If he were a true prophet, he would need little in the way of defense. As far as the general subject of this thread, lets consider the true history of Smith and let the facts fall where they may:
1830
The polygamy of David and Solomon was "abominable" to the Lord (Jacob 2:24)
Bigamy was against the law in Illinois
1833
Smith marries his second wife (first after Emma)and begins mormon polygamy
1835
Doctrine and Covenants Section 101, Verse 4 (1835 edition)
"Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy; we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman but one husband; except that in the event of death when either is at liberty to marry again." (History of the Church, vol. 2, pg. 247)
1833-1844
Smith married at least 33 women, many of which were legally married to other men at the same time (bigamy and adultry).
1843
Smith's revelation, dated July 12, 1843, which became D&C 132
1844
Joseph Smith was indicted on charges of polygamy and adultery on May 23, 1844. In response, Smith flatly denied polygamy in a speech delivered on May 26, 1844, all the while married to at least 33 other women.
1887
Edmunds-Tucker Bill was passed which, among other things, "declared that marriages not publicly recorded were felonies
1890
President Woodruff produced his famous Manifesto, advising church members to obey the laws of the land as they related to polygamy. Thus the current prophet reversed the everlasting nature of D&C 132 which is still canonized today.
All that said, I do find it interesting that these same detractors never look to the fruit of the tree, as Jesus instructed us to do.
Yes, look at the fruit and in this case, listen to your prophets speaking about this:
"If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who willfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be exposed; his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false " (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, pages 188-189)
He broke the law of the land, he broke the law of the mormon church, participated in an act condemned by the bom - which he translated, committed adultry, he lied to a court of law, he had a revelation to support what he had been doing for the previous 10 years. While the church doctrine said that they followed the laws of the land, he continued to violate those laws. Eventually his revelation - D&C 132 is revoked, except that 132 has never been removed and has been followed by some mormons to this date. Show me where the facts of history are wrong, that Smith can be defined as anything but a deceiver? And the fruits today - abandoned boys, abused women, all because of Smith.
--MormonDude(You Gentiles NEVER learn; do you!?)