“No man can keep me from where God calls me.”

Jane Elizabeth Manning James was a courageous woman of faith. Feeling God’s call, she journeyed from Connecticut to Nauvoo to join with the Saints, walking most of the way because she and her family were denied boat passage due to their race. Jane later recalled, “We walked until our shoes were worn out, and our feet became sore and cracked open and bled until you could see the whole print of our feet with blood on the ground. We stopped and united in prayer to the Lord, we asked God the Eternal Father to heal our feet and our prayers were answered and our feet were healed.” After arriving in Nauvoo, Jane developed a close friendship with Emma Smith. Following Joseph Smith’s death, Jane’s faith carried her across the plains and sustained her through a decades long process of petitioning Utah leaders for the temple blessings that had been promised her by Emma.

Jane and Emma, a new film opening October 12, tells the story of the friendship between these two women. The film centers on the night following Joseph’s death as Jane and Emma hold vigil and stand guard over his body. Through the long night they face the realities of their friendship with each other, their relationship with the Church, and their relationship with God. Written, directed, and produced by women of color, this is an important film that centers marginalized voices and takes an honest look at our history.

Utahans, find a showing near you and go this weekend. The reach and life of independent films are dependent on their performance on opening weekend, and the timing of Pres. Nelson’s social media fast is dampening the outreach the filmmakers had planned for this week. So go see the film. Bring your sisters. Bring your friends. Spread the word. Give this film the legs it deserves.

Non-Utahns, you can request the film in your area by submitting your information here. The more interest the filmmakers see, the more likely we are to get showings outside of Utah.