that certain folk notions about Book of Mormon populations are not true. That’s fine. I’m perfectly willing to accept that; I think that’s great. These are views I’ve already held, and it’s nice to be vindicated by DNA. I’ve already held these views for years, anyway, before the DNA became an issue. So to the extent that DNA knocks out the views of people who disagree with me, I’m not sad at all! -- Daniel Peterson, “Random Reflections on the Passing Scene,” FAIR (2003).
Well apparently one of those people with incorrect "folk notions" is the current prophet. Speaking to 22,000 Latter-day Saints gathered in Guatemala City, 24 August 2019, President Nelson said:
The lands of Central America and South America are studded with ruins—remnants—of ancient civilizations, … One wonders what life must have been like among those people.
Add to that the message on the title page of the Book of Mormon, that it is ‘written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel,’ we not only learn more about those ancient inhabitants, but we learn that the Lord cares for His children in this hemisphere, both in ancient times, and in modern times. -- Sarah Weaver “Latin America Ministry Tour: President Nelson asks Guatemalan Latter-day Saints to remember this simple advice” LDS Church News (24 Aug 2019).
What an honor to be a Mormon apologist. To be so right when everyone around you is so wrong.