Students at one Arizona public high school may soon be packing the Book of Mormon in their backpacks alongside their history and math textbooks.
Vail Unified School District, located outside of Tucson, just unanimously voted to approve a contract with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which will allow the construction of a massive 1,300-square-foot LDS seminary on campus. Under the terms of the contract, the LDS Church will pay for the seminary, but it would technically be owned and operated by the school district.
Now secular activists are fighting to stop the board-approved construction, arguing that building a seminary inside a public school – paid for and then leased by a religious group, no less – is a blatantly unconstitutional violation of separation of church and state.
Release Time
Let’s back up. Why is the LDS Church offering to pay for a seminary in schools anyway?
Mormon children in grades 9-12 are required to attend religious instruction classes, called seminary, during the weekday. Because this directly interferes with most school schedules, these classes are often held in the early morning hours to avoid scheduling conflicts.
In places with large Mormon communities, many schools also offer "release time", allowing LDS students to attend seminary during school hours. Typically, these seminaries are located near local high schools (often in a building right across the street) so students don’t have to travel far.
Secular activists have long opposed release time, arguing letting kids attend seminary during school hours blurs the line between faith and government. But what happens when the seminary moves right into the school?
From Homeroom to Holy Room
Secular activists immediately shot back at Vail’s planned seminary, decrying it as an obvious constitutional violation that not only permits proselytizing to students right on campus, but also offers clear financial benefits for the LDS Church, who will be renting back the property well under market rate.
"The school is not where religion is supposed to be taught,” stated Secular AZ legal director Dianne Post. “You may not have a public school favoring a particular religion.”
Post sent a cease-and-desist letter to the school board, warning them that any plans to move forward with the planned construction will be met with legal challenges. It reads, in part:
“Religious agendas are… often behind other policies that range from potentially problematic to decidedly unconstitutional.... The contract violates every one of these provisions by allowing religious materials on public school property, gives the church a discount [on rent], allows the church to display a religious message, and give the church unique access to school property for proselytizing and presentations to students.
A seminary is considered to be an institution designed to train persons in theology or divinity to prepare them to serve as clergy or other position within a church. It is in no way a public education goal.”
"This arrangement is simply about serving students who are already part of our schools – our neighbors, our community. That was the main focus behind this decision," explained VUSD Superintendent John Carruth. "I understand some people have concerns, and I respect all perspectives. Our goal is to ensure every student on our campuses feels welcomed."
Favorable Terms
Under the terms of the contract, the LDS Church will lease the facility between 6 AM and 6 PM on weekdays for the next ten years (with the possibility of an extension), and the space will be free to use for other school programs and community events outside those hours.
The school will then collect $100 in monthly rent from the LDS Church, as well as $500 monthly for utilities and maintenance – well below market value for such a facility.
Construction is expected to be completed January 2026.
What do you think? Should a religious group be allowed to construct a building on a public school campus with the explicit goal of facilitating religious worship? Or is it “district-funded indoctrination,” as the Freedom From Religion Foundation says?
64 comments
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Chris
Religion has no place in public schools. It doesn't matter what the religion is, public schools are not the place. If they have such strict adherence to religious study, then they should send their kids to religious schools.
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JM McDonough
bklyn5192@gmail.com I too was raise in a catholic church.i remember going to the church after school religious instruction. A building for one the mormons or any other unless your in a religious school should not be part of public school curriculum .
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Colleen McAllister
No matter what the religion is no church or religious institution should have their own building on a public school campus. In this case the seminary classes should be held outside of school hours instead of deliberately interfering with the children's education.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
I'm with the opponents on this, religion at home or church, not in public schools.
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Rev Nolan
When I went to Seminary, we had our seminary classes in the most local chapel. The chapels 💒 were never used at 6:00 AM on school days as is true of most LDS facilities, and these chapels were close enough to the schools that students could walk or carpool to school. They have no need of school grounds for a seminary facility, and if they needed a facility for such an institution, of all people, Latter-day Saints can afford to build one off campus. It’s obvious that the objective of having such a facility especially as proposed and during school 🏫 hours on a public school campus is to influence non-members into converting. A public school facility is no place for an ecclesiastical institution of any kind because it combines Church and State. The whole point is missionary work at the school. No can do.
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Daniel Todd Kamm
Aside from the ethical, legal and constitutional issues, the entire business arrangement makes no sense.
Why would LDS agree to construct a facility, only to rent it back to themselves and paying the school district rent?
And very cheap rent I might add.
Unless Vail, AZ is a complete backwater, which I doubt given it's proximity to Tuscon... that's not rent... that's a donation.
I am all for public school students of all backgrounds meeting the daily obligations of their faiths.
But that is obviously not what is going on here.
The "they will build it, the kids will come, and (by golly) they are paying us rent" argument does not hold up.
If daily practices require access during the school day, the district could bus students back and forth to an appropriate location where they can observe their faiths, OR in the immediate case, LDS could rent a nearby location within walking distance (some faiths require abstaining from cars, work etc.) OR the school district could sell a strip of land to LDS (LDS is NOT hurting for money) and LDS could build a facility within walking distance for observant LDS students.
Which, other faiths could aspire to as well: they are within their rights to ensure the PUBLIC school district applies access and exclusions fairly.
But there are obvious "irregularities" inherent in the business side of this deal.
This is about LDS, the overseers of this PUBLIC school district, and the "state" of AZ using a PUBLIC school district to see what they can get by with.
Smart business deal? Obviously not and it smells funny.
Unethical? Depends on one's outlook, but I vote "yes.
Illegal? Most definitely, unless a puppet judge or puppet appeals judge or state supreme court approves so it can be appealed over their heads... so they have no responsibility if overturned while they seek re-election.
Proselytizing? I have no doubt.
If another group attempted such a move, these Arizonans and LDS folks would be screaming everything from "indoctrination" to "grooming."
I have no patience with perps.
Thank you for your patience.
Would anyone like to start a petition to return all of the southwest to Mexico? We might be able to make up for it by "invading Canada," or "stopping at nothing" to acquire Greenland.
Please...
Peace, Out and for those who observe: Happy Pesach (Passover) staring this weekend!
Rebtk
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Patricia Ann Gross
Daniel, your suggestion that they "sell" a strip of land to the church to build the facility for the students, in essence, is what the church is proposing. They just don't want to be responsible for the upkeep (or possibly the liability) and the transfer of the students from the school to the facility. I agree that the proposed rent is very cheap in any market, but considering the church is providing the construction capital, it could be worth a break on the front end of the lease. I would also suggest that the agreement, since the building would then belong to the school, that the school has the ability to use the facility for it's own purposes (classrooms, libraries, sports venues, etc.) and have a vested stake in decisions about the design.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
I’m sure the current king of our country would gladly throw his weight behind this.
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Lionheart
Long may King Donald 1st reign. All holiness to his name. 🤭
🦁♥️
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Reverend Paula Copp
Ah, yes, Lionheart. Your usual erudite self. Always sticking up for the mentally challenged, (papers left by a former professor indicated that the mango moron has a remarkable IQ of 73) I see. It’s good to see someone of your caliber standing up for the disabled; they deserve a strong champion! Many blessings, Lionheart.
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Lionheart
Awe….thank you, Lady Paula. I actually first got my education in sticking up for the mentally challenged listening ,and watching, sleepy Joe Biden, the beach dweller, then Kamala Harris. 4 years of that was all that I needed to graduate with Honors, so listening to King Donald was a walk in the park compared to those two. We are now “unbidened by what has been” to quote from one of Kamala’s word salad phrases. 🤭
🦁❤️
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David Torres
nowhere in the constitution is the phrase "separation of church and state". The spirit of this would apply to the Federal Government, and Religion...Not necessarily "states". That being said.....it seems like a very bad idea to allow the mormon church to build on school grounds, if for no other reason than to prevent indoctrination. This comes in all forms..such as the transgender issues and the pronoun issues. This is also clearly indoctrination, and schools should simply teach without these influences.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
It's nice the richest church in the world worth over $230 BILLION DOLLARS is will to do this. (And a lot of this is tax payer's money).
If you would like to see what a scam and cult the Mormon religion is Alyssa Grenfell, who was raised a devote Mormon tell reveals what it was like be raised and sealed in the Mormon Religion. https://youtu.be/c2Q8pkKxwHI?si=FN_i85cUyxgaajLr
As you watch her videos you realize what a cult the other Christian religions are.
And yes Mormons, LDS church members still all believe in polygamy. But since 1890 only in the afterlife.
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ServantOfJudgement
I think polygamy is protected with the + in lgbtqia++map.
No big deal.
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Keith D
You think that's richer than the Catholic Church? I'd say the latter is worth at least 10x that. Just saying.
I agree, however, that the Mormons should either build their own schools or stick with 'not during school time.'
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Dorothy Hawkins
Separation of church and state need not be at odds with overall goals of any religion: to develop good citizens. Taking time away from students' school day seems like trying to get the benefits of a public school education while practicing religion. Seems squarely against the church/state separation.
In our public/private school district, pastors, citizens, teachers & parents from discrete religious differences came up with a general set of character-building traits to be taught during the school day, and reinforced in religious classes.
Posters with these characteristics were posted in every room K-12, and everyone from the janitor to the lunch lady would point out when a child displayed an exceptional example of the desired character trait. Students in all environments learned from the same general template.
Short lessons on showing patience, helpfulness, integrity, honesty, etc took place in classrooms both secular and sacred. As the children grew, the concepts grew with them. We simply acknowledged them with their best cooperative behaviors.
No special religious training was needed in our public schools, and we had several faith-based groups using our extra rooms before and after school. It worked out extremely well for all involved. Win-win!
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BlackAngelP
Why not just do what the Catholics did? Just open your own schools. That way you teach what you want, how you want and aren’t infringing on anyone’s rights. 🤷🏽♀️
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
No one has the “right” to “indoctrinate” naive’ little kiddies into anything— especially religious superstitions. And, religious schools, indoctrinate, they don’t teach. Places where religious indoctrination takes place, shouldn’t be allowed to call themselves “schools” “colleges” or “universities”;— because schools, colleges, and universities, are supposed to teach, not indoctrinate.
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ServantOfJudgement
Sadly bill, all the establishments you listed most definitely indoctrinate, especially universities.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
They teach facts. Or at least the last timeI attended or taught at one that is what was going on.
But I guess they do, and should, indoctrinate the view that facts cone first,
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Religion as a Weapon is Wrong
Most of the people on the national stage right now that say universities indoctrinate, most recently citing Harvard, actually WENT to Harvard. That is hilarious because the indoctrination they claim that Harvard uses apparently didn't change their minds about anything. So is it indoctrination? That is why it is so important for children to learn critical thinking skills. and by the time they are in college, they should be mastering those skills. Critical thinking prevents indoctrination, or at least curbs it. People that don't go to college most certainly have the ability to use critical thinking skills too.
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Patricia Sydney Solis
The First Amendment guarantees freedom FROM religion as much as of it. And really the church belongs in the mythology department so kids can discuss several other mythologies and compare them. There’s no bigger fairytale than the LDS! Separate church and state! Stop degrading Christ mixing Him with Caesar’s coins.
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Religion as a Weapon is Wrong
There are estimated to be around 10,000 distinct religions in the world, though most have small, regional followings. The four largest religions, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, account for over 77% of the global population. Yes, American public schools need freedom from religion. These groups can build their own buildings and fund them if that is what they want. What they really want is the flow of taxpayer dollars.
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David M Hines
$100/mo rent is definitely a sweetheart deal of some kind. That’s not just “below market” - that’s a friends and family rate not available to the general public.
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Ian Steel
I don't feel the LDS church should be allowed to have land & a facility on public school property. This is in my neighbor hood & I strongly oppose it. If the Vail School board approves this I imagine there will be legal challenges.
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Pastor Andrew John Lanham
Comment removed by user.
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Pastor Andrew John Lanham
I agree with you
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Efforts toward the making of a Xtian Taliban seem to be going well.
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Mary Catherine Kanz
I was raised a Catholic and spent twelve years in parochial schools. I know about indocrination. Every morning we went to church before school back in the late 50’s and 60s. I was raised in the church by fear and could tell you stories of some of the nuns and priests that still leave me sad at the age of 74. I haven’t gone to church since I was 36 years old. I believe in God, but a God who is love not the one the church tried to instill in us. I am a firm believer in separating church and state. No indoctrination of religions in our children. There have been studies from several institutions of children raised in religious homes, homes that are agnostic, or are atheists and those who believe in a spiritual life without religion. Children were studied who were from all sorts of different backgrounds from strict religious homes to atheist homes. It was found from these studies from different institutions that the children from non religious homes shared their toys with others and had compassion for others whereas the religious children did not share well nor did they have compassion for those who were in these studies. The religious children were quicker to judge as well. I firmly believe that religion really does cause people to be judgmental of others because they feel THEIR religion is the correct one, it was ingrained in us as children in these Catholic schools that the Catholic religion was the “One true faith”. I even feared my best friend next door when I was growing up was going to go to hell because she was Lutheran. How sad my childhood was living in fear. There was no love anywhere from teachers or in any lessons which is so very sad because God IS love. Religions control through fear. That’s why I finally let go of religion.
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Michael Richard Fullmer
As a former member of the LDS church, I know well the rules for attending seminary. Failure to attend...back in my day (early 70's) while not being completely ostracized, would be treated differently. They preach one thing, and act one way, all the while talking behind your back. At least where I was raised.
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Benton Wade Standard
As long as this would be allowed for any other religion then it's okay.
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Brother Peter
Probably agree.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Schools are often multi-use facilities, and renting them out for political, religious, cultural, and civic events is not uncommon. As long as the capital comes from the church, and they pay enough in rent to cover the costs of upkeep and maintenance, it is not a stretch, except for the proximity, size, and it is a building constructed by the church and then "gifted" to the school district. I'm all for anything that provides safety to the students, and this is a much cheaper option than many of the others that are suggested here.
How does this differ from a start-up church using a school's cafeteria or auditorium for services until they can raise the capital needed to construct their own building? It happens every day. They even rent other government owned buildings (Convention/civic centers, for example) for the same purposes. My suggestion would be that once they "gift" the building to the school, they relinquish control of the policies and rent required to "lease" it back, except, perhaps to be a "preferred tenant with the definition completely spelled out.
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Steven Ferrell
If they can have classes on evolution, on LBGXYZ and trans stuff in the public school, then they should also allow this for those students who wish to attend.
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Religion as a Weapon is Wrong
Evolution is science. Science is not indoctrination or religion. Anyone that doesn't believe in evolution is better suited to teach/attend a religious school. I am not an atheist but I know the difference between religious beliefs and science.
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David Torres
nowhere in the constitution is the phrase "separation of church and state". The spirit of this would apply to the Federal Government, and Religion...Not necessarily "states". That being said.....it seems like a very bad idea to allow the mormon church to build on school grounds, if for no other reason than to prevent indoctrination. This comes in all forms..such as the transgender issues and the pronoun issues. This is also clearly indoctrination, and schools should simply teach without these influences.
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Religion as a Weapon is Wrong
The term "separation of church and state" is not explicitly mentioned in the Federalist Papers or the Constitution, but the concept is discussed in the First Amendment, which prohibits Congress from establishing a state religion. While the Federalist Papers don't use the exact phrase, they do address the importance of protecting individual religious liberties and the separation of governmental power. That's a fact.
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James Trenton Smith
There is no separation of Church and State written within the Constitution. There is a personal letter written in 1802 by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists Association of Connecticut. He expressed the notion that religion is between an individual and God and that government should not interfere. The first amendment supports this in that it states that Congress shall make no law proscribing an institution of religion of the free practice thereof. There is no Constitutional provision excluding religious organizations from Governmental affairs, however there are Constitutional provisions excluding Government from religious affairs. If that seems unfair, realize that it is Government that needs to be limited.
I will however caution Churches: Attempting to move Religious Institutions into public spaces do potentially set dangerous precedents. Though it is legal and there is nothing to prevent this Constitutionally, there is also nothing to prevent hate-filled Islam et.al and etc. from "invading" the SAME EXACT SPACE. Furthermore, the public space must also legally provide them the same exact liberty to do so... SO, if you are going to pay for everything anyway, why not just do it on your own land?
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Jack Anthony Wilson
I don’t see a problem with an LDS classroom being built on any school campus. It’s not going to miraculously convert non-LDS children. When I was in HS, I did as I pleased. There were so many things to do besides worrying about what my fellow students religious beliefs were.
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Deborah Jane Vogel
Perhaps the Vail Unified School District allowed its judgement (separation of church and state) to be distracted by the shiny object (a “free” building and minimal income from it). I would urge Vail parents and residents to vigorously (and peacefully) oppose this arrangement. Surely the cornerstone of separation of church and state in this country has already been eroded by the allocation of public monies to religious schools. Setting a precedent such as the VUSD/LDS contract will only serve to push our Constitution deeper into the current abyss.
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Dr. Bob Thomas
I spent 27 years teaching mathematics in Arizona. My main contract was High School. Because of my background and degrees, I also taught at the University level. The city I worked in was (and still is) heavily influenced by th LDS Church. Many of the teachers, and administers are members. A few of the Superintendents were also high ranking members as well. Aeminary was held before classes were scheduled. A study and reading room was available all day and students could go there any time they wished. There was no possibility of removing any of this from the school. Members of th church sat on the board. Members of the church also sat on city and county government committees. They were police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, judges and pharmacists. Their kids worked in all the stores. You could not throw a stick in any direction without hitting an LDS member. Their influence was everywhere. It is no surprise to me that they are actually building something on a campus. Usually, they just take over an existing building and when necessary will donate a wing or a library or hall. These people are powerful, influencial, and very active. And they provide a very good service. I have never had any issues with the kids of LDS parents. Many were not just good students, they were excellent students. Quite a few went on to military academy s. Most to BYU on scholarship. I saw nothing wrong with their influence. Our nation was founded by deeply religious men and women. Our laws reflect that influence. Public Education makes no room for moral education. Dealing with the issues of everyday life have no place in public Education. Too many schools are forced to chase after the latest fad in teaching. There is no consistency in education that crosses the grade levels. Finally many schools have removed the grading process completely replacing it with a system that leaves no student behind. Mostly because there is just no room for retention. So everyone gets passed on. Excellence reflects minimal effort with a healthy part of just showing up. Complaining about it is just a waste of time.
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Religion as a Weapon is Wrong
From Newsweek" Texas Governor Greg Abbott has insisted "Sharia law is not allowed in Texas" in response to proposals for a new Islamic themed town near Josephine, around 40 minutes from Dallas.
The project, called "EPIC City," is being orchestrated by the East Plano Islamic Center on a 402-acre piece of land that includes parts of Collin and Hunt counties.
So this is the problem, folks. Some religions can do what they want and others cannot? Some religions can take over cities and schools but others cannot? Clearwater, Florida was taken over by Scientologists years ago. They own most of the buildings in town. When there is a problem, the city says "That is a church matter." and does nothing.
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Christopher Fitz Randolph
To my learned colleagues, Christians, and especially to those offended, we stand as sentinels protecting the right of every man to worship the Almighty God according to the dictates of their heart. If we are to choose or deny one religion over another, then we should be ready to claim that we are the judge of all that is holy and assume our position as the Lord and Savior of the World. As I worship only one Lord and that is Jesus Christ, He taught tolerance and love.
You are free to cast dispersion and doubt, but as the Lord taught, the second great commandment was to Love your neighbor. This simply means that though we may not agree with another's religious beliefs or lifestyle, we still love them and we protect their right to choose. Agency was the greatest principle of Heaven. So great that God lost 1/3 of Heaven. So condemning another sect is not becoming a servant of the Lord.
Second and most important, given our political environment, one must read the 1st Amendment and understand the remaining Amendments. The Bill of Rights were added not to declare that the State, communities, and individual families could not restrict the Right of Religion, only that the Federal Government could not infringe on those basic Rights. States adopted those same Rights in their Constitutions to preserve the individual the Right to worship God after the manner they choose.
The issue of a Community allowing the expression of religious doctrines being offered on public school grounds does not violate the 1st Amendment. As long as the school district affords all religions the same agreement.
So instead of crying foul, maybe we should offer the school district to buy and pay for a building, then give the building to the school district and lease it back and pay for the utilities. Any faith offering that should be allowed to do so. Their students would then would be allowed one class hour of uncredited study time each day to gather and worship God according to their dictates.
If we fight to deny one Religion their Right to worship, then we only fight ourselves and become a House Divided.
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James Trenton Smith
Thank you, Jesus, for all my good friends making sure we say and do the right things... I pray that you help them to set aside the fear that inhibits growth.
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Rev. Donut
The Mormons have plenty of money.
They could have bought and built on a separate piece of property next to the school.
This is a power move by the Mormons.
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Robert F. Denk Jr
Keep religion out of public schools! I mean all religion! If you are a believer in any faith then teach it at home and in church where it belongs. If you have to cram it down the throats of your children 24/7 in order to keep them on the path you have chosen for them, then there is an greater issue in play.
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Kali Church
This article is very short-sighted and does not accurately give the history of seminary. Release time seminary has been available to youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since it was first introduced in 1912 in the Granite School District in Salt Lake City, Utah and is available in many areas. My sister's children attend release time seminary in Chugiak, Alaska. It is available wherever there are large populations of youth belonging to the church. The Church buys the land. It is generally in close proximity to the school so that the students can go and come and still be on time to other classes. The school that you speak of in the article was not the first and will not be the last. High school education balanced with spiritual education can provide peace and joy in an anxiety-filled and difficult world.
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Walter J. Holbrook
No Comment
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Richard Gunther Robb
Honestly, it reminds me of when I was in school in the 60s and 70s and we had some religious education buildings on/near our campuses where the catholic kids had to go each week for "religion." They had to wear ties and uniforms like if it was a full-scale catholic school. We heathens mocked them furiously and none of us were ever jealous.
But, yeah, it's the 2020's and we live in the age of reason (barely got that typed without bursting out laughing.) We don't need to be teaching religion, but we damned sure need to be teaching some basic ethics, empathy, and caring for our fellow humans.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
No, the church needs to provide the space for its parishioners if they want the convenience of it being near the school, and they need to not be collecting any money from the school for it. This is not a school service, it's a church service and the school can be accommodating enough to allow its students who belong to that church to have the time in their day to go, but the school cannot provide church services, financially. That's a constitutional breach. Also, the school needs to strictly police the church to make sure that no student who does not attend that church is EVER approached about it on school grounds or expected to make contact with the church. Proselytizing on school grounds is exactly the same as going onto school grounds to peddle vacuum cleaners to the students; that would be solicitation and it's disruptive and unreasonable to allow during school hours.
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Religion as a Weapon is Wrong
Here is an idea. The church can build their own religious school, separate from any public school. Isn't that what religious groups have done for a few hundred years? It's that taxpayer money that is just too much temptation. Every religious group is just drooling to get their hands on it. i see nothing wrong with parents that want their children to receive a religious education. Their church is free to go ahead and build a school for that population of parents and their children.
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Daniel Todd Kamm
Separate church and state...entirely.
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Jon David Schoen
School districts frequently enter into public/private partnerships that are mutually beneficial to multiple parties including the district and to suggest that religion has no place in schools is naive. There are many public school districts that provide space and opportunities for a variety of religions to support their student members. If the LDS church is willing to pay for the entire construction of the project, donate it to the school district after completion, pay rent to use and maintain it and allow the district to use it for other events, I see it as a win/win.
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Michael Patrick Ferrell
The Mormons are white supremacist. They taint all things they control.
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Beth Curtis
one of the things they believe is to be baptised, you have to be the gender at your birth as defined by them and not who you know and understand yourself to be,they say born as male ,then your soul was male to experience this world,not a soul that even though knowing yourself a female soul was born a male to experience what that is like,No there is only one way for them.I know this because I attended their church for 4 months,every sunday along with twice weekly visits in my home with their young missionaries,
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Pastor Andrew John Lanham
The LDS Church is discrimination to the disabled people because I experienced it
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Michael Alan White
There is no requirement by law that anyone attend the seminary. And there can be no law saying they cannot. The only violation of the first amendment would be if any other faith based groups were not allowed to do the same on an equal basis.
And oppositely, let's put biology classes in LDS Church's.
😂. That would force them to learn about DNA 🧬 testing, and that would conflict with the Book of Mormon belief that Native Americans are descended from the Lamanites.
Mormons are pretty big on sciences. I was with them for ten years, went on a mission, went to BYU. They built a school, several if not many, that heavily emphasize science in a very scientific way.
To the poster who suggested that DNA would prove that Native Americans didn't descend from 'Lamanites,' I dont know about that. But even the book of Mormon suggests more ancestry than the ones who allegedly left Jerusalem circa 600 BC. The story says that they ran into natives and there's a suggestion that even that set of natives came from somewhere else.
I'm not interested in defending Mormons and that belief, but atracks should focus on something real, no matter what or whom one attacks.
This seminary? I think that the objectors have a valid constitutional point on both the release from school and o the Seminary.
OTOH, the Mormon Church could just build their own schools and teach science probably more effectively and beneficially than the public schools are up for.
Keith D,
You might be interested that recent DNA testing of those native Americans down south with elongated heads over 2000 years back. They expected some good answers but were left with more questions. Apparently they've got, you guessed it, middle eastern DNA.
Curious indeed huh? How'd that happen I wonder.
Please provide a link to the DNA study to which you refer. No DNA study I have read shows any Levantine DNA in populations considered native to the Americas.
While some individuals of Jewish descent, particularly those with Sephardi or Ashkenazi ancestry, may carry some Levantine DNA, it's not a significant factor in the genetic makeup of populations considered native to the Americas. The vast majority of Native American ancestry is derived from migrations from Asia across the Bering Strait.
Already been done.
Illustration, please Douglas.