Under the Prophet in Utah: The National Menace of a Political Priestcraft (Forgotten Books)

This is a memoir of Frank J. Cannon (1859-1933). Although born into a prominent Mormon family, Cannon was a freethinker and a progressive. He recounts an insiders' view of the painful process by which the Mormon church and the state of Utah became integrated into the United States. He played an active role in this history, lobbying for statehood both in the halls of Washington D.C. and in the inner councils of the Mormon church. This work is highly critical of the Mormon hierarchy, the conformist and inward-looking aspects of Mormon society, and of polygamy. However, he also praises the social programs of the Church. This is an important source document for the history of the Mormon people and the state of Utah. (Quote from sacred-texts.com)About the AuthorFrank Jenne Cannon (1859 - 1933)Harvey J. O'higgins (1879 - 1929)Frank Jenne Cannon, (January 25, 1859 - July 25, 1933) was the first United States Senator from Utah, who served from 1896-99. Born in Salt Lake City, he was the eldest child of Sarah Jenne Cannon and George Q. Cannon. His father was an Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and later was a member of its First Presidency. After attending the school in Salt Lake City, he studied at University of Deseret, graduating at the age of 19. He would marry Martha Brown of Ogden in 1878.In 1891 he helped to organize the Utah Republican Party. After a failed bid to become Delegate from the Territory of Utah, he succeeded and served from March 4, 1895 to January 4, 1896. Cannon was chosen in the latter year to serve as Senator by the Utah Legislature and served in the United States Senate, initially, as a member of the Republican Party; however, he later became a member of the Silver Republican Party founded by his successor (and