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Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2394

Scope and Contents note

The collection contains twenty-one plastic-bound volumes containing historical material relating to The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites), including extensive minutes of various Cutlerite church meetings and conferences, gathered and typed by Edna Ione Fletcher. Each volume has been arranged in its own folder and are contained in two boxes.

Dates

  • approximately 1853-1970

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use note

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) collection must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) is one of the many splinter groups from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was reorganized by Alpheus Cutler on September 9, 1853 at Manti, Iowa, a settlement of about 30 families. The formal reorganization of the church under the leadership of Joseph Smith III in 1860, caused many to leave Cutler and unite with the RLDS Church. After Cutler's death in 1864, the community moved north and settled in Clitherall, Minnesota. In the late 1920s, a group of church members was sent to Independence, Missouri to establish headquarters and erect a church building. Due to a leadership dispute in the mid-1950s, the two branches operated as separate churches. The Missouri church added the prefix "true" to their name to distinguish between the two. Since the two groups have reconciled their differences, the church has dropped the prefix.

Alpheus Cutler, son of Knight Cutler and Elizabeth Boyd, was born on February 29, 1784 in Plainfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 20, 1833 by David W. Patten in Western New York. Shortly after joining the Church, he and his family moved to Kirtland, Ohio to assist in the building of the Temple. He moved with the Church through its many hardships and upon settling in Nauvoo, was called to the High Council of the Stake in October 1839. Cutler, was one of a committee of three chosen to superintend the erection of the Nauvoo Temple. After the death of Joseph, Cutler followed Brigham Young out west. He was called as a captain of one of the westward moving companies. Cutler moved with the Church to Winter Quarters where he was then called on a mission to the Indians in Kansas. A number of his company remained in Iowa until his return in 1852. These families continued holding church meetings with Cutler as their leader. On September 9, 1853 in Manti, Iowa, Cutler organized the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) after having seen a sign in the heavens which he was told he would witness when the time came for him to reorganize the church. Cutler claimed ordination to a special council of seven high priest apostles, which gave him the authority to do so. He was the seventh member of this council and had waited until the others had either died or had joined with another group before making his declaration. He died on August 10, 1864 at age 80.

Chancey Whiting (August 19, 1819 - June 7, 1902) 2nd Church president of The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) from June 30, 1867 - June 7, 1902.

Isaac M. Whiting (October 1, 1842 - May 28, 1922) 3rd Church president of The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) from June 1902 - May 28, 1922.

Emery Fletcher (July 22, 1868 - 1953) 4th Church president of The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) from 1922 - 1953.

Erle Whiting ( - 1958) 5th Church president of The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) from April 10, 1955 - 1958.

Rupert J. Fletcher (May 15, 1896 - November 22, 1974) 6th Church president of The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) from September 21, 1958 - November 22, 1974.

Julian Whiting ( ) 7th Church president of The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) from 1974 - .

Edna Ione Peterson Fletcher (1905 - 1982) Church historian for The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) during the 1960s and 1970s.

Extent

2 boxes (1.0 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection contains twenty-one plastic-bound volumes containing historical material relating to The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites), including extensive minutes of various Cutlerite church meetings and conferences, gathered and typed by Edna Ione Fletcher. Each volume has been arranged in its own folder and are contained in two boxes.

Other Finding Aids note

A more detailed finding aid is available in print in the repository.

Other Finding Aids

File-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/MSS2394.xml

Custodial History note

The material in this collection was donated in two parts. The largest segment came on August 27, 2002 by Robert Brown to BYU L. Tom Perry Special Collections. It was delivered by Dr. Uwe J. Hansen on August 20, 2002 who had received it from the donor, Robert Brown, who had assisted Edna Peterson Fletcher in making the typescripts. A second donation came on October 10, 2002. The location of the original records is unknown.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Donated; Robert Brown; August 2002, October 2002.

Appraisal note

19th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts.

Processing Information note

Processed; David J. Whittaker and Erin Chapman; Revised November 2002.

Title
Register of the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerites) collection
Status
Completed
Author
David J. Whittaker and Erin Chapman
Date
Revised November 2002
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States