Joseph Royal Murdock (August 11, 1858 – May 26, 1931) was a member of the Utah State Senate.

He attended Brigham Young Academy (the predecessor of Brigham Young University) in its inaugural year.

From 1880 to 1882 Murdock served a mission for the LDS Church, primarily in Michigan.

He was a delegate to the Utah constitutional convention in 1895 that led to statehood, then served in the first two sessions of the State House of Representatives.

Murdock died at the age of 72 in Salt Lake City and his funeral was held in Heber City, Utah.