Writers of nineteenth century Utah generally recognize George Q. Cannon's religious and political influence as second only to that of Brigham Young. Having occupied several positions of importance in the political arena as well as in the Mormon Church, Cannon is a major figure in Utah history whose life and thought merit careful examination.This treatise is a study of George Q. Cannon's views on the institutions of church and state. After presenting a biographical sketch of Cannon's life, it examines his beliefs regarding the religious clauses in the First Amendment, and the place of revelation, positive law, and majority rule as standards of morality. Also, it considers Cannon's understanding of his obligation as a citizen of his country as well as his right of resistance to positive law which may conflict with divine law. Finally, it evaluates Cannon's predictions of the ultimate disposition of nation states, including the United States, and the establishment of the Kingdom of God preparatory to Christ's Millennial reign.

The success of the Juvenile Instructor magazine, called the Instructor since 1929, owes much to the vision and foresight of its great founder, George Quale Cannon. From a small, crude, four-page paper, first published in 1866, the Juvenile Instructor has developed into a far-reaching and attractive publication, touching the lives of countless thousands in 1969. It has proved to be a great implement of religious education to the Latter-day Saint people and fulfilled four important functions in its early years when Elder Cannon was its editor. It served as the official organ of the Sunday Schools, as a voice of truth in an era when so much low-grade fiction was available, as a source of religious reading material for children, and as an aid to parents and teachers in furthering the religious education of the young ones under their care. Its popularity and long life of over a century bespeak the enduring and influential nature of Elder Cannon's edifying combination of information, entertainment, and inspiration.