Elaine A. Cannon

Elaine A. Cannon
Photo of Elaine A. Cannon
8th Young Women General President
1978  1984
Called by Spencer W. Kimball
Predecessor Ruth H. Funk
Successor Ardeth G. Kapp
Personal details
Born Elaine W. Anderson
April 9, 1922
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Died May 19, 2003 (aged 81)
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Resting place Salt Lake City Cemetery
40°46′37″N 111°51′29″W / 40.777°N 111.858°W
Education Sociology degree
Alma mater University of Utah
Occupation Writer
Spouse D. James Cannon
Children 6
Parents Aldon Joseph Anderson
Minnie Evaline Egan Anderson
Website Elaine A. Cannon

Elaine Anderson Cannon (April 9, 1922 – May 19, 2003) 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.

Biography

Elaine Anderson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 were 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.

References

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by
Ruth H. Funk
Young Women General President
1978–1984
Succeeded by
Ardeth G. Kapp