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I, personally, am grateful that our Christian friends join in bringing souls to Christ. It is not about contending. It takes no talent to find faults in any organization; the Church is not exempt. It is about oneness with the Father and the Son, which we find by loving them and our neighbor as ourselves. As we respond to Light and Truth, which are ever there for each of us – regardless of race, color, or creed – then we will ever draw closer to them and to each other in love and oneness. My heart is filled with joy and gratitude for the manifestations of His love – the most priceless of which is the gift of His Beloved Son, for which I am most grateful. I feel the Savior’s love. His countless blessings in my life go on and on – among the choicest of which are my family and friends.