Alpheus Cutler

(1784–1864)

Alpheus Cutler was born in Plainfield, New Hampshire, in 1784. He married Lois Lathrop in Lebanon, New Hampshire, in 1808. In January 1833, Cutler was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chautauque County, New York. The following year, he moved to Kirtland, Ohio, where he labored on the Kirtland Temple and served on the Kirtland high council. In 1836 Cutler moved to Ray County, Missouri, and in 1838 he moved to Caldwell County, Missouri. By the summer of 1839, he moved to Commerce, Illinois, which was later renamed Nauvoo. There he was a member of the high council and of the temple building committee. During 1841 and 1842, he served a mission to Wisconsin Territory to obtain lumber for the construction of the Nauvoo Temple. After returning to Nauvoo, Cutler became a member of the Council of Fifty. In April 1845, he was elected president of the town of Nauvoo. The following year, he led the third company of Latter-day Saints out of Nauvoo. He chose the site of Winter Quarters in unorganized United States territory (later in Omaha, Nebraska) as a temporary abode for the Saints. In April 1851, Cutler was excommunicated. Two years later, he established the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite) in Fremont County, Iowa.

References in the Doctrine and Covenants

Doctrine and Covenants 124

Additional Information

Biographical facts and sources, The Joseph Smith Papers

Saints, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth