UJoseph Smith Jr. (Disemba 23, 1805 - Juni 27, 1844) wayengumholi wezenkolo waseMelika nomsunguli weMormonism kanye nenhlangano yeLatter Day Saint. Lapho eneminyaka engama-24, uSmith washicilela iNcwadi kaMormoni. Ngesikhathi sokushona kwakhe, eminyakeni eyi-14 kamuva, wayesehehe amashumi ezinkulungwane zabalandeli futhi wasungula inkolo eqhubeka kuze kube manje nezigidi zabalandeli bomhlaba wonke. USmith wazalelwa eSharon, eVermont. Ngo-1817, wayesethuthele nomndeni wakhe baya entshonalanga yeNew York, okuyindawo yokuvuselelwa kwezenkolo okukhulu ngesikhathi sesibili sokuvuka okukhulu. USmith uthe uhlangabezane nochungechunge lwemibono, kuhlanganisa noyedwa ngo-1820 lapho abona khona "abantu ababili" (abagcina ebachaze njengoNkulunkulu uBaba noJesu Kristu), nomunye ngo-1823 lapho ingelosi yamkhomba khona eya encwadini yokungcwaba izingcwecwe zegolide ezibhalwe ngomlando wamaJuda namaKrestu wempucuko yasendulo yaseMelika. Ngo-1830, uSmith washicilela lokho athi kwakuwukuhunyushwa kwesiNgisi kwalezi zingcwephe ezibizwa ngokuthi yiNcwadi kaMormoni. Ngawo lowo nyaka wahlela iSonto likaKristu, walibiza ngokuthi ukubuyiselwa kwesonto lokuqala lobuKristu. Amalungu esonto kamuva abizwa ngokuthi "Latter Day Saints" noma "amaMormon", kanti uSmith wamemezela isambulo ngo-1838 esabiza leli bandla ngokuthi yiChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints