Sylvester Q. Cannon

Sylvester Quayle Cannon (June 10, 1877 – May 29, 1943) was an American businessman, engineer, and religious leader who served as the sixth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1925 to 1938 and a member of church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1939 until his death. He was the son of George Q. Cannon, an apostle and member of the church's First Presidency.

Sylvester Q. Cannon
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 6, 1939 – May 29, 1943
LDS Church Apostle
April 6, 1938 – May 29, 1943
Reason	Heber J. Grant's discretion[1]
Reorganization at end of term	Spencer W. Kimball and Ezra Taft Benson were ordained after the deaths of Cannon and Rudger Clawson
Associate to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles[2][3][4]
April 14, 1938 – October 6, 1939[5]
End reason	Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Presiding Bishop
June 4, 1925 – April 6, 1938
Predecessor	Charles W. Nibley
Successor	LeGrand Richards
Reason	Charles W. Nibley added to the First Presidency
End reason	Called as an Associate to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Personal details
Born	Sylvester Quayle Cannon June 10, 1877 Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United States
Died	May 29, 1943 (aged 65) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Resting place	Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W
Spouse(s)	Winnifred Irene Saville
Children	7[6]

Biography

Cannon was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. He studied at the University of Utah and then at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received a B.S. degree in mining engineering.

In 1899, Cannon began an LDS Church mission in Belgium. Cannon then served from 1900 to 1902 as president of the church's Netherlands–Belgium Mission.[7] Cannon also served as Francis M. Lyman's secretary on a three-month trip to many nations along the Mediterranean and in the Middle East.[7]

Grave marker

From 1916 to 1925, Cannon served as president of the Pioneer Stake in Salt Lake City.[8]

In 1925, Cannon became the Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church, succeeding Charles W. Nibley. Cannon's counselors were David A. Smith and John Wells.

In 1938, Cannon was released as Presiding Bishop and was succeeded by LeGrand Richards. At the same time, Cannon was ordained an apostle and made an "associate" of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a unique position that had never been filled before. When Quorum member Melvin J. Ballard died the next year, Cannon became a full member of the Quorum; he served in this position until his death.

Cannon died in Salt Lake City from encephalomalacia, or softening of the brain.[9] He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.

See also

• Council on the Disposition of the Tithes

Notes

1. When Cannon was ordained an apostle, there were already twelve members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Cannon did not join the Quorum of the Twelve until after the death of Melvin J. Ballard on July 30, 1939.
2. "General Authorities of the Church". One Hundred Eighth Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. April 6, 1938. p. 95. Sylvester Q. Cannon to be ordained an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to be set apart as an associate of the Council of the Twelve Apostles.
3. "General Authorities of the Church". One Hundred Ninth Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. October 7, 1938. p. 16. Sylvester Q. Cannon, associate to the Council of the Twelve.
4. "General Authorities of the Church". One Hundred Ninth Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. April 6, 1939. p. 10. Sylvester Q. Cannon, associate to the Council of the Twelve.
5. "Preface". One Hundred Tenth Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. October 6, 1939. p. 1. Melven J. Ballard passed away July 30, 1939. [...] Sylvester Q. Cannon was sustained at this Conference as a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles.
6. Sylvester Quayle Cannon on FamilySearch.org
7. Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, vol. 4, pp. 351, 736.
8. Andrew Jenson, Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press, 1941).
9. State of Utah Death Certificate Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine

References

• Cannon, Winfield Q. (1998). Sylvester Quayle Cannon: Tall in character and stature. Winfield Cannon and Wanda Cannon Trust. ASIN B0006S3QZM.

External links

• Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Sylvester Q. Cannon
• Sylvester Q. Cannon letter, MSS SC 2594 at L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University