Noel B. Reynolds reminds us that:
Empirical evidences never prove anything absolutely. They can be used only to refute or confirm theories. But to the extent that human knowledge generally depends on empirical evidence, this evidence does provide the same kind of proof we use to support accepted scientific theories.
Because the Book of Mormon exists as an empirical phenomenon, the relevant theories are those which attempt to explain that existence. There are really only two such theories: (1) that the book is a fraudulent attempt to concoct ancient text, and (2) that the divine intervention of God brought a previously written account of his dealings with men back into circulation.
Inasmuch as the first theory fails repeatedly tin the best scholarly studies, the second theory is left alone as the only remaining plausible hypothesis.
[Noel B. Reynolds, John L. Sorenson, Arthur Wallace, and Paul R. Cheesman, "External Evidences of Scripture: A Panel," in Paul R. Cheesman and C. Wilfred Griggs, eds., Scriptures for the Modern World, p. 127. See also Matthew B. Brown, All Things Restored: Confirming the Authenticity of LDS Beliefs, p. 229]