Local Church Leader Jon Cannon Called as New Area Authority

Flower Mound resident and entrepreneur Jonathan G. Cannon was called to be an Area Authority Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Apr. 1, 2021.

The announcement was made during the leadership session of the Church of Jesus Christ Worldwide General Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Cannon was one of 77 Area Seventies called to serve for the worldwide church. 

Prior to this volunteer church service assignment, Cannon served as a stake president in the greater Flower Mound and Lewisville area for nine years as well as bishop for a Flower Mound congregation.

Area Seventies offer part-time, voluntary service to the Church within their geographic areas and have administrative and religious authority within the Church.

The history of Area Authority Seventies is biblical, established in Old Testament times when the Seventy is first referenced in Exodus; Moses brings seventy men of Israel with him to the mount to worship. The same organization continued during Christ’s mortal ministry and remains today.

Cannon, 57, will serve as an Area Seventy in the Church’s North America Southwest Area, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texas. 

The assignment includes frequent travel to meet with and teach Church leaders, missionaries, and members of the Church in local congregations. He will primarily serve in the El Paso, Lubbock, and Albuquerque areas while still living locally in Flower Mound. 

Cannon said that, as an Area Seventy, “I am to bear my witness of the Savior Jesus Christ and assist in regulating the affairs of the Church in our area.”

Cannon is a graduate of the University of Utah where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in finance and later worked as a Senior Vice President of Fed Ex Corporation until his retirement. For the past 10 years, he has operated his own business in real estate investing and land development.

“I am pretty ordinary and am very humbled, but I know that I can testify of Jesus Christ,” said Cannon. “I am grateful to serve and will happily do it.

“I am eager to share the message of ministering, caring for one another, and establishing gospel-centered homes. The home is the foundation of faith.”

Jon and wife Diane celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary and have four children and two grandchildren. 

There are over 362,000 members of the Church in 723 congregations throughout the state of Texas.

The Church offers a variety of services and programs for free to the community:

• Bishops’ Storehouse provides food for the needy and partners with several food pantries throughout Texas.

• Helping Hands program sends thousands of volunteers throughout Texas and the Southwest to provide natural disaster relief.

• 138 family history centers offer free genealogy assistance.

• JustServe.org is a free online service where volunteers can search for ways to serve in their communities and assist local organizations.

• A variety of free courses are offered regularly on personal finance, job seeking skills, English as a second language, and more.

To learn more, visit ComeUntoChrist.org