Joseph Smith (the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement)

Joseph Smith was an American religious leader born in 1805, best known as the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, commonly known as Mormonism. In 1820, he claimed to have had a vision in which God and Jesus Christ appeared to him, directing him to restore the true church. In 1830, he published the Book of Mormon, which he said was translated from golden plates he discovered. Smith organized the Church of Christ, later renamed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and led his followers in their migration to Utah, where they established a thriving community. He was killed in 1844.