I’m not claiming to know the truth. But my point is—neither do you. No one does and no one ever will. Joseph Smith lived so long ago that no one can ever say unequivocally that he was a conman or a true criminal.

All that exist are some alleged court documents that don’t even begin to tell the full story of who he was. Just as it’s possible he was a conman, it’s also possible that he really believed in the claims he made.

All I know is that there is a lot of good that comes out of the Mormon church, and I appreciate the basic values I was taught from being raised in it. And I’m mature enough to still say that even though I’m not a member anymore.