A distinctive feature of Latter-day Saint doctrine in the Book of Mormon was that Native Americans were descendants of the House of Israel. However, in the late 20th century, DNA studies provided evidence that Native Americans largely descended from east Asian migrants passing over the Bering land bridge some 10,000 years ago. Thus, Latter-day Saints no longer teach that Native Americans principally descended from Laman, but rather, the Lamanites were absorbed into an already existing population.
For many Latter-day Saints, the idea that the Book of Mormon may not be the history of Native Americans is deeply troubling. The question is how members can rationalize the lack of DNA evidence with the claim that the Book of Mormon is an ancient record of Native Americans.
This Gospel Topics Essay, published by the Church, addresses this concern.