On 24 October 1843, prominent author and educator wrote a letter from , New York, to JS in , Illinois, informing him of his eight weeks earlier and describing his political ambitions in . Bennet had become associated with the through the former Nauvoo mayor, who recommended appointing Bennet inspector general of the in April 1842. Following John C. Bennett’s excommunication in May 1842, JS began directly corresponding with Bennet, and a few months later sent to to meet with Bennet personally. Bennet surreptitiously defended the Latter-day Saints in the press, writing under the pseudonym “Cincinnatus,” and offered advice and support to JS during officials’ ongoing extradition attempts. In April 1843, Bennet offered legal advice related to church member ’s trial in Missouri on charges that he attempted to assassinate former Missouri governor . Bennet also apprised JS of John C. Bennett’s activities in New York. Though Bennet planned to visit Nauvoo in May 1843, an attack of “Rheumatic gout” prevented him from making the journey west. On 29 August 1843, and visited Bennet at his home in New Utrecht, and Young baptized Bennet at nearby Coney Island beach the following day.

In his October letter to JS, described his baptism as nothing more than a “glorious frolick in the clear blue ocean.” Bennet also informed JS of his attempt to commission a stone seal engraving for JS, as well as his intention to buy land in and run for governor of that state. The letter’s postmark is now illegible, but Bennet presumably mailed the letter from on the day it was written or shortly after. A docket in the handwriting of indicates that the letter arrived in by 9 November. JS’s journal entry for that day notes that someone, apparently Richards, “called at the office with a letter from Jas A. Bnenet” and that JS “gave instruction to have it answerd.” JS responded to Bennet on 13 November 1843.