(July 15, 1792 – December 23, 1871) was an early convert to the Latter Day Saint movement and was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). 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 Shell Beach, 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.
David Whitmer, an original witness of the golden plates and later president of the Church of Christ (Whitmerite), claimed that the devil bound John Murdock after he was ordained to be a high priest to show «God’s displeasure was upon their works» in his book An Address to All Believers in Christ.
In 1851, Murdock went to Australia as the first Latter-day Saint missionary sent to Australia since William Barratt in 1840. Murdock was accompanied on this mission by Charles Wandell. They first preached in Sydney and also traveled to the immediate vicinity of the area. He gave his first sermon in Australia on November 2, 1851, at the site of the Old Sydney Race Course.
His son John R. Murdock led more Mormon pioneer down-and-back companies than anyone else.
Murdock died in Beaver, Utah Territory.