After her baptism in 1831, Vienna Jaques sold her property and left a comfortable life in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1832 to join the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio.
The single sister in her mid-40s then consecrated a significant amount of money—$1,400—to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was in the process of purchasing the land for the Kirtland Temple.
On March 8, 1833, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation that called Vienna by name to go to Zion—Jackson County, Missouri—to receive her inheritance.
“My handmaid Vienna Jaques should receive money to bear her expenses, and go up unto the land of Zion,” reads Doctrine and Covenants 90:28-31. “Verily I say unto you, that it is meet in mine eyes that she should go up unto the land of Zion, and receive an inheritance from the hand of the bishop; That she may settle down in peace inasmuch as she is faithful, and not be idle in her days from thenceforth."
Jaques is one of two women mentioned by name in the Doctrine and Covenants. The other is Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith, in section 25.
Jaques didn’t find that peace in Ohio, Missouri, or Illinois, but was never idle and remained faithful, eventually finding that place of peace in Salt Lake City, said Brent Rogers, a managing historian in the Church History Department.
“She joins the Church, gives this great donation, and is promised great blessings that she sees ultimately fulfilled, but not until after a lot of trial and journey,” said Rogers, who has researched and written about Jaques’ life. “It’s a pretty neat story.”
Read the rest of the story at the Church News.
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