For almost 200 years, Latter-day Saints were taught that the Book of Mormon tells the story of the Native peoples of North and South America. One Church pamphlet distributed to Native Americans of all tribes stated, and I quote: “The best source of true information that tells you who you are, where you came from, and what you can achieve is found in an important book—the Book of Mormon.”

Today we’re joined by Zander Sturgill, an active Latter-day Saint and Navajo who is thoughtfully challenging the predominant historical narrative. His approach honors both Native peoples and the Book of Mormon by allowing their stories to stand strong—separate yet respected. Zander works full-time at the Ancient America Foundation and runs the YouTube channel America Explored, where he examines little-known aspects of Native American history in Utah while honoring both pioneer and Indigenous perspectives.

Some recent scholars have described our past insistence on telling Native Americans their own story as a form of Mormon colonization. As usual on this podcast, it’s a paradox. We approach this topic with humility—exploring how Latter-day Saints can honor their sacred text while fully respecting the rich diversity of Native cultures and identities. We don’t presume to label anyone; instead, we create space for people to define themselves.

This podcast does not receive any outside funding. We’re able to keep it going thanks to periodic mentions of our international tours. If you’d like to help support the show, please visit www.reliqtravel.com We have some truly amazing tours to Italy with Mcarthur Krishna and Amy Jensen of Women on the Stand and Greece with the That's Church interfaith community, .coming in 2027. Thank you so much for listening.

Follow Zander:

@ancientamericafoundation

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zandersturgill