Janath Russell Cannon was born October 28, 1918 in Ogden, Utah to Dr. George Oscar and Oertel Rich Russell, Janath grew up in Columbus, Ohio where her father taught at Ohio State University. She attended kindergarten in Paris, France while her father was on sabbatical there. She graduated with honors from Wellesley College in 1939. As a young woman, Janath began a mission in Paris but was transferred to the Toronto Canada Mission with the advent of World War II in the fall of 1939. Her future husband, Edwin Q. "Ted" Cannon, Jr. was serving a mission in Berlin and was also transferred to Toronto at the outbreak of the war. After becoming acquainted during their missionary service, they were married August 13, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple and continued their missionary service together, presiding over the Switzerland/International Mission, the Nauvoo Visitor's Center, the Germany Hamburg Mission, and the Frankfurt Temple, in addition to West Africa. Janath's church service includes 18 years singing with the Tabernacle Choir, where she also edited the choir paper, "Keeping Tab", and eight years on the Relief Society General Board and as First Counselor to President Barbara B. Smith. The love of writing and language served Janath well as an author, editor, and co-author of books such as "Edward Hunter, Faithful Steward", "The Cannon Family Treasury", "Nauvoo Panorama", "Women of Covenant: The Story of Relief Society", and "Together: A Love Story".
Janath Russell Cannon
LDS
LDS (member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)