BYU researchers study LDS family responses to DNA testing surprises

DNA testing has upended some families by revealing living relatives they never knew existed, and two Latter‑day Saint scholars are launching a study to see how people cope with those discoveries. The project, announced this week by Dr. Emily D. Smith and Dr. James A. Lee of Brigham Young University, will focus on members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints who have taken direct‑to‑consumer DNA kits and learned unexpected genealogical ties.

The surge in home DNA kits has turned genealogy into a mass‑market hobby. In the past five years, more than 30 million Americans have submitted a saliva sample to companies such as AncestryDNA and 23andMe. The technology can match strangers, confirm or refute family lore, and even expose adoptions or non‑paternal events. For Latter‑day Saints, who have long emphasized family history and temple work, the stakes are higher. The church maintains the world’s largest genealogical database, and many members view DNA results as a spiritual as well as a scientific revelation. When a test shows a different parent or sibling, it can shake personal identity, marital trust, and religious practice.

Smith and Lee plan to interview about 150 volunteers who have experienced surprise matches. They will ask participants how they learned the news, what emotional reactions followed, and whether they sought counseling from church leaders or mental‑health professionals. Early conversations suggest a mix of excitement, grief, and confusion. Some respondents say the new relatives have deepened their sense of belonging, while others report strain in existing relationships. The researchers will also review church guidelines on genetic information and compare them with secular best practices for genetic counseling.

The study will run for two years, with preliminary findings due in early 2027. Its goal is to produce recommendations for religious and mental‑health providers on how to support families navigating DNA‑driven revelations. If successful, the work could help thousands of believers reconcile scientific data with faith‑based concepts of family. It also highlights a broader cultural moment in which personal genomics is reshaping how we understand ancestry, identity, and community.