Elaine A. Cannon
Encyclopedia
Elaine Anderson Cannon was the eighth general president of the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1978 to 1984. Cannon has been a writer and an editor and is the author of over 50 books.
. She earned a degree from the University of Utah
and in 1943 married D. James Cannon
, who was a son of LDS Church Apostle and Presiding Bishop
Sylvester Q. Cannon
. They are the parents of six children.
After her marriage, Cannon became the women's editor for the Deseret News; she also contributed a daily column. She also did freelance work, publishing articles in national magazines including Seventeen
and Better Homes and Gardens
.
Cannon was key figure in organizing the LDS Student Association
. While she worked in establishing Lambda Delta Sigma
, the church's sorority, W. Rolfe Kerr
worked to establish the church's fraternity, Sigma Gamma Chi
. Cannon was also a member of the church's Priesthood Correlation Committee
.
In 1959, Cannon became an associate editor for "Era of Youth," a section of the Improvement Era
that was targeted to adolescents. In 1971, the church magazine New Era
was launched, which was patterned after the "Era of Youth" section of the Improvement Era.
In 1978, church president Spencer W. Kimball
appointed Cannon as the successor to Ruth H. Funk
as the general president of the Young Women Organization. During her tenure, the young women of the church began holding a yearly meeting in the Salt Lake Tabernacle
; the meeting was intended for all adolescent girls of the church and their mothers, and it was broadcast by satellite around the world. Also during her tenure, young women classes began being held on Sundays as part of the church's consolidated worship services
.
Cannon was released in 1984 and was succeeded by Ardeth G. Kapp
.
Biography
Elaine Anderson was born in Salt Lake City, UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. She earned a degree from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and in 1943 married D. James Cannon
D. James Cannon
D. James Cannon was a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 1957 to 1959. He was also the Republican candidate for Governor of Utah in 1964 and ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Salt Lake City in 1967. He also coined the Utah slogan "the greatest snow on earth."Cannon was the son of...
, who was a son of LDS Church Apostle and Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
Sylvester Q. Cannon
Sylvester Q. Cannon
Sylvester Quayle Cannon was the sixth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1925 and 1938 and a member of church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from October 6, 1939 until his death. He was the son of George Q...
. They are the parents of six children.
After her marriage, Cannon became the women's editor for the Deseret News; she also contributed a daily column. She also did freelance work, publishing articles in national magazines including Seventeen
Seventeen (magazine)
Seventeen is an American magazine for teenagers. It was first published in September 1944 by Walter Annenberg's Triangle Publications. News Corporation bought Triangle in 1988, and sold Seventeen to K-III Communications in 1991. Primedia sold the magazine to Hearst in 2003. It is still in the...
and Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens (magazine)
Better Homes and Gardens is the fourth best selling magazine in the United States. The editor in Chief is Gayle Butler. Better Homes and Gardens focuses on interests regarding homes, cooking, gardening, crafts, healthy living, decorating, and entertaining. The magazine is published 12 times per...
.
Cannon was key figure in organizing the LDS Student Association
LDS Student Association
LDS Student Association is an organization affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which offers Latter-day Saint university and college students and others social, religious, and recreational activities.The LDSSA was established in 1960, and today a chapter of the LDSSA...
. While she worked in establishing Lambda Delta Sigma
Lambda Delta Sigma
Lambda Delta Sigma may refer to:*Lambda Delta Sigma : a sorority at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota; founded in 1919*Lambda Delta Sigma : a sorority founded in 1960 for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ; now replaced with the LDS Student Association at all...
, the church's sorority, W. Rolfe Kerr
W. Rolfe Kerr
William Rolfe Kerr is the president of the Logan Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
worked to establish the church's fraternity, Sigma Gamma Chi
Sigma Gamma Chi
Sigma Gamma Chi is the name of the fraternal organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Though it once was a national organization, it now only operates at the University of Utah.-History:...
. Cannon was also a member of the church's Priesthood Correlation Committee
Priesthood Correlation Program
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Priesthood Correlation Program is a program designed to provide a systematic approach to maintain consistency in its ordinances, doctrines, organizations, meetings, materials, and other programs and activities...
.
In 1959, Cannon became an associate editor for "Era of Youth," a section of the Improvement Era
Improvement Era
The Improvement Era was an official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1897 and 1970....
that was targeted to adolescents. In 1971, the church magazine New Era
New Era (magazine)
New Era is an official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. First published in January 1971 along with the Ensign and the Friend, the New Era's intended audience has always been the youth of the Church...
was launched, which was patterned after the "Era of Youth" section of the Improvement Era.
In 1978, church president Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
appointed Cannon as the successor to Ruth H. Funk
Ruth H. Funk
Ruth Hardy Funk was the seventh general president of the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 to 1978.-Biography:...
as the general president of the Young Women Organization. During her tenure, the young women of the church began holding a yearly meeting in the Salt Lake Tabernacle
Salt Lake Tabernacle
The Salt Lake Tabernacle, also known as the Mormon Tabernacle, is located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah along with the Salt Lake Assembly Hall and Salt Lake Temple.-History:...
; the meeting was intended for all adolescent girls of the church and their mothers, and it was broadcast by satellite around the world. Also during her tenure, young women classes began being held on Sundays as part of the church's consolidated worship services
Worship services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
In Mormonism, worship services include weekly services, held on Sundays , in neighborhood based religious units...
.
Cannon was released in 1984 and was succeeded by Ardeth G. Kapp
Ardeth G. Kapp
Ardeth Greene Kapp was the ninth general president of the Young Women Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1984 and 1992.-Biography:...
.