Did Joseph Smith Start The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christs-church

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, find that an odd question. It is like asking if Moses made up the Ten Commandments. Moses was a prophet. Prophets listen to what God has to say, then they teach it to the people. They have the assignment to help the rest of us learn how to be happy and know what we need to do to return to our Heavenly Father someday. 

Aware of our weaknesses, God has always used Prophets to help us learn and grow. The Old Testament contains the record of God's dealings with man through His prophets. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ set up His Church, gave His Apostles priesthood authority, and designated Peter to be the prophet who would continue to receive revelation for His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Early-day Saints (saints just means a church member). (see Peter receiving revelation to take Gospel to Gentiles)


Unwilling to be governed by God, men killed these early Apostles, and so God withdrew His priesthood authority from the earth. Desiring power and control over the people, these men corrupted the teachings of God and even altered scriptures to fit their ideas of what should be. There were some rays of light in these "dark ages" as reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin began the Protestant Reformation trying to bring doctrine and teachings closer to what Jesus Christ had established. 

In 1820, the Lord knew that the time was right to restore His gospel teachings and church organization to the earth. To do so, He chose a young man who He could train and teach as He did with the ancient prophet Samuel .  Through His new Prophet, Joseph Smith, God restored the fullness of the gospel: God's complete teachings, authority to act in His name (priesthood authority), and saving ordinances. 

Ever since Joseph Smith, there has been a prophet upon the earth through whom God could lead, bless, and guide those who will listen to Him. The same teachings which the Lord taught to Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and all the other prophets from Adam to Malachi, and which Jesus Christ reiterated when He ministered on the earth, were restored again to the earth. No longer does man need to grope around studying other men's opinions and guessing what is true. God, not man, is in charge of and leading His Church once again. 



https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christs-church

https://www.lds.org/topics/apostasy?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/topics/restoration-of-the-gospel?lang=eng