e Development of the Saints Health Clinic: e Neopatrimonial State and the RLDS Church’s Mission in Ikot Oku Mfang, Cross River State, Southeastern Nigeria, 1982–1984 David Dmitri Hurlbut 1 Introduction A n article published in the 2024 spring issue of the John Whitmer His- torical Association Journal (JWHA Journal) detailed the establishment of a partnership between the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS church) and the Efik-speaking village of Ikot Oku Mfang to develop a maternal health clinic in Cross River State in southeastern Nigeria between 1979 and 1982. is article argued that after the RLDS church, acting through an RLDS nonprofit called Outreach International, failed to establish a self-sustaining mater- nal health clinic in the village of Edem Aya in partnership with the Southeastern State Government, the Reorganization decided to invest only in community-led development projects in southeastern Nigeria. 2 1. anks to Dmitri Bondarenko and Victor Manfredi for their inspiration, conversation, and feedback in the preparation of this article. anks also to Rachel Killebrew, the archivist for Community of Christ, and her dedicated archives volunteers, Maureen and Michele, for providing me with access to documents on which I based this piece. is article does not exist without their generosity. A quick note on nomenclature: I use RLDS church, the Reorganized church, and the Reorganization interchangeably in this article. 2. David Dmitri Hurlbut, “e Establishment of the Saints Health Clinic: Self Help, Maternal Care, and the RLDS Church’s Mission in Southeastern Nigeria, 1979–1982,” John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 44, no. 1 (Spring/Summer 2024): 81–100.