The Book of Mormon was written by a grifter in the 19th century.

Weren't Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Q grifters from the 1st century?

I see no reason to consider Joseph Smith any worse than the others.

(Except for his abuse of power maybe.)

Whereas we know almost nothing about Paul, Matthew, etc., we do know quite a bit about Smith: he lived only 190 years ago.

I completely agree. They are all grifters.

You know... some religious stuff is beyond proof. Did Jesus perform miracles? Was he the Son of God? It comes down to faith.

However, ancient Israelites who came to the Americas? Is there any evidence at all, genealogical, archaeological, myths and legends of indigenous peoples, anything for that? The article does note that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Still, you would think something would have turned up by now.