Painted on Juneteenth.

I find it important to consider Utahs dark legacy of religion-based racism and slavery. And almost no story illustrates this better than the tragedy of Jane Elizabeth Manning James.

The one time maidservant of Joseph Smith, James travelled the plains with the saints in the late 1840’s. For the next 50 years she begged and petitioned the brethren to allow her to be sealed to her husband, Isaac James. After decades of refusal, then prophet Joseph F Smith finally relented but with a loathesome twist. She would be sealed by proxy to the late Joseph Smith as “a Servitor for eternity to the prophet Joseph Smith and in this capacity . . . connected with his family[, to] be obedient to him in all things”.

Even more insulting was the fact that this was done with Bathsheba Smith standing in for James during the temple ceremony as blacks were forbidden from entering Gods holiest places. James died several years later, begging for the brethren to recant this sealing and instead allow her eternal peace with her husband. Her plea was denied.

If you wish To pay homage to Jane Manning James – eternal maidservant to Joseph Smith – she is buried near her husband in the Salt Lake City cemetery, the only Eternal companionship – and kindness – she was granted.