Elder Clinton L. Cutler of the Seventy Eulogized

Born in the season of Christmas, Elder Clinton L. Cutler of the Seventy, age sixty-four, passed away April 9 in the season of Easter. His life was marked by faith, observed President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency.

Presiding at Elder Cutler’s funeral, President Hinckley noted that Elder Cutler was hired at Mountain Bell as a telephone installer and retired more than three decades later in a position of high authority, “moving up the ladder through integrity, honesty, hard work—simple integrity. … That says more than a long, long sermon could say.”

Elder Cutler was sustained a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy on 31 March 1990. At the time of his call to the Seventy, he was serving as mission president in Seattle, Washington.

“When I think of Clinton Cutler, there’s one particular passage of scripture that I can’t get out of my mind—’Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile’ [John 1:47],” said President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, who conducted and spoke during the funeral. “There was not an ounce of guile in Clinton Cutler; he was an example unto the believers.”

President Howard W. Hunter, President of the Quorum of Twelve, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve, as well as other General Authorities, were also in attendance at the memorial service.

Born 27 December 1929 in Salt Lake City, Elder Cutler gained a testimony early in life. “My mother had a set of children’s Bible stories,” he said after he received his call to the Seventy. “As a small boy, I would listen to her read them. The lives of those great biblical heroes inspired me.”

While attending Jordan High School, young Clint served as student body president, dated his wife-to-be, Carma Nielsen (they married in the Salt Lake Temple on 22 June 1949), and developed a great love for basketball. He earned all-state honors in the sport and went on to attend Utah State University on a basketball scholarship. Later, he transferred to the University of Utah, where he graduated with honors while earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education.

For thirty-two years he worked with Mountain Bell (now US West), retiring as an assistant vice president in 1986, one month before receiving his call as mission president. Prior to that Church calling, he had served as regional representative, stake president, stake president’s counselor, and bishop.

As a General Authority, Elder Cutler served as second counselor in the Sunday School general presidency from October 1991 to August 1992 and first counselor since August 1992. He was also an assistant executive director of the Family History Department.

Elder Cutler is survived by his wife, their six children, and twenty-eight grandchildren.