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MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2002

A Mormon scholar who says his research proves that American Indians are not a lost tribe of Israelites is facing expulsion from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Thomas Murphy, chairman of the anthropology department at a community college in Washington and a graduate student at the University of Washington, used genetic evidence to show that Indians are not descended from Middle Easterners. But that contradicts one of the many teachings in the Book of Mormon.

Church elders were set yesterday to consider the matter but postponed, The Wall Street Journal reported. Murphy has supporters throughout the country.

Get the Story:
Mormon Author Faces Expulsion for Skepticism (The Wall Street Journal 12/9)
Mormon Scientist, Church Clash Over DNA Test (The Los Angeles Times 12/8)
Mormon dissidents rally behind scholar (The Seattle Times 12/7)