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License for John P. Greene, 25 February 1834

Source Note

License, , Geauga Co., OH, for , 25 Feb. 1834; printed form with additions in handwriting of ; signatures of JS, , and ; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes archival marking.
Single leaf measuring 6⅜ × 6½ inches (16 × 17 cm). The left and right edges have been unevenly cut. This document has been folded, and at some point a piece of white, watermarked paper, measuring 3⅝ × 6¼ inches (9 × 16 cm), was glued to the back of the license to reinforce the paper where it was folded. On the verso, a notation in graphite in unidentified handwriting reads: “Signed by Joseph Smith, | , and ”. In the upper right corner of the recto a graphite notation retraced in ink reads “No. 1”.
This license is from a collection of other licenses that were donated to the Church History Library at an unknown time as part of the papers of , son of . This , along with other licenses of John P. Greene, was eventually separated from the Evan M. Greene papers and placed in the JS Collection.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    In the same collection, there is a 25 June 1835 license for Evan M. Greene with a similar notation in the same handwriting. (License for Evan M. Greene, 29 June 1835, JS Collection, CHL.)

  2. [2]

    Similar archival notations appear on two other licenses in the JS Collection. (See License for Evan M. Greene, 29 June 1835; and License for John P. Greene, 30 Mar. 1836, JS Collection, CHL.)

    Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.

Historical Introduction

This was issued to five days after the in , Ohio, appointed him to visit , Ohio, with and one day after JS dictated a revelation regarding the redemption of . The 24 February 1834 revelation appointed various men to serve missions to gather men and resources for the expedition. Though Greene was not specifically identified in the revelation, an 1857 history by his son indicates that after receiving his ’s license, Greene “took a mission . . . to the western part of and into to gather men and means” for the expedition. This account suggests that Greene was granted the license in preparation for his recruiting mission rather than for his trip to Strongsville. If Greene completed his mission to Strongsville, he must have done so before departing for New York and perhaps even before receiving the license. No minutes from the 25 February 1834 meeting in which the license was issued, and which might clarify for what mission Greene received this license, have been located. Those who filled out Greene’s license used the same printed form that was used for the license issued to . Greene’s license, like Williams’s, is one of the earliest printed licenses known to have been issued in the .

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 20 Feb. 1834; Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103].

  2. [2]

    Greene, “Biographical Sketch of the Life and Travels of John Portenus Greene,” 2.

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

  3. [3]

    No known evidence indicates whether Rigdon and Greene traveled to Strongsville at this time.

  4. [4]

    It is unclear from Greene’s biographical sketch if he left for New York and Canada immediately after receiving his license or if he had sufficient time to travel to nearby Strongsville first. His biographical sketch reads, “He received letters of commendation, from the hand of Jos Smith jr & S. Rigdon and took a mission again to the western part of N. Y. and into Canada to gather men and means for the redemption of Zion.” (Greene, “Biographical Sketch of the Life and Travels of John Portenus Greene,” 2.)

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

  5. [5]

    See Historical Introduction to License for Frederick G. Williams, 25 Feb. 1834.

Page [1]

TO WHOM THESE PRESENCE MAY COME:
THIS Certifies, that , has been received into this , organized on the sixth of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred, and thirty; and has been an according to the rules and regulations of said church, and is duly authorized to preach the gospel, and act in all the of the , agreeably to the authority of that office.
From the satisfactory evidence which we have of his good moral character, and his zeal for the cause of righteousness, and diligent desire to persuade men to forsake evil and embrace truth, we confidently recommend him to all candid and upright people, in every country where he may be permitted to travel, in the order of Divine providence, as a worthy member of society; being sent from the bosom of this church to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation to mankind.
We, therefore, in the name, and by the authority of this church, grant unto this, our worthy brother in the Lord, this letter of commendation as a proof of our fellowship and esteem: praying for his success and prosperity in our Redeemer’s cause.
Given in, and by the direction of a of the elders of this church, assembled in , Geauga county, Ohio, this 25the day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred, and thirty four.
Joseph Smith Jr.Moderator.
, Clerk. [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
License for John P. Greene, 25 February 1834
ID #
2164
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:466–467
Handwriting on This Page
  • Printed text
  • Oliver Cowdery
  • Joseph Smith Jr.
  • Sidney Rigdon

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Greene was baptized in April 1832. His service as a temporary member of the Kirtland high council on 24 February 1834 indicates that he had been ordained a high priest by the time this license was issued. As a high priest, Greene was authorized by revelation to “officiate in all the lesser offices” of the priesthood—including the office of elder—each of which required its officiators to hold licenses. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:7]; Minutes, 24 Feb. 1834; Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Doctrine and Covenants 22:2, 1835 ed. [D&C 68:19]; see also Historical Introduction to License for Frederick G. Williams, 25 Feb. 1834.)

  2. [2]

    TEXT: “February” is underlined.

  3. [3]

    TEXT: “Cowdery” is underlined.

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