Hugh J. Cannon — The Dedication of China for the Gospel

On January 9, 1921, Hugh J. Cannon accompanied David O. McKay to a secluded cypress grove near the Temple of Heaven in Beijing (Peking), China. The purpose was to formally dedicate the land for the preaching of the restored Gospel. Cannon acted as the official witness to the dedicatory prayer offered by McKay. In his records, Cannon described a powerful and distinct spiritual manifestation that attended the prayer, which he interpreted as divine approval for the opening of the Chinese mission despite the political and social challenges of the time.