A World Apart: Montana's Hutterites

From promotional materials for the 1973 film: "A documentary film produced by MTN's Bill Whitsitt provides a glimpse into the life and thoughts of one of Montana's least known religious communities. The film - the first, and possibly last, of a kind - portrays the lifestyle of the Miller Hutterite Colony near Choteau, including views of the members at work and play, in the fields and in the classroom, with modern machines and with traditional texts of prayer." (collection MOV 0108)
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of this film and makes available reproductions for research, publication and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the MHS Photograph Archives before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission to use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

[@dwc0]

These gentle souls are the forerunners of the Woman in the Wilderness of Rev 12:14. That part of Christ's Bride who are spared from the tribulation and Shepherded in the wilderness sanctuary for 42 months will live much like these brethren: having all things in common and working for the common good of all with humility and full faith in Jesus. They have much to teach us and I am thankful for your posting of this precious window into a deeper Christian life.

[@godisreal9384]

Wonderful sentiments. However, the Hutterites of the past were not spared and there is nothing new under the sun. The thing which has been, shall be again.

[@dwc0]

@@godisreal9384 Yes, foreunners in the pattern of Christian life that will become the standard and necessity once again in the very near future, not necessarily literal inheritors of the future wilderness sanctuary.

[@wurtzgood]

The wilderness is analogy. Their communal farms are just that. Industrial plantations.

[@roxannehastings2782]

The church in the wilderness is the waldenses

[@roxannehastings2782]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4KygqR7psSgjKcsi=m6hzLd6MM05SRPD6

[@RetiredGoodtimes]

My Great Grandmother was the woman in a red sweater buying cream at 25:13. I went to this colony with my family so many times I can't count. It was at the time prior to, and after the making of this video. My uncle was great friends with the people of the Miller Colony the men would visit him in Choteau at his house all the time. He may have given them a beer, or two, from time to time. Shhhh.

[@alssheepshearing1785]

i had the wonderful pleasure of working for the Duncan Colony ranch this past winter. It was my first ever exposure to Hutterites ( I had never heard of them as I am from the Eastern United States). These people and their way of life is beyond fascinating. Thank you posting this intriguing documentary. :)

[@Romans--bo7br]

I hauled milk from their colony for a while, back in the early 90's.... happy to hear that they're still there. They were wonderful people and always made me feel at home with them. I think the small colony at Millar, MT... just west of them.... more or less "fizzled out".... and I think they moved in with another, larger colony in the area. There are different "sects" of Hutterites, and if you know the colors of the head scarfs worn by the women... you will know which colony they're from. The reason for that is that some of the colonies vary a bit in how they interpret Scripture and apply it to their daily lives.... just as you have with all the different churches of Christianity that are more "commonly" known amongst those outside of the Hutterites, Mennonites and Amish colonies & communities.... mind you, some of those "churches" that claim to be "Christian".... are Anything, But.

[@alssheepshearing1785]

@@Romans--bo7br Cool that you replied! Fascinating stuff. I think the Millar colony still exists, I know the crew I work with shears for a colony that they refer to as the Millar Colony, but to be honest, I thought they were saying "Miller" and I have no idea how they spell it. The Hutterites were such a welcoming and fascinating peoples. They sent me home with an entire smoked salmon, tail and all! Thanks for your reply

[@Romans--bo7br]

@@alssheepshearing1785.... Shalom & greetings!... thanks for you reply!! Ahhhh, their incredible "Smoked Salmon".. and their Northern Pike as well.. Deeeelicious!! The folks at the Duncan Colony sent me home with it a few times, as well as I got to eat it with them on several occasions.... great memories! I sure wish I could go back and visit with them again, but I'm now living a good ways from that area these days. When I was there, Jacob Kleinsasser (if my memory is correct) was kind of the "leader" (for lack of the "probably" correct term) of the colony. I originally met him and a few others, in Billings early one Saturday afternoon at the Farmers Market, and they were all packed back into their old Chevy yellow school bus to head back out to the colony (west of Harlowton), and I just happened (by Gods appointment) to be walking by when he went to start it, and I heard the starter just spinning. I looked underneath and the starter was just hanging there by the cables.. so I motioned to him to stop trying to start it. Long story, short... I drove him and two other of the fellows, out to the west end to a parts store that I had a good account with at the time (re: payed far less than "walk in" retail)..... and got some new starter bolts for it, as well as a new positive battery cable that I noticed was in rough shape. I had a full set of tools in my big "portable" tool box in the back of my crewcab, so I changed the cable and re-installed the starter after cleaning up all the contact points and cable ends, as well as the ground points on the engine & chassis, as he said they needed to get back before dark as the headlights were not very bright, which immediately indicated to me that the ground points were not good. Jacob later told me that the head lights were about "three to four times as bright as before, and that everything electric just seemed to work much better". I was thankful to the Lord that He allowed me to be there, when I was and to be a blessing to them.... and they were very thankful as well. lol Anyway, that's how we came to know each other, originally.. back in the 90s.

[@jamesshelburn5825]

Very polite people they come to the Super1 market here in western MT, my grandmother made my clothes it brings back good memories but couldn't expect any to understand that hadn't lived thru the depression, what it did to a generation that's all but gone now. thank you

[@Bill-cv1xu]

Polson?

[@embe1]

I am beyond fascinated by this.

[@C.Noble13]

Indeed

[@charleshammer2928]

My Italian born and raised mother (born 1927) made home made noodles using Heckers Flour, eggs, a wooden roller and a knife to cut them by hand. She never used a machine, though my father bought her one in 1975. She dried them in a similar fashion. These Hutterites are more advanced than my mom was.

[@dylanthuong2600]

I bet your mom’s cookings were and still are the best

[@kid6092]

Life is short, eternity is forever. The choice is yours. Chose LIFE.

[@janesmith9024]

Lovely. Actually in some respects it reminded me of my childhood (same period 1970s although not hutterite) as my sister and I looked just like those little girls in the school.

[@brendameineke2161]

Ive met some Hutterite people who are very kind people I think they are like anybody nd just set in there ways nd prefer to stay that way

[@happy777abc]

I think they're pretty smart( smarter than most all) to live in such a pure way.

[@rays_forehead]

My dad lived in a hutterite colony for 16 years and my family out there are really nice, I love it out there Edit: my dad's was the first one listed-

[@johncourtneidge]

Thank-you!

[@littleme3597]

I like it!

[@Jake-xu1ts]

😂😂😂😂😂 , i was born in a Hutterite colony 1964 , I ran away when I was 14 years old, I got a spanking every day for missing church, hahaha, every morning I knew I was getting a spank when I went to German school, when I dressed in the morning, I dressed with 5 pair of pants so it wouldn’t hurt so bad and wipe spit in my eye so it looked like I was crying… True story…. I learned so much in the Hutterite colony, it paved my future. I turned out to be a good citizen even with all the spankings I got, I put myself through welding school, got me a job on the pipelines and made some good money , I am a proven fact that if you want something you need to work your a$$ off to get it and I learned everything I know from when I grew up on the colony. I’m grateful

[@Melissa0774]

Do they still do so much farming to support themselves today, or have they switched other businesses?

[@Cayenne1990]

The Hutterites that live in our area started raising fish and sell to restaurants in larger cities

[@Melissa0774]

@@Cayenne1990 To me, they almost seem less like a cult and more like just a huge rich extended family with lots of resources who just want to stay together because they have more money that way.

[@tavolo22]

I watched some Hutterite females stuff shampoo and soap under their dresses at the old Woolworth’s in Great Falls.

[@vernonbrowne-3826]

Well, everything is expensive.

[@joefrommontana252]

The most dishonest people I know are deeply religious. Never fails.

[@josephstahl6283]

I remember some of them guys would put in a stove pipe and then fill it up and then marketed

[@GottliebGoltz]

Whut???

[@billybonewhacker]

I did a double take when I thought he said Hog racing. Lol

[@Dobiefly]

The last 2 times I have seen the Hutterites in town the older male that was with multiple females was screaming at them like no one was around and slaming truck doors and the second time screaming from inside their van as the female and a young man got out. The driver again was very angry. I was very taken aback. I know people get angry but that was a ridiculous way for any person to behave towards others but especially women. I hope that is not an indication of how women in that colony are treated.

[@irenez7439]

Let me ask you, do people that are not in this religion ever do bad thing? Do you want your kids/grandchildren going to a drag show or watching Lgbt+ TV shows? It's not all roses here on earth. I taught my kids to love everyone and to be gentle. I have 7 boys and 3 girls. Now it's thier choice to do the right thing. Of course we have some bad people but much less than in the regular world. We are human after all. It seams easy to judge them, but what good things have you done today? Hope you choice the right way.

[@coldethyl]

@@irenez7439 Shit, I hope my kid is a tranny like me and has 10 abortions if they want. Freewill n all :) Anyway you're really weird for spewing religious shit in response to a case of abuse. Shows how lousy your "godly" character is! You're all fake.

[@irenez7439]

@Leo Laplante thank God you are not my Mom! Best of luck to you on Judgment Day! You seem to be very confused.

[@irenez7439]

@Leo Laplante did you delete your comment?

[@coldethyl]

@@irenez7439 Enjoy your adult fairytales!

[@vandrewful]

My ex-wife is an ex-hutterite from a colony in southern Manitoba. I was married to her and close to her family for 16 years. Severe human rights abuses take place on these colonies everyday in Canada. The people dont know their rights are being violated as they grow up being brainwashed from birth. This is what I learned from 16 years of marriage to an ex-hutterite: the members are regularly shunned/ex-communicated over trivial religous opinions, not allowed to leave the farm for shopping unless permission is given by the minister, rapes are forgiven in church...victim and man stand before the members in church and no punishment for the rapists, humiliation, they are denied education beyond grade 6.

[@edh6062]

Life there is far from perfect, but there is some B.S. in your comments. Grade 6? Manitoba hutterites have been getting high school diplomas for decades.

[@warren2214]

My niece is dating a german hutterite and his supreme ideals are poison. Do you have any links or resources i can find? I feel like he is Paul Shafer

[@China-Clay]

Typical problems in high demand religions, bringing these issues into the light is good

[@irenez7439]

Some of you are so against some Christians, but I bet you are for children going to drag shows and you let them watch shows that are for Lgdt+. What is right is shunned in American society 🤔, but the weird and the wrong are praised. I am Anabaptist, but I wear store bought clothes with a headcovering. We drive cars and have computers and cellphones. We do adult baptisms and we do not marry outside of our denomination. It's a choice I make to be a member of this denomination, if I wanted to leave I could but I see all those that have left still want their kids to marry from our kids. Strange.

[@godisreal9384]

@@irenez7439 Thank you for commenting. A couple weeks ago I began reading "Foxes book of martyrs" which lead me to "bloody theater, martyrs mirror" and then to the knowledge of Jakob Hutter. From what I gather, when the Bible was finally translated into vernacular languages*, men and women began to repent and believe the truth about Messiah and then get baptized, leaving the universal pagan-heathen "Catholic Church", which of course upset the "kings of the earth" very much. In order to stem the rising tide of numbers amongst true Christian men and women, these "kings" and "popes" decided to destroy believers in the true Gospel. First, these believers were labeled "anabaptist", which means nothing other than "re-baptized", in oder to stigmatize them and strike fear into the hearts of onlookers. Then, official edicts were published, outlawing the believers in the true Christ, who is God, and condemning them to death. Spies were sent abroad, who apprehended these Christians in their beds, at work, in the fields and at prayer meetings in the woods or other secret places. A majority of them were torturted and then burned alive to death at the stake, or drowned or beheaded. Some unfortunately did recant in the fact of bitter torment. Jacob Hutter was a Martyr for the Word of God and was murdered in 1536, when he was probably between the ages of 33-36. You can read about him at this link: archive.org/details/brotherlyfaithfu0000hutt/page/12/mode/2up *William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English and maybe into other languages, I don't know, was strangled and burnt alive to death at the stake.

[@anonymous-yd4le]

I couldn’t wear anything around my head and neck like that. I would go insane !

[@hesedagape6122]

That's an insane comment!

[@goatamongsheep4296]

They live a rural lifestyle (out in the country) where there are lots of bugs and flies. When you work on a farm, you learn to keep covered up. Long sleeved shirts, hats and scarves.... even on the hottest days. Go back to sleep. You never heard of sunstroke I assume.

[@vernonbrowne6127]

Are you sure, you are not insane?

[@irenez7439]

You never wear a beanie during a storm?

[@friskydingo2961]

This where Peggy Hill from?

[@EKelly-nu7op]

Sadly “Big Jake” was killed when he fell into a big vat of oil that they drop the pigs into to help skin them.

[@godisreal9384]

The "Hutterites" were a community of Christian believers who had found life and liberty in the truth of the Gospel of the Messiah, our Creator and were persecuted and put to death because they refused to go back into Babylon after they had found the best Way to come out of her.

[@sagdjim]

There is no cheaper way to live!

[@tammywaldner3319]

My dad grew up on a Manitoba colony and left when he was 19 in 1970 …this video is clearly from a similar time frame. The colonies here in the region where I live have come a long way from these depictions but still many leave the colony due to religious legalism. Not saying that many in the colonies are not coming to true biblical trust in Jesus, but like many and also some Mennonite churches in southern mb, have very many traditions which make the words of God of none effect, they are just man made traditions

[@wolventiger]

The hogs are so different

[@darrenbell2133]

The Lord Jesus teaches freedom whilst living in the world and by his stripes we are healed. He is the way, truth and the life.

[@dylanthuong2600]

Some of the men interviewed seemed to enjoy their products but tried hard to condescend them . Such hypocrites

[@jeez3838]

So basically, they are Amish who use electricity. Interesting.

[@nanettemiller4462]

Very similar to old order amish and Mennonite beliefs

[@invisibleye7599]

I have never seen blacks create such a community.

[@suziewhattley3917]

It's easy to be pacifists when there are others willing to fight for your freedom to be pacifists. If too many are pacifists then the Hitlers and Talibans would take over.

[@psalm2764]

Wars are not for free-dumb.

[@josephstahl6283]

We are based on actus II our Mighty God is all over

[@embe1]

Hi there. Might you know the name of the hymn that the women were singing at the very beginning of the documentary?

[@davidbarnett6685]

Not demoncrats😮❤

[@EarthFirstGoVegan]

One word. CULT

[@johnklassenofficial]

100%

[@C.Noble13]

Industry

[@chelseagirl278]

says the VEGAN. LOL!!

[@C.Noble13]

@@chelseagirl278 Culture cult