Simon Southerton

Simon G. Southerton is an Australian plant geneticist. Southerton published the book Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church. The book uses genetic evidence to examine the historical accuracy of the Book of Mormon and related claims about the Lamanite people.

Southerton was a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), having converted to the church at age 10; as an adult, he was a Mormon missionary in Melbourne and a bishop in Australia. Because of his inability to reconcile church teachings with science, Southerton resigned as a bishop in 1998 and left the church. However, after Southerton's book was published, the church formally charged him with adultery.

In an email sent to the Associated Press following his excommunication from the LDS Church, Southerton stated he was excommunicated for being too vocal regarding the results of the Genomics Project DNA. However, those who attended Southerton's church disciplinary council contended that the excommunication had nothing to do with the book. Southerton now acknowledges that he was excommunicated for adultery, but maintains that the charge of adultery was used because the church wanted to discipline him but avoid charging him with apostasy.