NOM

Book of Mormon peoples suffer from the same shrinkage as the God of the Gaps. The more scientific inquiry reveals about the ancient Americas, the tinier the gaps the Nephites, Lamanites, and Jaredites must be squeezed into. Now there's a new kid in on the DNA block since the writing of the BoM DNA essay, from the brilliant folks at the McMaster Ancient DNA Centre: https://adna.mcmaster.ca/

It's called DNA microfossil sequencing and it makes it possible to extract zillions of tiny bits of DNA fragments from ancient soil and piece them together into whole genomes, using artificial intelligence. This means that the entire ecosystem of a location can be mapped for a specific time to determine exactly who and what lived there, including species for which we have no macrobiological record (Cureloms and Cumoms?)

This will be a technology to keep an eye on for people on both sides of the Book of Mormon discussion. So far it’s not looking good for horses surviving into the Nephite time period, and soon we will be able to fill in all of the DNA gaps for ancient America to extreme detail. We're getting closer and closer to requiring a catalyst or alternate universe theory for the Book of Mormon.

If anything, the BOM is an interesting view of the God of the Gaps. The gaps are pretty well filled in with modern research. SO much so that there isn't room left for the BOM to exist. So LDSinc. is having to squeeze gaps into the historical record to create a place to justify the BOM's existence or to come up with new ways to define what a gap is instead of letting it stand on it's original claims. This is how it is now considered inspired fiction to some.

Just This Guy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 08, 2022 9:38 am This is how it is now considered inspired fiction to some.

And the more you learn about Joseph's environment and influences, the smaller the inspiration gaps get too!

... this same spot, in full view from the top of this same hill, one may gaze with astonishment upon the ground which was twice covered with the dead and dying of our fellow men.

It would be fun to see a DNA microfossil sequencing of this area. Sluice out the Nephites of the Gap!

moksha wrote: ↑Wed Feb 09, 2022 3:58 am

... this same spot, in full view from the top of this same hill, one may gaze with astonishment upon the ground which was twice covered with the dead and dying of our fellow men.

It would be fun to see a DNA microfossil sequencing of this area. Sluice out the Nephites of the Gap!

Since the church won't comment on where the BoM took place, maybe they will at least develop a temperature-orientation metric to help guide researchers as this highly specific data starts to roll in. "you're getting warmer, warmer... oops colder!"