Called by Zina D. H. Young Name Jane Richards Predecessor Zina D. H. Young Spouse Franklin D. Richards | Successor Annie Taylor Hyde Children Franklin S. Richards Full Name Jane Snyder | |
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Born January 31, 1823
Parmelia, New York, United States ( 1823-01-31 ) Resting place Ogden City Cemetery
41°13′59″N 111°57′43″W / 41.233°N 111.962°W / 41.233; -111.962 (Ogden City Cemetery) Parents Isaac Snyder
Lovisa Comstock Died November 17, 1912, Ogden, Utah, United States Similar People Franklin D Richards, Franklin S Richards, George F Richards | ||
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 of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1888 to 1901.
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Early Life and Family
Jane Snyder was born to Isaac Richards Snyder and his wife Louise Comstock in Parmelia, Jefferson County, New York. Her parents and siblings joined the LDS Church while in Upper Canada, but Jane did not join until January 1840. Her baptism was performed by her brother Robert Snyder after cutting the ice at LaPorte, Indiana. 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 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. When this Relief Society was formed, it was the first Relief Society to be created between the general organization and the most local ward-level organizations.
Richards's daughter, Josephine Richards West, served as a counselor in the general presidency of the Primary.