The Writings of Oliver Olney: April 1842 to February 1843 — Nauvoo, Illinois

Edited by Richard G. Moore 

Now Available

“An important contribution to the body of Latter-day Saint history.” — Alonzo L. Gaskill
“Such a rare collection of documents . . . is crucial to gain an understanding of Nauvoo during the time of Joseph Smith.” — Steven L. Shields
“Provides historians a chance to view the unprecedented extent of social upheaval, revelatory innovation, and deep confusion present in this important moment in Mormon history.” — Benjamin E. Park
“The Writings of Oliver Olney is an entertaining and insightful look at key moments of the early 1840s. I recommend this new volume to anyone eager to get a better grasp on the Nauvoo period.” — Christopher James Blythe

Book Description:

Oliver H. Olney, an early convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, fled to Nauvoo, Illinois, following persecution in Missouri. In Nauvoo, Olney became disgruntled with church leadership and viewed Joseph Smith as a fallen prophet. His writings, consisting of journal entries, letters, and booklets, express his concerns about what he viewed as serious iniquity within the Church. Despite his opposition to church leadership resulting in his excommunication, Olney remained in Nauvoo and wrote about the things he witnessed.

The handwritten papers of Oliver Olney are housed in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University and are made available in published form for the first time. They offer historical researchers and interested readers of the early Latter-day Saint movement a unique glimpse from the margins of religious society in Nauvoo. Olney’s writings add light to key events in early Mormonism such as rumors of polygamy, the influence of Free Masonry in Nauvoo, plans to migrate westward to the Rocky Mountains, as well as growing tensions with disaffected church members and rising conflict with Nauvoo’s non-Mormon neighbors.

Q&A with the Author:

Praise for The Writings of Oliver Olney:

“Oliver H. Olney is, by all accounts, one of the most obscure figures in the history of the restoration. Eclectic in his theological interests, and professing prophetic gifts to rival those of any leader in this dispensation, Olney’s writings present a view of the restored gospel that is provocative, curious, and even (at times) humorous—as he prophesies, chastises and opines about the Church, its leaders, its doctrine and future. Representing years of research and careful transcription, this annotated collection of The Writings of Oliver H. Olney is an important contribution to the body of Latter-day Saint history—and belongs on the shelf of every serious historian.” — Alonzo L. Gaskill, Professor of Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young University

“Richard G. Moore gives historians and casual readers alike a remarkable presentation of Oliver Olney’s writings. Minority reports are often dismissed and relegated to the footnotes of history, but Olney was a vital observer of events in Nauvoo in the early 1840s. Though he fell out of favor with Joseph Smith, Olney openly shared his contrary opinions. However, unlike others, he did not at first feel pressured to leave Nauvoo despite his dissent. In his papers, we gain insight to who he was and what he thought about the innovations in the church. Such a rare collection of documents from a first-hand witness who was not an apologist is crucial to gain an understanding of Nauvoo during the time of Joseph Smith. This volume is essential reading in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement.” — Steven L. Shields, author, Divergent Paths of the Restoration

“Oliver Olney could be described as equal parts fascinating and perplexing, as his writings can appear both poignant and bewildering. Yet the same could be said about the city of Nauvoo in 1842–1843. The collection of these scattered writings, transcribed and published for the first time, provides historians a chance to view the unprecedented extent of social upheaval, revelatory innovation, and deep confusion present in this important moment in Mormon history.” — Benjamin E. Park, author, Kingdom of Nauvoo: The Rise and Fall of a Religious Empire on the American Frontier

“Until now, the writings of Oliver Olney have been one of the best kept secrets of Latter-day Saint Nauvoo. Olney was a dissident visionary who lived among the Latter-day Saints recording his visions and criticisms of Joseph Smith in his private writings. The eccentric prophet never gathered a following, but was publicly dismissed in "Try the Spirits," a famous editorial often credited to Joseph Smith. The Writings of Oliver Olney is an entertaining and insightful look at key moments of the early 1840s. I recommend this new volume to anyone eager to get a better grasp on the Nauvoo period. Richard Moore has provided us with a careful transcription, an insightful introduction, and useful notes throughout.” — Christopher James Blythe, faculty research associate at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, Brigham Young University

“The cast of characters at Nauvoo, Illinois, included Mormonism’s most devout believers, some never affiliated, and several dissidents. Among the latter, Oliver Olney has been remembered for both his published criticisms as well as unpublished diaries from 1842–43, all of which are cited by researchers for their importance in documenting the Nauvoo era. A scholarly edition of the diaries is long overdue, but Richard Moore’s careful transcript and thorough annotation has made this moment well worth the wait.” — Devery S. Anderson, editor, The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000

“While the Joseph Smith Papers and similar projects provide us with the 'top brass' perspective of what was going on in Nauvoo, the writings of Oliver Olney give us the everyman, outside of the inner circle, perspective of those same events and times.” —Andrew Hamilton, Worlds Without End: A Mormon Studies Roundtable

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More Information:

340 Pages
978-1-58958-762-5 (hardcover)
Press Sheet