Levi Ward Hancock (April 7, 1803 – June 10, 1882)[1] was an early convert to Mormonism and was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for nearly fifty years.

[2] In 1830, while living in Ohio, Hancock heard Latter Day Saint missionaries Parley P. Pratt, Sidney Rigdon, and Oliver Cowdery preaching in Mayfield.

[citation needed] Convinced by their words, Hancock was baptized in the Latter Day Saint church on November 16, 1830.

[2] In 1834 Hancock participated in Zion's Camp,[2] traveling from Ohio to Missouri in an effort to assist Church members who were experiencing trouble there.

[1] On April 6, 1837, Hancock was released from this position because it was mistakenly believed that he, like five of the other presidents of the Seventy, had already been ordained a high priest.

[3] Hancock wrote the words of the twelve verse-song sung at the placing of the Far West Temple cornerstones in 1838.

Traveling east along the California Trail, Hancock led about 100 men to Utah where they joined the Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley on 18 October.