
Black pioneer and petitioner
Jane Manning James
c. 1822–1908
1 topic · 2 dated events · 1 source
Their part in each topic
Race and the Priesthood
Black pioneer and petitioner
She walked most of the way from Connecticut to Nauvoo, lived in Joseph and Emma Smith's household, crossed the plains in 1847, and spent decades petitioning John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff and Joseph F. Smith for the endowment and a sealing. Every request was refused. In 1894 leaders devised a ceremony attaching her to Joseph Smith's family as a servitor, with a proxy standing in for her; she said it did not satisfy her and asked again.
In the timeline
2 events across 1 topics, chronological. Only events this person was actually part of — present at, responsible for, or the subject of — not every event where the name comes up.
Wilford Woodruff refuses Jane Manning James her endowment
Woodruff wrote in his journal that “Black Jane wanted to know if I would not let her have her Endowments in the Temple. This I Could not do as it was against the Law of God.” George Q. Cannon proposed instead a special ceremony attaching her to Joseph Smith's family as a servant. It was performed with Zina D. H. Young standing proxy for Jane, who was not present.
Jane Manning James dies
She died at home in Salt Lake City in her nineties. Joseph F. Smith spoke at her funeral in the Eighth Ward meetinghouse, which was crowded with Black and white friends. Her autobiography, read at the service, ended in a fervent testimony. She had never received the endowment.
Sources in their own name
Source records in the database whose author line names this person. Each links to the topic that uses it.
Autobiography of Jane Elizabeth Manning James, dictated to Elizabeth J. D. Roundy
Jane Manning James
A Black Latter-day Saint woman's account of her own conversion, migration and faith in her own words.
Appears alongside
People who share the most dated events with Jane Manning James.
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