As a young man, he served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Northern States Mission.

During World War II, Tuttle served two-and-a-half years as a Marine Corps line officer in the Pacific theater.

He played an active part in the famous Raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima.

[1][2] Prior to his call as a general authority, Tuttle worked as a teacher and administrator in the Church Educational System.

In 1986, he became the second counselor to Robert L. Simpson in the church's Sunday School general presidency, but only held this position for a few months before his death.