Cannon was raised in Salt Lake City. In 1937, Cannon went on a mission for the LDS Church to Nazi Germany. He was president of a branch of the church in Berlin in 1939 when the LDS Church evacuated its missionaries from Europe at the beginning of World War II. Cannon finished his mission in eastern Canada and returned to Utah in 1940. In 1941, Cannon married Janath Russell in the Salt Lake Temple. They had six children together. Education, career, and politics
In 1942, Cannon graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and in 1943 graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA degree. After graduating, he managed a Cannon family business, the Salt Lake Stamp Company. In 1948, Cannon was elected as a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives for Salt Lake County. He was re-elected in 1956 and 1958 and served three full terms.
Cannon was raised in Salt Lake City. In 1937, Cannon went on a mission for the LDS Church to Nazi Germany. They were president of a branch of the church in Berlin in 1939 when the LDS Church evacuated its missionaries from Europe at the beginning of World War II. Cannon finished their mission in eastern Canada and returned to Utah in 1940. In 1941, Cannon married Janath Russell in the Salt Lake Temple. They had six children together. 

Education, career, and politics 
In 1942, Cannon graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and, in 1943, graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA degree. After graduating, they managed a Cannon family business, the Salt Lake Stamp Company. In 1948, Cannon was elected as a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives for Salt Lake County. They were re-elected in 1956 and 1958 and served three full terms.