Karl Morgan Richards (1900-1980) worked for the automotive industry in Detroit, Michigan and later served as a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, primarily in French Polynesia.

Karl Morgan Richards was born December 22, 1900 to Gomer Morgan and Sarah Butler Richards of Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended the University of Utah from 1919-20, and 1924-27. From 1920 to 1923, Richards served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reopening missionary work in Belgum and France following World War I. There he was appointed President of the Belgium-French District. Following his graduation from the University of Utah, Richards participated in several graduate programs in Paris, France and at George Washington University. In the 1930s, Richards held several goverment posts, including the U.S. Treasury Representative at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France. From 1943 to his retirement in 1966, Richards worked for the Automobile Manufacturers Association. After retirement, he served as the mission president for the French Polynesian Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1966 to 1969. Durring his service, Richards opened New Caledonia for missionary work. Richards returned to French Polynesia for six months in 1972 as the mission's acting president. Later that year he was called to be the Regional Representative of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for French Polynesia and New Caledonia. His final full-time calling for the Church was in Quebec, Canada as both Regional Representative of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and mission president over the Canada Montreal Mission. In 1933, Richards married Elsie Lafount and together they had five children. Karl Morgan Richards died on March 28, 1980.