Joseph Murphy was born on May 20, 1898, in a small town in the County of Cork, Ireland. When the United States entered World War II, Joseph enlisted in the Army. After his discharge from the Army, he chose not to return to his career in pharmacy. He traveled extensively, taking courses in several universities. From his studies, Joseph became enraptured by the various Asian religions and went to India to learn about them in depth. Upon his return to the United States, Joseph chose to become a minister and bring his broad knowledge to the public. Over the next few years, Dr. Murphy became well known outside of the Los Angeles area as a result of his books, tapes, and radio broadcasts and was invited to lecture all over the country. He wrote more than thirty books. His most famous work, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, became an immediate bestseller. It was acclaimed as one of the best self-help guides ever written. Dr. Murphy died in December 1981, and his wife, Dr. Jean Murphy, continued his ministry after his death. His message summed up was: " You are the king, the ruler of your world for you are one with God."