James Adams (January 24, 1783 – August 11, 1843) was a nineteenth-century Illinois lawyer and close friend of Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
He participated in a long-running newspaper battle with Abraham Lincoln beginning in May 1837,[1] over the transfer of a city lot.
Eventually, Adams's friendship with Smith brought him into the Mormon prophet's inner circle, those whom he initiated into Nauvoo's most sacred doctrines practices.
Even though Adams resided in Springfield, Smith invited him to come to Nauvoo so that he would be included among those men first to receive the endowment, a Mormon temple ritual.
Until Smith's death in 1844 he brought others into this elite group, admitting both men and women, until it included over fifty persons.
Smith also included Adams in Nauvoo's most clandestine and controversial practice, eternal marriage and polygamy.
Five weeks later, July 11, Smith performed a plural marriage sealing for 38-year-old Roxanna Rephsire to Adams.