Orson Spencer (March 14, 1802 – October 15, 1855) was a prolific writer and prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He served in several highly visible positions within the church and left an extensive legacy of theological writings.

He attended the theological college at Hamilton, New York (now known as Colgate University), and graduated as class valedictorian in 1829.

Spencer was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by his brother Daniel and was baptized by the same in spring 1841, necessitating the discontinuation of Orson's Baptist ministry.

During his time of investigating the faith, Spencer obtained as much information as he could about Solomon Spalding and other items that called into question the divine origin of the Book of Mormon, but he was still convinced of its truthfulness by reading it.

[14] In 1850, when the Deseret News began publication in Salt Lake City, Spencer served as assistant editor under Willard Richards.

[17] After reaching Berlin in late January 1853, he and his companion discovered that every step they took was observed by the Prussian secret police.

After only one week, at the command of Karl Otto von Raumer—Secretary of Cultural Affairs—Spencer and Houtz were forced by the police to leave Berlin without having had any visible missionary success.

Spencer served as an editor and writer on many newspapers from his conversion and was named the first chancellor of the University of Deseret in 1850.

His statements about God the Father having a distinct place of dwelling but spreading forth his presence through the Holy Ghost were among the leading exposisitons of this Latter-day Saint view in the 1840s.