Church Service
In 1849, Cannon was asked by President of the Church Brigham Young to serve as a missionary for the church in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). Cannon served this mission for four years. While in Hawaii Elder Cannon converted many Native Hawaiians. One of the most notable was Jonatana Napela, who was a native speaker of the Hawaiian Language. Napela assisted Cannon in translating the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian. Joseph F. Smith, a future president of the church, would follow Cannon and serve in Hawaii one year later.
Returning to Utah, Cannon married Elizabeth Hoagland (daughter of Abraham Hoagland) and was almost immediately called to assist Apostle Parley P. Pratt in publishing a newspaper in California. Meeting Pratt in California, Cannon was told that he would remain behind and was ordained president of the Oregon and California mission of the church; Cannon was 28 years old at the time. Pratt returned to church headquarters. It was during this period of time that Cannon published the Hawaiian translation of the Book of Mormon. Cannon served in California until he heard of the Utah War in 1857. In February 1856 he started the Western Standard, a weekly publication based in San Francisco. From 1856-1858 Cannon presided over the California mission.
Returning to Utah to assist, Cannon was commissioned a Lieutenant General in the Nauvoo Legion. During this time Cannon served as printer of the Deseret News while it was in exile in Fillmore, Utah. After the Utah War he was called to preside over the Eastern States Mission of the church.
Read more about this topic: George Q. Cannon
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