Sin, Skin, and Seed: Mistakes of Men in the Book of Mormon

Are concepts that sinfulness is reflected in skin color consistent with biogenetic understandings of human variation? Are patriarchal concepts of a procreative seed consistent with modern biogenetic procreation? Is Israelite heritage of Nephites and Lamanites reflected in the genes and biology of Native Americans? I will argue that new scientific evidence indicates we should relegate these folk biological concepts to the realm of ‘mistakes of men.’

Thomas W. Murphy, Bill Bradshaw