[citation needed] The following year, in June 1847, he joined the Hunter/Horne Company on their journey to the Salt Lake Valley, arriving on September 29, 1847.

With his companion, Benjamin F. Dewey, West was the first LDS missionary to preach in Sri Lanka (Ceylon).

The break in his legislative service was due to being called on another mission, this time to preside over the church in Europe, where many converts during this period were emigrating to Utah.

[2] West was involved in coordinating the employment of Latter-day Saints in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad for Central Pacific in Utah Territory.

In 1869, he went to California in hope of improving his health, but ultimately died in San Francisco early the following year.