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Researchers study how DNA tests upend Mormon families with surprise relatives

September 21, 2026 at 9:03 AM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune · Summarized by Mormon News from original reporting

Researchers study how DNA tests upend Mormon families with surprise relatives
Image via The Salt Lake Tribune

Two Latter-day Saint researchers are studying how families cope when DNA tests reveal unexpected relatives—NPEs (not parent expected) or misattributed parentage. The researchers want to hear from people in the LDS community who have experienced such revelations, which can upend family histories carefully documented in church genealogy records.

DNA testing has become widespread among Latter-day Saints due to the church's emphasis on family history work, but the tests sometimes reveal infidelity, adoption secrets, or other undisclosed family circumstances. The study aims to understand how people process these discoveries and their impact on family relationships and religious identity.

Read the full story at The Salt Lake Tribune →

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