No. The "Golden Tablets" are empirically non-existent. They never happened. Joseph smith's life was turned upside-down by the Great Disappointment. He was at the age of "mid-life," like so many other great philosophers who started their journeys around the age of 35, and (frankly) got carried away with his own ideas in an attempt to psychologically explain to himself why Christ hadn't come back yet. But since his explanation to himself was powerful enough to make him believe it, others began to believe it to, rather than seeking their own psychological comfort. This is where religion becomes blind-religion, AKA denominationalism. Following a man and his teaching unquestioningly is stupid, no matter how nice it sounds.

SHORT ANSWER: No, there is NO archaelogical evidence to support the Book of Mormon - period. LONG ANSWER: As stated in WikiPedia ... "Since the introduction of the Book of Mormon in 1830, both Mormon and non-Mormon archaeologists have studied its claims in reference to known archaeological evidence. Latter Day Saints generally believe that the Book of Mormon describes historical events; however, the existence of the civilizations and people described in the Book of Mormon is not accepted by mainstream historians or archaeologists." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeology_and_the_Book_of_Mormon ... and by National Geographic ... "Archaeologists and other scholars have long probed the hemisphere's past and the society does not know of anything found so far that has substantiated the Book of Mormon." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeology_and_the_Book_of_Mormon#National_Geographic_Society ... and by the Smithsonian Institute, Natural History Museum: " ...The Book of Mormon is a religious document and not a scientific guide. The Smithsonian Institution has never used it in archeological research and any information that you have received to the contrary is incorrect." http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/smithsonianletter.htm Due to these facts you may hear interesting and sundry "evidences" from the LDS Missionaries that there is indeed archaeological data to support the veracity of the Book of Mormon. They are sincere and well intentioned but they are in error and often uninformed about the scientific realities that discredit the Book of Mormon as well as Joseph Smith's claim to be a Prophet. For example, the LDS Church leadership has steadfastly maintained that The Hill Cumorah referred to in the Book of Mormon is the hill where it's claimed that Joseph Smith found the Golden Plates. (please refer to attached letter from the LDS First Presidency for validation) I mention this because well meaning Latter Day Saints will unofficially assert different theories to counteract the utter lack of archaeological evidence to support the Book of Mormon - such as that there are two Hill Cumorahs (one in North America, one in South America) as well as other speculative but equally untenable contrivances which, again, have no evidence to support them. Please refer to the attached video resources for more information on this topic. The following question/answers and links may also be of some value in answering this important question. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1253509 http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/36108 http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/16905 http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=showcat&catid=520 http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=77586&catid=10 http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=75526&catid=10 And, since you brought up the issue of Joseph Smith's claim of being a Prophet (though it was a gloss not the core question) I have also embedded a good video resource on that question as well. So in the end LDS Missionaries are well meaning, wonderful people who are often sadly uninformed regarding the abundant evidence that undermines their religion archaelogically, scientifically, historically, theologically, and sociologically. As one Mormon Studies Scholar put it so well: "Mormonism is based on the subjective 'intuition' of the individual (you'll 'feel the truth' of it, and if you don't, you're not open to God...). It is a remarkably irrational non-Christian religion born of a remarkable man in 19th-century New York. In fact, Mormonism is built on some of the wildest and most outrageous assumptions I've ever come across." -- John Knutsen, Catholic Scholar

Not At all. It is a cult, and not based on the Jesus of the Bible. I read someting online once that they were into group sex and sharing wives. It was basically false cult set up under the guise of religion to justify their group sex practices. There are 5 basic biblical truths: Jesus was born of a virgin. He was crucified for the sins of the world. He raised again from the dead, completely - in bodily form. Jesus is God and God is Jesus. All of this has been foretold in many, many passages in the old testament. Cults in the beginning get you in by teaching other things that are common to Christianity in general, but most of them differ in the above biblical truths. Thanks, Marisol.