Jane S. Richards

Jane S. Richards (1823–1912) was a counselor to Zina D. H. Young in the General Relief Society Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1888-1901.

Richards was born to Isaac Richards Snyder and his wife the former Lovise Comstock. She was born in Parmelia, Jefferson County, New York. Her parents and siblings joined the LDS Church while in Canada, but Jane did not join until slightly later in January 1840. Her baptism was performed by cutting the ice at LaPorte, Indiana.[1]

In 1842 she married Franklin D. Richards. They had six children, including Franklin S. Richards. The Richards came to Utah in 1848.

Jane was a member of the original Relief Society in Nauvoo. She served on the General Board (called the Central Board until 1892) of the Relief Society from 1888-1910. She served as the Relief Society delegate to the National Council of Women in 1891.

Richards also served as president of the Relief Society in Weber County, Utah. When this relief society was formed it was the first Relief Society between the general organization and ward level organizations.[2]

The Richards daughter Josephine Richards West served as a counselor in the General Primary Presidency.[3]

Sources

  1. ^ Ensign, January 1980, p. 25
  2. ^ History of the Relief Society, 1842-1966. (Salt Lake City: Relief Society General Board, 1966) p. 59
  3. ^ Jenson. LDS Biographical Encyclopedia. Vol. 4, p. 303
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by
Zina D. H. Young		 First Councilor in the general
presidency of the Relief Society
1888 – 1901		 Succeeded by
Annie Taylor Hyde
Presidents
E.H. Smith (1842–1844) • Snow (1866–1887) • Young (1888–1901) • B.W. Smith (1901–1910) • Wells (1910–1921) • Williams (1921–1928) • Robison (1928–1939) • Lyman (1939–1945) • Spafford (1945–1974) • B.B. Smith (1974–1984) • Winder (1984–1990) • Jack (1990–1997) • Smoot (1997–2002) • Parkin (2002–2007) • Beck (2007– )
First Counselors
Cleveland (1842–1844) • Young (1866–1887) • Richards (1888–1901) • Hyde (1901–1909) • Williams (1910–1921) • Knight (1921–1928) • Lyman (1928–1939) • Howells (1939–1945) • Sharp (1945–1974) • Cannon (1974–1978) • Boyer (1978–1984) • Evans (1984–1990) • Okazaki (1990–1997) • Jensen (1997–2002) • Hughes (2002–2007) • Allred (2007– )
Second Counselor
Whitney (1842–1844, 1886–1887) • B.W. Smith (1888–1901) • Doosenberry (1901–1910) • J.L. Smith (1910–1921) • Robison (1921–1928) • Child (1928–1935) • Barker (1935–1939) • Sorensen (1940–1942) • Spafford (1942–1945) • Garff (1945–1947) • Simonsen (1947–1956) • Anderson (1957–1958) • Madsen (1958–1974) • Boyer (1974–1978) • Thomas (1978–1983) • Reese (1983–1984) • Doxey (1984–1990) • Clyde (1990–1997) • Dew (1997–2002) • Pingree (2002–2007) • Thompson (2007– )