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Letter from John P. Greene, 30 June 1839

Source Note

John P. Greene

3 Sept. 1793–10 Sept. 1844. Farmer, shoemaker, printer, publisher. Born at Herkimer, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of John Coddington Greene and Anna Chapman. Married first Rhoda Young, 11 Feb. 1813. Moved to Aurelius, Cayuga Co., New York, 1814; to Brownsville...

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, Letter,
Cincinnati

Area settled largely by emigrants from New England and New Jersey, by 1788. Village founded and surveyed adjacent to site of Fort Washington, 1789. First seat of legislature of Northwest Territory, 1790. Incorporated as city, 1819. Developed rapidly as shipping...

More Info
, Hamilton Co., OH, to JS,
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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, and
Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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,
Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 30 June 1839. Featured version copied [between ca. Dec. 1839 and ca. Apr. 1840] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 75–76; handwriting of
Robert B. Thompson

1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...

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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

On 30 June 1839,
John P. Greene

3 Sept. 1793–10 Sept. 1844. Farmer, shoemaker, printer, publisher. Born at Herkimer, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of John Coddington Greene and Anna Chapman. Married first Rhoda Young, 11 Feb. 1813. Moved to Aurelius, Cayuga Co., New York, 1814; to Brownsville...

View Full Bio
wrote the following letter from
Cincinnati

Area settled largely by emigrants from New England and New Jersey, by 1788. Village founded and surveyed adjacent to site of Fort Washington, 1789. First seat of legislature of Northwest Territory, 1790. Incorporated as city, 1819. Developed rapidly as shipping...

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, Ohio, to the
First Presidency

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

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, describing his recent public presentations on the
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
’s difficulties in
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
. He conducted the presentations as part of an assignment he received the previous month to preside over the church in
New York City

Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...

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and surrounding regions and to collect donations for the Saints migrating from Missouri to
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

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and
Iowa Territory

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. First permanent white settlements established, ca. 1833. Organized as territory, 1838, containing all of present-day Iowa, much of present-day Minnesota, and parts of North and South Dakota. Population in...

More Info
.
1

Minutes, 6 May 1839; Authorization for John P. Greene, ca. 6 May 1839.


In preparation for his assignment, Greene acquired a letter of introduction on 8 May 1839 from Illinois governor
Thomas Carlin

18 July 1789–14 Feb. 1852. Ferry owner, farmer, sheriff, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Thomas Carlin and Elizabeth Evans. Baptist. Moved to what became Missouri, by 1803. Moved to Illinois Territory, by 1812. Served in War of 1812. Married...

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,
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

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senator
Richard Young

20 Feb. 1798–28 Nov. 1861. Attorney, judge, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Moved to Jonesboro, Union Co., Illinois Territory. Admitted to Illinois bar, 1817, in Jonesboro. Served as state representative from Union Co., 1820–1822. Married Matilda...

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from Illinois, and other prominent Illinois citizens; in the letter, these individuals attested to Greene’s upright character.
2

Samuel Holmes et al., Letter of Introduction for John P. Greene, 8 May 1839, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 41–42; Greene, Facts relative to the Expulsion, iii.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Greene, John P. Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons or Latter Day Saints, from the State of Missouri, under the “Exterminating Order.” By John P. Greene, an Authorized Representative of the Mormons. Cincinnati: R. P. Brooks, 1839.

On 5 June, Greene left
Quincy

Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...

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, Illinois, for Cincinnati, where he used the letter of introduction to set up a series of public meetings to request assistance for impoverished Saints.
3

Greene, “Biographical Sketch of the Life and Travels of John Portenus Greene,” 4.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Greene, Evan Melbourne. “A Biographical Sketch of the Life and Travels of John Portenus Greene,” 1857. CHL. MS 15390.

In his presentations, Greene described his and other church members’ sufferings in Missouri. Prominent Cincinnati residents spoke in support of Greene’s claims, and committees passed resolutions condemning Missouri state officials, expressing support for the Saints, and encouraging Greene to publish his documentation, which he did later that month.
4

See Greene, Facts relative to the Expulsion.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Greene, John P. Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons or Latter Day Saints, from the State of Missouri, under the “Exterminating Order.” By John P. Greene, an Authorized Representative of the Mormons. Cincinnati: R. P. Brooks, 1839.

At the end of June, Greene wrote this letter to the First Presidency to report on the positive results of the June meetings. Greene’s original letter is apparently not extant, but JS’s clerk
Robert B. Thompson

1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...

View Full Bio
copied it into JS Letterbook 2 sometime between December 1839 and April 1840.
5

Thompson was hired to be JS’s clerk after previous clerk James Mulholland died on 3 November 1839. Emma Smith complained that as of 6 December, Thompson had “not done any thing at all in the business,” which suggests he did not copy Greene’s letter until later in December, at the earliest. Thompson probably copied Greene’s 30 June 1839 letter into the book by April 1840, when scribe Howard Coray began “copying a huge pile of letters into a book,” presumably where Thompson left off in JS Letterbook 2. (Obituary for James Mulholland, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:32; Emma Smith, Nauvoo, IL, to JS, Washington DC, 6 Dec. 1839, Charles Aldrich Autograph Collection, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; Coray, Autobiographical Sketch, 17.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Coray, Howard. Autobiographical Sketch, after 1883. Howard Coray, Papers, ca. 1840–1941. Photocopy. CHL. MS 2043, fd. 1.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 6 May 1839; Authorization for John P. Greene, ca. 6 May 1839.

  2. [2]

    Samuel Holmes et al., Letter of Introduction for John P. Greene, 8 May 1839, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 41–42; Greene, Facts relative to the Expulsion, iii.

    Greene, John P. Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons or Latter Day Saints, from the State of Missouri, under the “Exterminating Order.” By John P. Greene, an Authorized Representative of the Mormons. Cincinnati: R. P. Brooks, 1839.

  3. [3]

    Greene, “Biographical Sketch of the Life and Travels of John Portenus Greene,” 4.

    Greene, Evan Melbourne. “A Biographical Sketch of the Life and Travels of John Portenus Greene,” 1857. CHL. MS 15390.

  4. [4]

    See Greene, Facts relative to the Expulsion.

    Greene, John P. Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons or Latter Day Saints, from the State of Missouri, under the “Exterminating Order.” By John P. Greene, an Authorized Representative of the Mormons. Cincinnati: R. P. Brooks, 1839.

  5. [5]

    Thompson was hired to be JS’s clerk after previous clerk James Mulholland died on 3 November 1839. Emma Smith complained that as of 6 December, Thompson had “not done any thing at all in the business,” which suggests he did not copy Greene’s letter until later in December, at the earliest. Thompson probably copied Greene’s 30 June 1839 letter into the book by April 1840, when scribe Howard Coray began “copying a huge pile of letters into a book,” presumably where Thompson left off in JS Letterbook 2. (Obituary for James Mulholland, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:32; Emma Smith, Nauvoo, IL, to JS, Washington DC, 6 Dec. 1839, Charles Aldrich Autograph Collection, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; Coray, Autobiographical Sketch, 17.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

    Coray, Howard. Autobiographical Sketch, after 1883. Howard Coray, Papers, ca. 1840–1941. Photocopy. CHL. MS 2043, fd. 1.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from John P. Greene, 30 June 1839 Letterbook 2

Page 76

administration of
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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& also a very pathetic invitation for the Mormon representative to soon appear on the Sea Board that the Citizens of the East might have an oppertunity to sympathize with them in their afflictions.
9

It is unknown which newspaper requested that Greene visit New York City in June 1839. On 16 September 1839, Greene attended a public meeting in that city, presenting an overview of the Saints’ sufferings in Missouri. After various New York citizens gave speeches, the meeting’s attendees approved resolutions that condemned the treatment of the Saints in Missouri and called for donations, which were subsequently collected by a committee. (“Meeting on Behalf of the Mormons,” New-York Spectator, 19 Sept. 1839, [3].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

New-York Spectator. New York City. 1804–1867.

At the same time the “Mo Republican[”] complains very bitterly of the Editors of
Cincinnatti

Area settled largely by emigrants from New England and New Jersey, by 1788. Village founded and surveyed adjacent to site of Fort Washington, 1789. First seat of legislature of Northwest Territory, 1790. Incorporated as city, 1819. Developed rapidly as shipping...

More Info
for their sympathies expressed for the Mormons & also accuse them of that wicked & notorious crime (which deserved all the abuse that
Mo

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
had given them) their leader Jo Smith pretended to hold converse with the Deity
10

No extant evidence suggests that the Missouri Republican published such a response to Greene in June 1839. It is possible that the paper’s editor was in Cincinnati and made these comments verbally.


So we see that the people are stirred up for some reason— But Dear Sirs this course of things will have the desired Effect— it awakens up the attention of the people to hear and read and know for themselves & when ever these things are laid before them every honest man must believe them from the very nature of things & the former reffuse of lies are swept away
11

See Isaiah 28:17.


the Missourians appear in her own garb of Mobocracy while the Mormons are strip[p]ed of that dark sable mantle of all manner crime & wickedness which has come from th[e] pulpit and the press; & the credulity of the people allows them to believe the truth: and the
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
does appear in its own native plain[n]ess with<​out​> partiality and without hypocracy
12

See James 3:17.


but I must bid you adieu for the present, but I will write you again & I wish you to write to me at
philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

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or
New York

Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...

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and express your mind and feelings on this subject.
I am Yours in the
Covenant

Generally referred to the “fulness of the gospel”—the sum total of the church’s message, geared toward establishing God’s covenant people on the earth; also used to describe individual elements of the gospel, including marriage. According to JS, the everlasting...

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of the Gospel of Christ
J. P. Green [John P. Greene]

3 Sept. 1793–10 Sept. 1844. Farmer, shoemaker, printer, publisher. Born at Herkimer, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of John Coddington Greene and Anna Chapman. Married first Rhoda Young, 11 Feb. 1813. Moved to Aurelius, Cayuga Co., New York, 1814; to Brownsville...

View Full Bio
Joseph Smith Jr)
Pres

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

View Full Bio
)
Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

View Full Bio
)
N B Excuse all the imperfections of this scrawl & ever pray for me as I do for you
J. P. G.

3 Sept. 1793–10 Sept. 1844. Farmer, shoemaker, printer, publisher. Born at Herkimer, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of John Coddington Greene and Anna Chapman. Married first Rhoda Young, 11 Feb. 1813. Moved to Aurelius, Cayuga Co., New York, 1814; to Brownsville...

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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from John P. Greene, 30 June 1839
ID #
470
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:512–516
Handwriting on This Page
  • Robert B. Thompson

Footnotes

  1. [9]

    It is unknown which newspaper requested that Greene visit New York City in June 1839. On 16 September 1839, Greene attended a public meeting in that city, presenting an overview of the Saints’ sufferings in Missouri. After various New York citizens gave speeches, the meeting’s attendees approved resolutions that condemned the treatment of the Saints in Missouri and called for donations, which were subsequently collected by a committee. (“Meeting on Behalf of the Mormons,” New-York Spectator, 19 Sept. 1839, [3].)

    New-York Spectator. New York City. 1804–1867.

  2. [10]

    No extant evidence suggests that the Missouri Republican published such a response to Greene in June 1839. It is possible that the paper’s editor was in Cincinnati and made these comments verbally.

  3. [11]

    See Isaiah 28:17.

  4. [12]

    See James 3:17.

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