She Never Stopped Serving
An unshakable legacy of service
It was no surprise that Sarah Jane Snyder Dickinson opened her house and her heart to all that needed it, well into her old age. She was just doing what her family always did: serve.
Sarah, who went by Jane, was around eighteen when the crickets came and wiped out the Saints’ crops, causing famine. Her father entrusted her with distributing flour to those in need.
Her family (and perhaps others–it’s unclear) was told by Heber C Kimball that “those who gave to the poor would see flour multiply in their bins.” They believed him. No matter how little flour they had, Jane gave it to all who needed it. Jane was lucky to see this miracle happen. She was often scraping at the bottom of the barrel, sure that it was about to run out, but there was always more flour.
Her father, Samuel Snyder, expected his children to serve; true. But he led by example. He was a butcher. Every morning during the famine, he would put meat on the stove. When he finished, he put out a sign that welcomed anyone who was hungry to come in and eat for free.
Her mother, Henrietta Stockwell Snyder, led by example as well. Family historians note that the Snyder’s home was “always open to those in need.”
During the construction of the Salt Lake temple, Jane and her sisters made cheese and butter for the men working tirelessly to build it.
Her parents’ legacy of service continued long after they passed. Jane was in poor health for much of her adult life, however, she continued to serve. Nothing was going to stop her from “helping the sick and those in less fortunate conditions.” Her home was always open to any who needed help.
Including her own family. For reasons unknown to me, she helped raise 4 of her sisters’ children.
Jane became a widow at age 56, when her youngest was 10. She never remarried. Soon after, she developed cataracts in her eyes that were so bad she had one eye removed. She kept the other eye, but her vision was poor and as a result dealt with migraines. But did this stop Jane from serving?
When her daughter, Luna, tragically died 32 she left behind 4 young kids–from age 13 to a newborn. Jane jumped in to serve. At 70 years old, a single grandmother, and with one working eye–she took in her daughter’s children and raised them for several years.
Six years later, one of her daughters-in-law also tragically passed. Though she did not raise these grandchildren, she did "what she could" to support her son in caring for them.
What a woman! Jane let nothing stop her from serving others. She truly exemplifies “Christ-like service.”
Now, I’m going to level with you.
Reading about Jane makes me feel a little guilty.
I think about how quick I am to make excuses for why I can’t serve. These excuses range from legitimate (sick and contagious) to the trite I’m too tired, too busy, too (fill in the blank). But Jane was over here serving even when she had one poor functioning eye and migraines!
Honestly, I don’t know how she did it. But it is impressive!
Please don’t misunderstand me. Jane’s service is as inspirational as it is impressive, but I don’t think it is necessary to run ourselves ragged in order to serve faithfully.
The scriptures teach us:
“And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.” (Mosiah 4:27)
However, I know that I could be better. However, instead of wallowing in any feelings of guilt that come bubbling up when I think about the magnitude of Jane’s service, I choose to let it inspire me instead.
Like Jane, I will be:
More willing to serve.
Like Jane, I will:
Stop making excuses.
Do what the Lord asks of me.
Feed his sheep, clothe the naked, & bear other’s burdens.. 1
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Sources:
Orilla, Sarah. “A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF SARAH SNYDER DICKINSON by Daughter Sarah Orilla.” FamilySearch. www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWNN-NCB. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Shakespear, Maria Delight, Orilla Wilinson, and Sarah Ipson. “A Brief Sketch of the Life of Sarah Jane Snyder Dickinson.” FamilySearch. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWNN-NCB. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Another sweet story! It reminds me of the story of Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath. Along those same lines, like you mentioned Heber C Kimball promising that “those who gave to the poor would see flour multiply in their bins.” And they did! We may face circumstances similar to those of the Widow at Zarephath and Jane one day. I hope that in those or similar circumstances, I will demonstrate the same faith as those two women without hesitating.
Seeing your name in my email and Substack feed always brightens my day! 😃
Wow, this story is inspiring--and a little convicting. I definitely make excuses for why I can't serve more than I should.