Joseph J. Cannon

Joseph J. Cannon was a newspaper editor, leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a Utah Congressman. He was a member of the Cannon political family.

As a young man, Cannon served as a full-time missionary for the Church. He was with apostle Francis M. Lyman in 1903 when Lyman dedicated Russia and Finland for the preaching of the gospel. In 1931, Cannon was selected as editor of the church-owned Deseret News and left in 1934 when he was called to serve as president of the British mission. He was released in 1937. He then served as first assistant to George Q. Morris, general superintendent of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association. He served there until his death.

For one term (1901 to 1911), Cannon was a member of the Utah House of Representatives for Salt Lake County.

Cannon was born on May 22, 1877, and died on November 5, 1945. He is the grandfather of Joe Cannon, who also served as editor of the Deseret News, and Chris Cannon, who was a U.S. Congressman.