While I'm not a Mormon, I must conclude:
- It's exceedingly unlikely, and nigh-impossible that Mormonism is a fraud (as impossible as Joseph Smith finding and translating lost gold plates from an ancient civilization?). That is, at the least, Mormons must actually believe their own religion - they are not actively engaging in fraud.
- The beliefs of Mormons conform to reality better than what the average American (and person in the world) believes, so much so that Mormons as a group are far more successful than the average American family (and average family in the entire world!)
- Mormonism is good for the average individual mormon!
To restate once more: Even if you don't believe it is possible for Joseph Smith to have done what he did, what has resulted is a system that is more true than whatever you (or I) believe! It conforms closer to reality, and provides better real world advantages to the individual and group as a whole.
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One can assume that, should current trends continue, you and I (and whatever you and I believe) will eventually go extinct, while Mormons and what Mormons believe will continue to flourish. Usually the smart thing to do, when one realizes that what they're doing is failing, and what someone else is doing is better, is to copy it - yet we (Americans, and Christians as a whole) would rather mock, slander, and come up with any excuse why it-just-can't-be-true.
I doubt Mormons would argue for themselves and their belief system as such, but the data conforms to their own belief that they are blessed by God.
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