JED - I have been speaking with many people about the DNA issue. Many focus on the DNA Not being Jewish related but rather closer to Oriental DNA. "Joseph must not be a true prophet based on this" they say. I ask them why are they looking for Jewish DNA? Because Joseph Smith stated that those people in the Book of Mormon are of Israel descent right? Well that’s fine and dandy and all, but not every one who is Israelite were Jewish. There were Twelve Tribes of Israel. Lehi was of Manasseh not Judah. In fact the only Jewish link in the Book of Mormon was the Mulekites who had a son with them who was from King Zedekiah. The problem with that is at this time period Ephraim and Judah were in a civil war in Israel and one of the reasons was because Judah, (The Record keepers) was letting everyone and anyone into their tribe to make it stronger. Egyptians, Babylonians, Syrians, etc. And this was when many people I am sure, not just Lehi’s or Zedekiah’s family were getting out of the country. So if you want a true DNA test you have to look at Manasseh not Judah blood lines. At that point one must really go clear back to Abraham, and then aren’t we all included? So it boils down to a matter of faith anyhoo. But for those that lack faith there is a good placebo to utilize. Find descendants who are of Manasseh and are not Native American or Polynesian. I know of one such race,.. Orientals! All of the Oriental people I have spoken with that have had a patriarchal blessing are blanketed under the Banner of Manasseh.! Doh!! Did science just prove a simple Latter Day Saint truth?!! Any way, maybe I am way off, but I feel it is inspired knowledge for me at least. Just food for thought.
JOEL - Lehi was not technically Jewish but he lived in
Jerusalem; in the Jewish culture, and his ancestor,
Joseph, had the same father as Judah. This is why Lehi
was known as being Jewish. But even though the two
tribes, Judah and Joseph, claimed Israel(Jacob) as their
father, they did not share the same mother. A mother's DNA determines familial characteristics.
Critics of the church also ignore the fact
that Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, had taken a
Gentile for his wife. It is illogical to assume there
have been no intermarriages or other DNA influences in
more than 4,000 years of world history.
Orientals are not neccesarily direct blood descendants
of Manassah; the declaration of such lineage upon
Orientals may be a matter of adoption into the tribe.
The main beef that critics have with the Book of
Mormon is that native Americans have a stronger DNA
connection with Orientals than with any Israelitish
group. One possibility is that Joseph's mother or his Gentile wife
may have had some Oriental ancestry in their blood. Of
course we will never be able to know for sure what
really happened, so as you say, it is all still a
matter of faith.
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