Jane Snyder Richards (January 31, 1823 – November 17, 1912) was a counselor to

Zina D. H. Young Zina Diantha Huntington Young (January 31, 1821 – August 28, 1901) was an American social activist and religious leader who served as the third general president of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Chu ...

in the general presidency of the

Relief Society The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, United States, and has more than 7 million members in over 18 ...

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

(LDS Church) from 1888 to 1901.

Early life and family

Jane Snyder was born to Isaac Richards Snyder and his wife Lovisa Comstock in Parmelia,

Jefferson County, New York Jefferson County is a county on the northern border of the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 116,721. Its county seat is Watertown. The county is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United Stat ...

. By her early teens her family had moved to Addington County, Upper Canada. While there her parents and siblings joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were taught about the Church by

John E. Page John Edward Page (February 25, 1799 – October 14, 1867) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. Born in Trenton, New York, Page was the son of Ebenezer and Rachel Page. He was baptized into the Church of Christ on August 18, 1833 ...

. Jane did not join until January 1840. Passing through a severe illness that had left her paralyzed and speechless, Jane only regained her speech after the prayers of her brother at the age of 17. Her baptism was performed by her brother Robert Snyder after cutting the ice at

LaPorte, Indiana La Porte (French for "The Door") is a city in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States, of which it is the county seat. Its population was estimated to be 21,341 in 2022. It is one of the two principal cities of the Michigan City, Indiana, Michig ...

. The townspeople opposed her baptism because Richards awoke gravely ill the day before. She came up out of the water healed from her ailment rather than more sick from exposure. On December 18, 1842, she married Franklin D. Richards. They had six children, including

Franklin S. Richards Franklin Snyder Richards (June 20, 1849 – September 4, 1934) was the general counsel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the late-19th and early-20th century. He was closely connected with the defense against cha ...

. The Richards came to

Utah Territory The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah, the 45th state. ...

in 1848 after much persecution and sickness in Nauvoo.

Church service

Richards was a member of the original Relief Society that was established in 1842 in

Nauvoo, Illinois Nauvoo ( ; from the ) is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States, on the Mississippi River near Fort Madison, Iowa. The population of Nauvoo was 950 at the 2020 census. Nauvoo attracts visitors for its historic importance and its ...

. She served on the General Board (called the Central Board until 1892) of the Relief Society from 1888 to 1910. She was a counselor to general president

from 1888 to 1901. Richards was the Relief Society delegate to the National Council of Women in 1891. Richards also served as president of a local Relief Society in

Weber County, Utah Weber County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 census, the population was 262,223, making it Utah's fourth-most populous county. Its county seat and largest city is Ogden, the home of Weber State University. The county ...

. When this Relief Society was formed, it was the first Relief Society to be created between the general organization and the most local

ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

-level organizations. Richards's daughter, Josephine Richards West, served as a counselor in the general presidency of the

Primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Works * ...

In memory

To honor the memory of Jane S. Richards, members of the Weber Stake planted a green ash tree next to the former Relief Society Hall which was built as a result of the efforts of Mrs. Richards. A sketch of her life was written, concealed inside a bottle and placed at the root of the tree by Miss Virginia Richards Burton.

Notes

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Jane 1823 births 1912 deaths American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Suffragists from Utah Converts to Mormonism Counselors in the General Presidency of the Relief Society Latter Day Saints from Illinois Latter Day Saints from Indiana Latter Day Saints from New York (state) Latter Day Saints from Utah Mormon pioneers Richards–Young family Harold B. Lee Library-related 19th century articles