Joseph Smith

The founding prophet of the Latter Day Saint movement, claiming to have received a vision from God and the angel Moroni at age 14. He translated the Book of Mormon from golden plates he allegedly discovered in upstate New York, which he described as a record of ancient inhabitants of the Americas. He established a new religious social order characterized by communal living, temple rituals, and the controversial practice of plural marriage. He famously sought to build a "Zion" on Earth, moving his followers from New York to Ohio, Missouri, and finally Illinois. His assassination in 1844 made him a martyr to his followers and accelerated the westward migration to Utah.