Jane Snyder Richards (January 31, 1823 – November 17, 1912) was a counselor to
Zina D. H. Young 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 ...
of
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 nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The ch ...
(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 St ...
.
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-La Porte, India ...
. 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. 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. 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
Zina D. H. Young 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.
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
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{{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
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