Joseph Smith, Jr. (December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader who founded the Latter Day Saint movement, the predominant branch of which is Mormonism. At age twenty-four, Smith published The Book of Mormon (1830), and by the time of his death fourteen years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers, established cities and temples, and founded a religion and a religious culture that continues to the present day. (Wikipedia)

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consider Joseph Smith to have been a great prophet, as well as the first President of the Church. In addition to The Book of Mormon, Smith also published two other standard works still used by the LDS Church: Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price.