Utilizador:InProgress/Reinventing Lamanite Identity

Index to claims made in Reinventing Lamanite Identity, by Brent L. Metcalfe

This is an index of claims made in this work with links to corresponding responses within the FAIRwiki. An effort has been made to provide the author's original sources where possible.

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• The author claims that "the Book of Mormon teaches—that "the Lamanites...are the principal ancestors of the American Indians."

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• This is based upon a phrase added in the 1981 introduction to the Book of Mormon.
• The 1830 Book of Mormon contains no such claim.
• Are the Lamanites the principal ancestors of the American Indians?

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• "Introduction," Book of Mormon (1981 edition).

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• The author claims that LDS scholars have been led to "shrink and dilute" the Book of Mormon's "American Israelite" population as the result of DNA analysis showing that Native Americans have an Asian genetic signature.

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• The author argues that LDS scholars or apologists are "shrinking and diluting" their view on the Book of Mormon because they are being driven back in a rear-guard action by science. But, in fact, some LDS leaders and scholars have argued for a restricted geography and small numeric contribution of Lehites for over one hundred years. These beliefs were not held because of scientific "pressure," but because of their reading of the Book of Mormon text.
• See: Limited geography theory

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• The author quotes a number of genetic studies.

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• Predefinição:AuthorQuote

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• The fragments quoted by the author in context:

If we grant that the global colonization hypothesis is the correct lineage history...the above hypothesis is indeed incorrect. To this point all we have shown is that the global colonization hypothesis appears falsified by current genetic evidence. But is the global colonization hypothesis the only hypothesis emerging from the Book of Mormon? This is the crux of the matter....if the above description of the lineage history in the Book of Mormon is oversimplified, then these genetic results demonstrate only that this oversimplified view does not appear correct. But Book of Mormon scholars have been writing about certain complicating factors for decades, so this conclusion about oversimplification really comes as no surprise. (emphasis added)

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• Michael F. Whiting, “DNA and the Book of Mormon: A Phylogenetic Perspective,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12, no. 1 (2003): 28, 31. off-site

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• The author notes that others were "prophetically precluded" from inhabiting the land occupied by Lehi's people. He cites

And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance. 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 . . . and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever. 2  Nephi 1:8-9

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• The author quotes from 2 Nephi. Note that there are several uses of the word "land" in the passage:

1. "this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations."
2. "those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem."

• The "land of Jerusalem" is a very small geographical area, yet Lehi's promised land is completely undefined in scope. The author applies the term "land" to mean the entire North and South American landmass. Is it really reasonable to assume that there would be "no place for an inheritance" for Lehi's people if anyone else was inhabiting the America's at the time?

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• 2 Ne. 1:8–9; see also John C. Kunich, “Multiply Exceedingly: Book of Mormon Population Sizes,” New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology, ed. Brent Lee Metcalfe (Salt Lake City: Signature Books,

1993), 261–62. |}