Joel Ricks, Jr. (1858-1944). A Mormon author and politician. He authored The Geography of Book of Mormon Lands and signed the Utah State Constitution.

Joel Ricks, Jr. (1858-1944) was born in Farmington, Utah. He signed the Utah State Constitution, was a pioneer railroader and telegrapher, and spent much of his time in genealogical research and a study of Book of Mormon geography. He made several trips to Southern America for his research and authored five books and a number of maps and pamphlets. One of his books was titled The Geography of Book of Mormon Lands.

Joel Ricks was born July 21, 1858 in Farmington, Utah to Joel Ricks Sr. (1804-1888) and Sarah Beriah Fiske (1819-1891). In 1859 his parents moved to Logan, Utah to help settle that area. He was married to Susette Cardon (1861-1919) in 1881.

Ricks was secretary to the Utah State Constitutional Convention and signed the state's constitution. He authored five books, including The Geography of Book of Mormon Lands, and a number of maps and pamphlets, many detailing his beliefs about where the Book of Mormon people were located on the Southern and Northern American continents. He took several trips to South America to conduct research for these publications. He died in Logan, Utah on November 23, 1944.