The following are excerpts (with original spelling retained) from the journal of Oliver H. Olney when he was in Nauvoo. They are published in the following book:
Richard G. Moore, ed. The Writings
of Oliver H. Olney: April 1842 to February 1843—Nauvoo, Illinois (Salt Lake
City: Greg Kofford Books, 2020)
They are important as they show that Latter-day Saints in 1842 believed
that many of the Saints would move to the Rocky Mountains, including it being a
location where people would receive religious instruction from the Church and the leadership thereof (compare with the
long-standing use of Isa 2:2-5 by Latter-day Saints and the Salt Lake Temple),
contra some critics who claim that Joseph Smith never gave any teaching or
prophecy that at least some of the Saints would eventually move west to
modern-day Utah and the surrounding area (see Jeff Lindsay, “The
Saints to Flourish in the Rocky Mountains” in his LDSFAQ Page, Fulfilled
Prophecies of Joseph Smith)
As Moore noted in his introductory comments to Olney’s journal:
Olney's writings
substantiated the claim that the Mormons were considering removing to the Rocky
Mountains years prior to the assassination of Joseph Smith. (xxx)
July 2, 1842:
As a company is a
forming in to the wilderness to go as far west as the Rocky mountains and that
without delay. (p. 78)
As a company is now
aforming in to the wilderness to go as far as the Rocky Mountains and that with
out delay Yes men women and Children is now in aray To make read[y] a voiage
amonst the Natives of the far west Let this subject be look to as this wot they
say that they must go whire there is no Law to baffle them in their doings We
will now use some reason and say Shall the[y] go west amongs the Indians and
abuse the inosent and raise a strife amongst the red men of the forest. (p. 79)
July 7, 1842
Also go ahead in Poligamy and raise up a
Righeous branch some whire near the Rocky Mountains in the far west, Whire no
law can tuch you or hinder you on the way. (p. 87)
And train every once in a few day and boast
of your power with God to move in power and wisdom in this and foren lands Go
ahead in Poligemy and raise up a righeous branch some whire neer the Rocky
Mountains in the far west Whire no law can tuch you or hinder you on your way I
will now speak to you of your folly of your with me haveing a fuss. (p. 89)
July 20, 1842
They say with your numerous wifes and maidens
you are about to start west as far as the Rocky Mountains whire you will raise
up a Righteous Branch without being molested by the Laws of the land. (p. 107)
July 22, 1842
If not speak of the foibles of the Church of
Latter day Saints that is extant on the Earth I have seen of their doings I
have seen of their works untill I say they are dangerous people to be together
on the Earth If they was to the rocky mountains as they are there desined to go
what would be the consequence. (p. 108)
I write my feeling on a principal and good
will to man and in the fear of God that if they put their plans into practice
whire will they soon be but on their way to the Rocky Mountains. (p. 109)
July 27, 1842
But as a people is often a talking when
excited for good things to come many now is a speaking of going to the Rocky
Mountains while God shall destroy The wicked of the Land It will be with them.
(p. 114)
August 11, 1842
As a theme of doings has long ben spoken of
for the Saints to arise And extricate themselves by going in to the wilderness
with the Natives west As a way is opening for many to start To the Rocky
Mountains in order to raise up a Righeous branch the two Prisieners are in
alerk [alert?] awaiting the time that they can move together as is said to be
the theme. (p. 130)
August 19, 1842
I again write of things that comes to my view
As many is a talking some few adoing in our citty of Refuge as the story goes
freely. The rounds that a company is a fixing to go some whire near the Rocky
Mountains whire no Law will disturb them or they can make Laws of their own to
gain a place of rest. (p. 145)
I have no hopes of a Reformation As much is
adoing And much don I some time have feelings to look ahead and se what ten
years would bring about I look at them far from this some whire in the Rocky
Mountains in the far West Women and Children all in aray with many leaders of
both Prophits and Prophitess that would say in the name of the Lord They would
move in a oneness togethor asaying to lead Those of less note Would follow
after a saying to be much blest of God. (p. 147)
They fast are makeing ready a voige to take
As far as the Rocky Mountains to gain a place of rest A rest that to them will
be of value In their daily moves to establish a foundation whire they can live
They have long ben a fixing that much as in store such as money and goods that
has ben donated in the name of the Lord that is carefully laid away in boxes to
be ready to load when the way opens to go to the Rocky Mountains Men women and
Children are in aray fast a fixing to be under way with their Prophit Joseph.
(p. 147)
I look at them far distant from this Some
whire near the rocky mountains in the far west Men women and Children all in
away with many wise leaders of both Prophits and Prophitesses that would say in
the name of the Lord They would move in a mess together asaying to lead Those
of less note would follow after saying to be much blest of God They would
receive Instructions from time to time that would say they was the only people
on Earth They thus would move with one at the head and others accessary Untill
they had well fild the western woods. (p. 149)
27 August, 1842
They say if Joseph is gone God has apointed
an other in his stead to lead us That is his Brother Hiram. Thus a door is
opened for to lead them along step by step It is said that Joseph but the
secret whisperins is that he is in the City of Nauvoo Amaking ready to start to
the noted boiling springs amongst the Natives neer the Rocky Mountains. (p.
155)
4 October 1842
They may go to the rocky mountains as the
saying is but it is not of God. (p. 176; this was addressed to Eliza R. Snow)
