John Murdock

Who was John Murdock?

John Murdock was an early convert to the Latter Day Saint movement and was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is mentioned twice in the Doctrine and Covenants. He was also the first mission president for the LDS Church in Australia.

Murdock was born in Kortright, New York.

Prior to joining the Latter Day Saint Church of Christ, Murdock had belonged to many churches. First he had affiliated with the Dutch Lutheran Church. He next became a Methodist. He also was for a short time part of a Baptist congregation, which he left because he did not agree with their support of Calvinist doctrines. In 1827, Murdock joined the Campbellites. His falling out with the Campbellites was largely due to Alexander Campbell rejecting the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Murdock was baptized a member of the Church of Christ in November 1830. At this time, he lived in Geauga County, Ohio.

In 1831 Murdock accompanied Hyrum Smith on a mission to Pontiac, Michigan. They had been commanded to take this general route in Doctrine and Covenants 52:8.

Murdock served several missions for the church in the early years. After his first wife died, Joseph Smith and his wife Emma adopted Murdock's newborn twins, Joseph and Julia.