The LiLa(MoO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3+ and LiLa(MoO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3+ ,Bi 3+ phosphors were prepared using the citric-acid-fueled combustion method and the influence of concentrations of Bi 3+ dopant on LiLa(MoO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3+ red luminescence was investigated. The LiLa(MoO 4 ) 2 : Sm 3+ and LiLa(MoO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3+ ,Bi 3+ samples matched well with the scheelite structure and I4 1 /a space group and did not detect structural changes. Under an excitation of 403 nm, the prepared LiLa(MoO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3+ ,Bi 3+ phosphor was excited and produced orange-red emission. When compared with the LiLa(MoO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3+ phosphor, the LiLa(MoO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3+ ,Bi 3+ phosphor exhibited enhanced fluorescence intensity because the Bi 3+ dopant ions are doped as a sensitizer. The optimal doping concentrations of Sm 3+ and Bi 3+ were 5 and 1 mol%, respectively. Furthermore, the energy transfer from Bi 3+ to Sm 3+ is effective ( 3 P 1 ! 4 K 11/2 ). Subsequently, the electrons in an unstable excited state were transferred to a stable ground state ( 4 G 5/2 ! 6 H 5/2 , 6 H 7/2 , 6 H 9/2 ). The Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates of the optimized LiLa(MoO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3+ ,Bi 3+ phosphor were situated in the orange-red region. The luminescence of the LiLa(MoO 4 ) 2 :Sm 3+ ,Bi 3+ phosphor generated under near-ultraviolet (UV) irradiation could be used to produce a warm white light, indicating its possible applications in white light-emitting diodes.