Caring for a dying husband who had abandoned her for 20 years was typical of the character imbued in Jane Elizabeth Manning James.
So was the fact that, as a poor mother in pioneer Utah, she gave half of all the food she had to a hungry friend.In both cases, she literally opened doors and changed lives.
Now almost a century after her death, James' late 20th century admirers are preparing to celebrate her life. They're heralding the unshakable faith of a black Mormon woman whose dedication to principle bridged time and -- they are sure -- secured her an honored place in eternity.
On Saturday, June 5, at 11 a.m. in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, people of many races will gather from across the country to dedicate a sculptured plaque to her memory. It depicts James at the door, offering two pounds of flour to Eliza Lyman, whose hands are raised to her cheeks in gratitude.
Organizers say in remembering James, they hope to foster community among Latter-day Saints of all colors.
Race separated many Mormons for more than a century when the LDS Church banned blacks from being ordained to the priesthood until 1978. Thus James was never able to have her marriage "sealed" or make personal vows in one of the faith's temples during her lifetime, though she had personally petitioned several church presidents seeking to do so. Her temple ordinances were done by proxy in 1979.
For Margaret Young, a Provo woman who helped organize the celebration, Jane James lived the metaphor of an open door despite her lack of access to the church's most sought-after privileges.
Opening hearts
"You open the door to your brothers and sisters and receive their gifts," along with offering your own. "So many Latter-day Saints have not opened the doors of their hearts to their black brothers and sisters. I believe that part of bringing forth Zion is enlarging our borders so our hearts are ready for everybody . . . and that we really truly live the idea God is no respecter of persons."
That's the philosophy behind Genesis, a group established by the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1971 as a support organization for black Mormons and their friends. Darius Gray, president of the group, is also involved in planning the cemetery celebration and says James has had "a significant impact on my life because she is a distant mentor.
"I think of the challenges that I've faced in my 34 years (as a member of the LDS Church). I marvel at her and know that in no way have I faced what she has . . . I know that if she can make it, I can make it. She knew who she was. She was, I believe, proud to be a black woman. I am proud to be a black man and both of us are proud to be Latter-day Saints."
Ronald Coleman, a noted historian and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Utah, recently wrote an article on African American women in the West, which includes James.
First Mormon, then black
"Initially when I was trying to come up with a title, I referred to her as an African American Mormon woman. I mulled that over for a couple of days and modified it to say she was a Mormon African American woman. I think that reflects more the way she would have identified herself."
A non-Mormon scholar, Coleman said James' "persistence of faith -- and that of other black Saints -- in a church in which they could not fully participate is a remarkable testimony to their faith.
"Religion -- if you believe, and obviously she believed -- then it would seem that as in the old religious song, 'all things are possible if you only believe.' With every fiber of her being, she believed that what was wrong in terms of not being able to receive her endowments could and would be corrected. And it did happen."
The first free black woman to come to Utah in 1847, James arrived in Salt Lake City with a pioneer company in 1847 with her husband, Issac, and their two children.
She was born in Wilton, Conn., in the early 1800s and lived as a servant, rather than a slave, in the home of a white farmer. After hearing two Mormon missionaries preach, she encouraged several family members to listen and nine of them joined the church.
Walking to Nauvoo
After being refused passage on a boat, the Manning family walked 800 miles to Nauvoo, Ill., to join the Mormons. Within days, all of them had secured work in the city with the exception of Jane, who tearfully explained to LDS Church founder Joseph Smith that her family members all had found work and a place to live. She was welcomed into the Smith home where she washed and ironed clothes, cooked and kept house.
After Smith's martyrdom, she lived in Brigham Young's household before the Mormons were driven from Nauvoo beginning in 1846. During this time she met and married another free black Mormon, Issac James. She gave birth to their son, Silas, at Winter Quarters, Neb., in 1846, then became part of the lead company heading west.
She wrote of her sufferings with cold and hunger during her first years in the Salt Lake Valley. "The keenest of all was to hear my little ones crying for bread, and I had none to give them." What little she had, she shared.
Through hard work and thrift, the family established a home and farm, and six more children were born between 1848 and 1860. But in 1869, Issac James left his wife, only to return years later. His funeral was held in her home in 1891.
Characterized by Coleman as "the matriarch of Utah's early black community," James was a devoted member of the Relief Society and helped with special fund-raising projects. She donated to help build the St. George, Logan and Manti temples, and supported the Lamanite Mission financially.
Prominent in pioneer Utah
She was well acquainted with many LDS general authorities, and in later years, they regularly reserved seats at the front of the Tabernacle for her and her brother during LDS General Conferences.
Shortly before her death, she said that her "faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is as strong today, nay, it is if possible stronger than it was the day I was first baptized . . . I try in my feeble way to set a good example to all."
LDS Church President Joseph F. Smith and other church authorities spoke at her funeral in 1908.
On Saturday, Elder David B. Haight of the church's Council of the Twelve, will preside and speak at the ceremony planned to honor her. The ceremony will be followed later in the day by the annual Genesis picnic (see accompanying box).
James' importance goes beyond LDS Church history to the history of Utah. Young said organizers sent invitations to the celebration to members of black churches throughout the state. At this point, she doesn't know what the response will be.
One thing is certain. Though the details of her story may not be widely known, those who know have deep feelings for James.
Young said only about 25 fund-raising letters were sent out, "and we had the money to do this (memorial) within a week." While this is the first time Genesis has sponsored such a project, it likely won't be the last.
"There are a number of individuals worthy of being remembered, with the same sort of memorial marker or a headstone if needed, or whatever else the spirit might lead us to do," Gray said.
'Spiritual guidance'
It's that same spirit the organizers say has guided their efforts and performed a hundred tiny miracles to facilitate next week's ceremony.
"I just sense that there is an urgency for all of us to come together and recognize our brotherhood and sisterhood," Gray said. "To see there is more that unites us than separates us. That's been very evident in this whole process."
Both Gray and Young believe Jane Elizabeth Manning James is aware of their efforts.
"While her body may rest in the ground, her soul does not," Gray said. "Knowing she lived a true and faithful life, I would fully expect that she is aware of it. And while she may be somewhat embarrassed, I also hope she would be somewhat pleased."