Simon Southerton is an Australian plant geneticist.[1] Southerton published the book Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church.[2] The book uses genetic evidence to examine the historical accuracy of The Book of Mormon. The book received heavy criticism from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Southerton was a member of the LDS Church, but after the book was published, the church charged him with inappropriate sexual relations with a woman other than his wife; in an email sent to the Associated Press he stated he was excommunicated for being too vocal regarding the results of the Genomics Project DNA [3] However, Members of the church disciplinary council contended that the excommunication had nothing to do with the book.[4]