diff --git a/xmtp_mls/src/builder.rs b/xmtp_mls/src/builder.rs
index 8cf27a97b..70de1a37c 100644
--- a/xmtp_mls/src/builder.rs
+++ b/xmtp_mls/src/builder.rs
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ where
                     }
                     Ok(identity)
                 }
-                None => Ok(Identity::new(store, provider, &owner)?),
+                None => Ok(Identity::new(provider, &owner)?),
             },
             #[cfg(test)]
             IdentityStrategy::ExternalIdentity(identity) => Ok(identity),
diff --git a/xmtp_mls/src/client.rs b/xmtp_mls/src/client.rs
index 4d68bae22..14f974f4c 100644
--- a/xmtp_mls/src/client.rs
+++ b/xmtp_mls/src/client.rs
@@ -210,6 +210,8 @@ where
         let groups: Vec<MlsGroup<ApiClient>> = envelopes
             .into_iter()
             .filter_map(|envelope| {
+                // TODO: We can handle errors in the transaction() function to make error handling
+                // cleaner. Retryable errors can possibly be part of their own enum
                 XmtpOpenMlsProvider::transaction(&mut conn, |provider| {
                     let welcome = match extract_welcome(&envelope.message) {
                         Ok(welcome) => welcome,
@@ -221,12 +223,7 @@ where
 
                     // TODO: Update last_message_timestamp_ns on success or non-retryable error
                     // TODO: Abort if error is retryable
-                    match MlsGroup::create_from_welcome(
-                        self,
-                        *provider.conn().borrow_mut(),
-                        &provider,
-                        welcome,
-                    ) {
+                    match MlsGroup::create_from_welcome(self, &provider, welcome) {
                         Ok(mls_group) => Ok(Some(mls_group)),
                         Err(err) => {
                             log::error!("failed to create group from welcome: {}", err);
diff --git a/xmtp_mls/src/groups/mod.rs b/xmtp_mls/src/groups/mod.rs
index 52d0dc6cd..df468b06c 100644
--- a/xmtp_mls/src/groups/mod.rs
+++ b/xmtp_mls/src/groups/mod.rs
@@ -144,7 +144,6 @@ where
 
     pub fn create_from_welcome(
         client: &'c Client<ApiClient>,
-        conn: &mut DbConnection,
         provider: &XmtpOpenMlsProvider,
         welcome: MlsWelcome,
     ) -> Result<Self, GroupError> {
@@ -155,7 +154,7 @@ where
         let group_id = mls_group.group_id().to_vec();
         let stored_group =
             StoredGroup::new(group_id.clone(), now_ns(), GroupMembershipState::Pending);
-        stored_group.store(conn)?;
+        stored_group.store(*provider.conn().borrow_mut())?;
 
         Ok(Self::new(client, group_id, stored_group.created_at_ns))
     }
diff --git a/xmtp_mls/src/identity.rs b/xmtp_mls/src/identity.rs
index 97ace2196..23e19110e 100644
--- a/xmtp_mls/src/identity.rs
+++ b/xmtp_mls/src/identity.rs
@@ -45,9 +45,8 @@ pub struct Identity {
     pub(crate) credential: Credential,
 }
 
-impl<'a> Identity {
+impl Identity {
     pub(crate) fn new(
-        store: &EncryptedMessageStore,
         provider: &XmtpOpenMlsProvider,
         owner: &impl InboxOwner,
     ) -> Result<Self, IdentityError> {
@@ -63,8 +62,7 @@ impl<'a> Identity {
         };
 
         identity.new_key_package(provider)?;
-        StoredIdentity::from(&identity).store(&mut store.conn()?)?;
-        // StoredIdentity::from(&identity).store(*provider.conn().borrow_mut())?;
+        StoredIdentity::from(&identity).store(*provider.conn().borrow_mut())?;
 
         // TODO: upload credential_with_key and last_resort_key_package
 
@@ -154,7 +152,7 @@ mod tests {
         let store = EncryptedMessageStore::new_test();
         let mut conn = store.conn().unwrap();
         let provider = XmtpOpenMlsProvider::new(&mut conn);
-        Identity::new(&store, &provider, &generate_local_wallet()).unwrap();
+        Identity::new(&provider, &generate_local_wallet()).unwrap();
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -162,7 +160,7 @@ mod tests {
         let store = EncryptedMessageStore::new_test();
         let mut conn = store.conn().unwrap();
         let provider = XmtpOpenMlsProvider::new(&mut conn);
-        let identity = Identity::new(&store, &provider, &generate_local_wallet()).unwrap();
+        let identity = Identity::new(&provider, &generate_local_wallet()).unwrap();
 
         let new_key_package = identity.new_key_package(&provider).unwrap();
         assert!(new_key_package