Frank J. Cannon — Recovery from Brain Fever

In 1863, while his father George Q. Cannon was serving a mission in England, four-year-old Frank J. Cannon fell dangerously ill with what was then termed 'brain fever' (a term often used for meningitis or severe encephalitis). His mother, Elizabeth Hoagland Cannon, was in deep distress as the child's condition deteriorated to the point where his death was expected. The family and local elders exercised great faith, offering fervent prayers and administering to the boy. Despite the grim medical prognosis and the lack of advanced medical care in pioneer Utah, Frank made a sudden and complete recovery. His father, upon receiving word of the event, recorded it as a direct result of divine intervention and the faith of his mother, believing that Frank's life had been specifically preserved by the Lord for a future purpose.