J. Elliot Cameron
Encyclopedia
J. Elliot Cameron was an American educator and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Cameron was born in Panguitch
, Utah
. He served in the United States Army
during World War II
and became a specialist in hospital administration. He began teaching at Lincoln (now Orem) High School in Orem, Utah
in 1948.
Cameron served as principal of Duchesne
High School in 1949. From 1950 to 1953 he was principal of South Sevier
High School. From 1953 to 1956 he was the superintendent of the Sevier School DIstrict.
Cameron attended the University of Utah
, Utah State University
, Southern Utah State College, and earned bachelor's
, master's
(both 1948) and doctorate degrees (1966) from Brigham Young University
(BYU) in Provo, Utah
. In the fall of 1964 Cameron served on a committee with seven general authorities that evaluated the idea of the church building more junior colleges. The so called "Cameron Report" which the committee came out with recommended that no new church institutions of higher education be built, that no new programs be inaugurated but instead it advocated the establishment of primary and secondary schools for church members in areas where such schools were not easily available.
From 1956 to 1958, Cameron was the president of Snow College
in Ephraim, Utah
. After his time at Snow, he became Dean of Student Services at Utah State University and in 1962 became the Dean of Students at BYU. In 1972 his title was changed to dean of student life.
In 1980, Cameron became the president of Brigham Young University Hawaii
. It was while Cameron was in this position that the school first made contacts with Chinese officials. He also oversaw the completion of the Lorenzo Snow Administration Building and the Cannon Activities Center. In 1986 Cameron succeeded Henry B. Eyring
as Commissioner of Church Education for the LDS Church. In 1989, the position of Commissioner of Church Education was abolished and Cameron retired. The position was subsequently revived in 1992 with Eyring serving another term.
Cameron also served as a bishop, stake president, regional representative of the Twelve
, and as a member of the general board of the Sunday School
. Cameron was a contributing editor to the 1992 Encyclopedia of Mormonism
and was a frequent contributor to LDS Church magazines.
From 1989 to 1992 Cameron served as president
of the Provo Utah Temple
of the church.
In 1996, Cameron served as the National President of the Sons of Utah Pioneers organization. Cameron also served as a chairman of the Utah Pioneer Sesquicentennial Coordinating Council.
Cameron and his wife, the former Maxine Petty, are the parents of four children.
Cameron died peacefully in Provo, Utah
from causes incident to age.
Cameron was born in Panguitch
Panguitch, Utah
Panguitch is a city in and the county seat of Garfield County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Panguitch is located at ....
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and became a specialist in hospital administration. He began teaching at Lincoln (now Orem) High School in Orem, Utah
Orem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
in 1948.
Cameron served as principal of Duchesne
Duchesne, Utah
Duchesne is a city in and the county seat of Duchesne County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,690 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Duchesne city is located at . just west of the junction of the Strawberry and Duchesne rivers in the Uintah Basin of northeastern Utah...
High School in 1949. From 1950 to 1953 he was principal of South Sevier
Sevier County, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,842 people, 6,081 households, and 4,907 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 7,016 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
High School. From 1953 to 1956 he was the superintendent of the Sevier School DIstrict.
Cameron attended the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
, Southern Utah State College, and earned bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
(both 1948) and doctorate degrees (1966) from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU) in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. In the fall of 1964 Cameron served on a committee with seven general authorities that evaluated the idea of the church building more junior colleges. The so called "Cameron Report" which the committee came out with recommended that no new church institutions of higher education be built, that no new programs be inaugurated but instead it advocated the establishment of primary and secondary schools for church members in areas where such schools were not easily available.
From 1956 to 1958, Cameron was the president of Snow College
Snow College
Snow College is a rural, two-year state college located in Ephraim, Utah, U.S. It offers certificates and associate degrees in a number of areas...
in Ephraim, Utah
Ephraim, Utah
Ephraim is a city in Sanpete County, Utah, United States. The population was 6,135 at the 2010 census, making it the largest city in Sanpete County. It is the location of Snow College and is located along U.S. Route 89.-History:Ephraim was founded in 1854...
. After his time at Snow, he became Dean of Student Services at Utah State University and in 1962 became the Dean of Students at BYU. In 1972 his title was changed to dean of student life.
In 1980, Cameron became the president of Brigham Young University Hawaii
Brigham Young University Hawaii
Brigham Young University–Hawaii is a private university located in Laie, Hawaii. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
. It was while Cameron was in this position that the school first made contacts with Chinese officials. He also oversaw the completion of the Lorenzo Snow Administration Building and the Cannon Activities Center. In 1986 Cameron succeeded Henry B. Eyring
Henry B. Eyring
Henry Bennion Eyring is an American educational administrator, author, and religious leader. In 2008 Eyring became First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Eyring was the Second Counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley in the First Presidency from October...
as Commissioner of Church Education for the LDS Church. In 1989, the position of Commissioner of Church Education was abolished and Cameron retired. The position was subsequently revived in 1992 with Eyring serving another term.
Cameron also served as a bishop, stake president, regional representative of the Twelve
Regional representative of the Twelve
Regional representative of the Twelve, commonly shorted to regional representative or regional rep, was a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1968 and 1995...
, and as a member of the general board of the Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
. Cameron was a contributing editor to the 1992 Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Encyclopedia of Mormonism
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism is a semi-official encyclopedia for topics relevant to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
and was a frequent contributor to LDS Church magazines.
From 1989 to 1992 Cameron served as president
Temple President
Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of an LDS temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity....
of the Provo Utah Temple
Provo Utah Temple
The Provo Utah Temple is the 17th constructed and 15th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
of the church.
In 1996, Cameron served as the National President of the Sons of Utah Pioneers organization. Cameron also served as a chairman of the Utah Pioneer Sesquicentennial Coordinating Council.
Cameron and his wife, the former Maxine Petty, are the parents of four children.
Cameron died peacefully in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
from causes incident to age.
External links
- “J. Elliot Cameron New Commissioner of Education,” Ensign, May 1986, 108