Jane Manning James requests endowment and adoption to Smith family.
Jane Manning James, Letter to John Taylor, December 27, 1884, in Henry J. Wolfinger, "A test of faith: Jane Elizabeth James and the origins of the Utah black community," in Social Accommodation in Utah, M243.6 K73s 1975, Church History Library
I cauled at your house last [T]hursday to have some conversation with you concerning my future salvation. I did not explain my feelings or wishes to you. I realize my race & color & cant expect my Endowments as others who are white. My race was handed down through the flood & God promised Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the aerth should be blest & as this is the fullness of all dispensations. Is there no blessing for me? I with my Fathers family came from Connecticut 42 years the 14th of last Oct. I am the only one of my Fathers family that kept the faith. You know my history & according to the best of my ability I have lived to all the requairments [sic] of the Gospel When we reached Nauvoo we were 9 in the family & had traveled 9 hundred miles on foot. Bro Joseph Smith took us in & we staid with him & his family until a few day[s] of his death. Sister Emma came to me & asked me how I would like to be adopted to them as a Child. I did not comprehend her & she came again. I was so green I did not give her a decided answer & Joseph died & [I] remain as I am. If I could be adopted to him as a child my Soul would be satisfied. I had been in the Church one year when we left the East that was 42 years the 14 of last Oct.