Joseph Smith Jr. was an American religious and political leader, best known as the founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. Born in Sharon, Vermont, he published the Book of Mormon at the age of 24, which attracted a large following. By his death at the age of 38, he had garnered tens of thousands of followers.

Smith's life was marked by his religious visions. In 1820, he reported seeing 'two personages', later described as God the Father and Jesus Christ. In 1823, an angel supposedly directed him to a book of golden plates, which he said contained a Judeo-Christian history of an ancient American civilization. His translation of the plates led to the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830 and the establishment of the Church of Christ, later known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Smith and his followers aimed to build a communal Zion and settled in various locations including Kirtland, Ohio, and Independence, Missouri. These efforts faced significant opposition, resulting in the eventual relocation to Nauvoo, Illinois.

In 1844, Smith launched a presidential campaign but was murdered by a mob in Carthage, Illinois, amid rising tensions due to his controversial practices and teachings. His followers continue to regard him as a prophet.