David Wyman (other sources give his middle name as Warren) Patten was born about November 14, 1799 in Westmoreland, New Hampshire. He died October 25, 1838 at the Battle of Crooked River in Caldwell County, Missouri. He was the son of Benoni Patten and Edith Cole. Had he survived,
he would have become President of the Twelve with the excommunication of
Thomas
B. Marsh. As it was, he suffered the martyr's death, the first of the
General Authorities of the Latter-days to do so. The following is from
his own words as printed in the Millennial Star
In the early part of my life, I was often called
upon to repent of my sins, and the Spirit of the Lord did often reprove
me. In the twenty first year of my life the Lord visited me by his Holy
Spirit, and called upon me again to repent. I rejected the call at first,
but, upon mature reflection, considered it was reasonable the Lord should
require obedience, and I turned to the Lord and found his favor. I lived
in the enjoyment of his Spirit for three years, during which time, by dreams
and visions, many things were made known unto me, which were to come; and
from the teachings I received of the Holy Spirit, I was looking for the
Church of Christ to arise in its purity, according to the promise of Christ,
and that I should live to see it.
From this happy state I fell away and lived, in a
measure, in darkness until the year 1830, when my mind became again aroused
by the Spirit of God to a sense of my situation, and I began to pray mightily
to God that he would pardon my sins and grant me his Holy Spirit. About
this time the sound of the Book of Mormon came to my ears, and I was greatly
agitated in mind about it, and desired to see it. I saw the book that same
summer, but had no opportunity of reading it further than the preface and
testimony of the witnesses. A fear came upon me, and I dare not say anything
against it.
From that time I began to cry to God for saving faith.
Nothing took place worthy of note until May, 1832, when on receiving a
letter from my brother in Indiana, giving me information of the rise of
the Church of Christ, the reception of the Holy Ghost and the gifts thereof
by the Saints. My brother informed me that he had received the Holy Ghost
by the laying on of the hands of the Elders of the Church. This caused
my heart to leap for joy, and I resolved to go immediately and see for
myself. I soon became satisfied that the work was true, and was baptized
on the 15th of June, 1832, in Greene Co., Indiana, by my brother, John
Patten.
I was ordained an elder on the 17th, under the hands
of Elisha H. Groves in said county, when I was appointed, in company with
brother Wood, to preach in the Territory of Michigan. We travelled and
preached together, and I recorded many remarkable cases of healing, which
occurred under my administration: in many instances I went to the sick,
who said they had faith and promised to obey the Gospel when they got better,
and commanded them in the name of the Lord to arise and be made whole;
and they were immediately restored. Sixteen persons were baptized near
the Maumee River.
After preaching a short season, returned home; and
on the 16th, Oct., I started for Kirtland, preaching by the way, took steamer
on the 18th from Detroit for Fairport; had much conversation on board,
among others with a priest who tempted God and asked a sign, and pretended
that he would believe if he could see a sign, and because he could not
have a sign, he mocked and scoffed at all I said, not being able to maintain
his position by argument. I was then attacked by sceptics, one of whom
declared he was not under any obligation to believe anything that he could
not see: I asked him if he considered himself bound by that rule; he answered
in an air of triumph, yes! I asked him if he had got any back bone, he
replied yes! when I asked him how he knew, if he had ever seen it? for
according to his own words, he was not under any obligation to believe
he ever had any back bone: at this the company shouted and laughed, and
the sceptic sneaked off.
I arrived in Kirtland in October [1832], and remained
two or three weeks, helping the brethren to dig potatoes and harvest corn.
Nov. 9, 1832, I started on a mission to the east, travelling sometimes
in company with brother John Murdock, and sometimes with brother Reynolds
Cahoon; we baptized several on our journey. Nov. 29. Held Council with
brothers John F. Boynton and Zebedee Coltrin relative to our duty on our
mission; we retired to a grove to enquire of the Lord, and agreed that
brother Zebedee Coltrin should be the person through whom the Lord should
make known his will unto us, and in mighty prayer we did call on him, and
he heard our prayers and revealed unto us that we should pursue our journey
eastward, not in haste nor by flight. Our hearts were filled with joy,
and we praised the Lord, and pursued our journey, the Spirit of God leading
us, and signs continually following.
When we arrived at the Springfield (Pa.) Branch we
met with brothers Hyrum and William Smith. We held a meeting and had a
joyful time together, brother Hyrum baptized six at the close of the meeting:
next day two were baptized. When we found any sick I preached to them faith
in the ordinances of the Gospel, and where the truth found place in their
hearts, I commanded them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to arise
from their beds of sickness and be made whole; in many instances the people
came after me to lay hands on their sick, because of this gift which the
Lord had bestowed upon me, and almost daily, the sick were healed under
my hands: a woman who had an infirmity for nearly twenty years was instantly
healed.
I arrived home in Kirtland, Feb. 25, 1833. March
25. The Elders were sent out from Kirtland to preach the Gospel, and counsel
the Saints to gather to Kirtland. I started with brother Cahoon east, and
on reaching Avon I preached at father Bosley's, where there was a man present
who had disturbed several of our meetings, and would not be civil or quiet;
he had defied any man to put him out of the house or make him be still.
I felt stirred up in spirit, and told him to be quiet, or I certainly would
put him out; he said I could not do it; I replied, "In the name of the
Lord I will do it," whereupon I walked up to him, and seizing him by the
neck with one hand and by the seat of the breeches with my other hand,
I carried him to the door, and threw him about ten feet on to a pile of
wood, which quieted him for the time being. From this circumstance the
saying went out that David Patten had cast out one Devil, soul and body.
May 20, 1833, brother Brigham
Young came to Theresa, Indian River Falls, where I had been bearing
testimony to my relatives; and after preaching several discourses, he baptized
my brothers Archibald and Ira Patten, Warren Parrish, Cheeseman and my
mother and my sister, Polly. I continued my labors in Jefferson Co., and
by the blessing of God, raised a branch of eighteen members in the town
of Orleans, through much persecution and affliction, and all manner of
evil speaking; and when divers persons were hardened in that vicinity,
I went to Henderson, where I found a noble people who received the word
of the Lord; and when I had preached the first principles of the doctrine
of Christ, there were eight persons who came forward and were baptized
for the remission of their sins, and when hands were laid upon them the
Holy Ghost fell on them, and they spake with tongues and prophesied.
I labored continually through the months of May,
June, July and August, during which time by the blessing of God, I raised
some other branches, in all eighty members. Now the Lord did work with
me wonderfully in signs and wonders following them that did believe in
the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; insomuch that the deaf were
made to hear, the blind to see, and the lame were made whole; fevers, palsies,
crooked limbs and withered limbs, and in fine all manner of diseases common
to the country, were healed by the power of God that was manifested through
his servants.
I returned to Kirtland, Ohio, in company with my
brother, Ira, and found the brethren all well. They had begun to build
the house of the Lord [Kirtland Temple]; I tarried and worked on the house
one month, and then went to Michigan Territory to my former place of residence,
on business; and concluded to remove my effects to Florence, Ohio, which
I did, and where I remained about seven weeks, during which time I was
sick about five weeks; when I commended myself into the hands of God, and
went into the world to proclaim the Gospel again, and travelled about two
weeks, when the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and the Lord said unto
me, "Depart from your field of labor and go unto Kirtland, for behold I
will send thee up to the land of Zion, and thou shalt serve thy brethren
there."
I obeyed the word of the Lord, and was sent in company
with Wm. [William] D. Pratt to bear despatches to the brethren in Missouri.
I started December 28, 1833, and arrived in Clay County, March 4, 1834,
having passed through much cold and fatigue; still I was blessed of the
Lord, and much good was done in consequence of my mission. I tarried in
Missouri until the camp of Zion came from Ohio; and when they arrived the
people of Clay County besought us in the name of God not to go over into
Jackson County, and they would use their utmost endeavors to give us our
rights according to the laws of the land.
Now, the laws were good, and gave every man a right
to worship the Lord according to the dictates of his own conscience; but
the magistrates, officers and people were wicked, and trampled the law
under their feet, and persecuted and murdered the Saints with impunity.
A violent persecutor stepped up to me, and said, "You damned Mormon," drawing
his bowie knife, "I will cut your damned throat." I looked him full in
the face, at the same time putting my hand in my left breast pocket, and
said to him, "My friend, do nothing rashly." "For God's sake, don't shoot,"
he replied, and put up his knife and left me, though I was unarmed.
Sept. 12, 1834, I started in company with brother
Warren Parish to go into the world to preach the Gospel, travelled through
Upper Missouri, preaching by the way. At La Grange I took steamboat for
St. Louis, and from thence by steamboat to the mouth of the Ohio, where
we landed October 2nd, and proceeded to Paris, in Tennessee; where we tarried
about three months, preaching the Gospel in that vicinity and the region
round about, we baptized twenty, during which time several instances of
the healing power of God were made manifest, one of which I will mention,
which was wrought upon the wife of Mr. Johnston F. Lane, who had been sick
for eight years, and for the last year had been unable to walk, she hearing
of us, and the faith we preached, prevailed on her husband to send for
us: I went with him immediately and taught them the Gospel, showing what
power was exercised by the Lord upon those who had faith; she believed
with all her heart all the words which I spake unto her; and I laid my
hands upon her and said, "In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke this disorder,
and command it to depart." I took her by the hand, and commanded her to
arise in the name of Jesus Christ, and be made whole; and she arose, and
was made whole every whit. I then commanded her to go to the water and
be baptized; she walked down straightway the same hour, and was baptized.
After I had baptized and confirmed her I told her she should amend and
gain strength, and in less than one year she should have a son (she had
been married some twelve years, and had no children,) which came to pass
according to my words, and the parents called the child David Patten; she
afterwards bore several children"
The following portion of Elder Patten's labors
in the ministry is extracted from Elder Wilford Woodruff's journal:--
"Brother [David] Patten was a man of great faith, and performed many miracles
in the name of Jesus Christ; he had many visions and dreams, and was very
valiant in the testimony of Jesus and the word of God. He returned from
Tennessee to Kirtland in the spring of 1835, and received his blessings
in the Temple in Kirtland. After his endowment he took his wife and started
for Tennessee, where I met with him of the 15th of April, 1836. We travelled
together and preached daily. May 17th, Brother Patten and myself laid hands
on Margaret Tittle, who lay at the point of death, and she was instantly
healed through the power of God.
Brother Patten had preached faith, repentance and
baptism to her, and she covenanted to be baptized; but after she was healed
refused to attend to that ordinance. Brother Patten told her she was acting
a dangerous part, and the Lord would again afflict her if she did not repent.
We pursued our journey, and on our return found her very low with the same
fever; she begged us to lay hands upon her and heal her, and she would
obey the Gospel. We again laid hands upon her, and she was healed, and
went down to the water and I baptized her.
Sunday, 22nd, Brother [David] Patten preached three
times at the house of father Fry in Benton County, Tennessee, many hardened
their hearts and a Mr. Rose rejected his testimony and asked him to raise
the dead. Brother Patten rebuked him for his wickedness, when he and others
came with their arms and threatened to mob us. At the close of the meeting,
brother Patten walked out into the door yard and told the mob to shoot
him if they wished. He had nothing but a walking stick in his hand: the
mob fled and left him. After meeting in the evening, Brother Patten and
myself went to a stream of pure water and cleansed our hands and feet,
and bore testimony against those wicked men who had opposed and reviled
us.
May 27th, Elder Warren Parrish arrived from Kirtland,
and joined Elder Patten and myself. We held a Conference on the 28th, in
Benton County, at which six branches were represented, containing 116 members.
We travelled together from town to town through Kentucky and Tennessee
preaching the word of God, healing the sick, and the Spirit of God was
with us and attended our ministrations. June 9th, we preached at Damon's
creek, Kentucky, and brother Patten rebuked strongly some wicked men who
had gathered together as a mob. At the close of the meeting, he went to
the water and baptized two; one was Father Henry Thomas the father of Daniel
and Henry Thomas, some 80 years of age; he was a revolutionary soldier,
and had served under General George Washington. Elder [David] Patten was
filled with the power of God and several were healed under his hands. Elders
Patten and Parrish returned to middle Tennessee while I remained in Kentucky,--
When brothers Patten and Parrish arrived at brother
Seth Utley's in Benton co., Tennessee, they were taken by a mob under pretext
of law. June 19th. About forty men armed with deadly weapons, led by Sheriff
Robert C. Petty, and a Colonel and Major, with some other officers, and
a Methodist priest with a gun on his shoulder; the Sheriff informed the
brethren that he had a States' warrant for D. [David] W. [Warren] Patten,
W. Parrish and W. Woodruff, issued on complaint of Mathew Williams the
Methodist priest, who swore that those brethren had put forth the following
false and pretended prophecy: 'That Christ would come the second time before
this generation passed away,' and 'That four individuals should receive
the Holy Ghost within twenty-four hours.' After examination brothers Patten
and Parrish were bound over to appear on June 22nd under $2000 bonds.
Early on the 22nd Elders [David] Patten and [Warren]
Parrish had their trial. The mob gathered to the number of 100 all fully
armed, they took from brother Patten his walking stick and a penknife;
they went through with a mock trial, but would not let the defendants produce
any witnesses, and without suffering them to say a word in defence, the
Judge pronounced them guilty of the charges preferred. Brother [David]
Patten being filled with the Holy Ghost rose to his feet and by the power
of God bound them fast to their seats until he addressed them. He rebuked
them sharply for their wicked and unjust proceedings. Brother Parrish afterwards
said, 'my hair stood up strait on my head for I expected to be killed.'
When Patten closed, the judge addressed him saying, 'you must be armed
with concealed weapons, or you would not treat an armed court as you have
this.' Patten replied, 'I am armed with weapons you know not of, and my
weapons are the Holy Priesthood and the power of God. God is my friend,
and he permits you to exercise all the power you have, and he bestows on
me all the power I have.'
The Court finally concluded to let the brethren go
if they would pay the cost of court, and leave the country in ten days.
The Sheriff informed the brethren to accept those propositions as it was
the only means of escaping the violence of the mob. The Saints in that
vicinity paid the cost. Elders [David] Patten and [Warren] Parrish left
and went to brother Seth Utley's. They had not been gone long when the
mob began to quarrel among themselves and were mad because they had let
the prisoners go, and soon mounted their horses and started after them
with all speed. The news of this movement reached the brethren and they
immediately mounted their mules and went into the woods and by a circuitous
route reached the house of brother Albert Petty and put up their mules
and went to bed and slept.
They had not been long asleep when some heavenly
messenger came to brother Patten and told him to arise and leave that place
for the mob were after them and would soon be at that house. Brother Patten
awoke Parrish and told him to arise and dress himself, for the mob would
soon be upon them. They arose, saddled their animals and started for Henry
County, in the night; they had not been gone long before the house was
surrounded by a mob, who demanded Patten and Parrish,--Brother Petty informed
them they were not there, but the mob searched the house, and remained
till day break, when they found the tracks of the brethren's mules, which
they followed to the line of the next county, when they gave up the chase.
I accompanied Elder Patten into the woods and he went before the Lord in
prayer and asked God to curse them, and destroy them off the face of the
earth for their wickedness and abominations, to which I heartily responded,
Amen.
Aug. 20th.--Elder [David] Patten preached at the
house of Randolph Alexander, and after meeting baptized him and his wife.
Brother T. [Thomas] B. Marsh arrived in Tennessee on his mission to collect
means, and attend a Conference with the brethren laboring in Tennessee
and Kentucky, which was held on Damon's Creek, Callaway County, Kentucky,
Sept. 2nd 1836. T. [Thomas] B. Marsh presided. Seven Branches were represented
containing 133 members. On the 4th Elder Patten preached from the words,
'Repent and be baptized,' at the close, five persons came forward and went
to the water and he baptized them. Sept. 19th.--Elders T. [Thomas] B. Marsh,
D. [David] W. Patten, E. H. Groves and Sister Patten left the Saints in
Kentucky and Tennessee and started for Far West, Missouri, where they arrived
in peace and safety." Elder [David] Patten remained in Missouri until the
spring of 1837, when he performed a mission through the States preaching
by the way until he arrived in Kirtland.
He attended a Conference held in Kirtland Sept. 3rd
1837. It was a time of great apostacy in the Church, Warren Parrish, his
brother-in-law and his fond associate apostatized, and labored deligently
to draw away Elder Patten from the Church, these things troubled Elder
Patten and caused him much sorrow. He soon after returned to Missouri.
Feb. 10th, 1838. Elders T. B. Marsh and D. W. Patten were appointed to
take the Presidency in Far West until President Joseph Smith arrived. Brother
Patten wrote an epistle and delivered his last testimony to the world and
Church, which was published in the 3d No. of the Elder's Journal.
Brother Patten continued to labor in the Church in
Missouri through the summer of 1838. When the persecution and mobbing commenced,
he was foremost in defending the Saints. [I extract the following from
Charles C. Rich's history.] "News came to Far West that the Rev. Samuel
Bogart, with a mob of 75 men, were committing depredations on Log Creek,
destroying property and taking prisoners. Whereupon Judge Higbee issued
an order to raise a force to disperse the mob. A call to arms was sounded
about 10 o'clock at night. Capt. D. [David] W. Patten and myself with about
forty others volunteered, which number he thought would be sufficient,
but as I believed a battle was inevitable I proposed to go and raise some
more men and meet Captain Patten about six miles from Far West: which was
agreed to. I rode through the settlements on Goose and Log creeks, and
rallied the brethren as I went along.
When we met we numbered about seventy-five, and were
divided into companies of ten, and then proceeded by the main road, four
miles, to near Crooked river, where we left our horses tied to Randolph
McDonald's fense, and placed a few men to guard them. Captain Patten divided
the party into three companies, taking command of the first himself, I
commanded the second company, and James Durfee the third. Apprehending
that the mob were encamped at Field's house--Captain Patten took his men
and went round to the right of the field, Durfee through the field, and
I round to the left. I arrived at the house about five minutes before the
other companies, which gave me a little time to reconnoiter the premises,
Captain Patten made a short speech, exhorted the brethren to trust on the
Lord for victory, then ordered a march to the ford, along the road.
When near the top of the hill, the words, 'Who comes
there,' were heard, and at the same instant the report of a gun; young
P. [Pat] O'Banion reeled out of the ranks and fell mortally wounded; whereupon
Captain Patten ordered a charge, and rushed down the hill; when within
about fifty yards of the clump, we formed a line. Captain Patten's company
at the right, my company next, which brought me in the road, brother Patten's
company was partly shielded by a club of trees, and brother Durfee's by
a thicket of hazel brush. The mob formed under the bank of the creek, below
their tents, and fired upon us all their guns, brother James Hendricks
fell wounded near me on my left, and brother Hodges fell wounded on my
right. Captain Patten ordered the company to fire, which was obeyed immediately,
after which a calm succeeded for a moment. I commenced calling our watch-word,
'God and liberty.' in which all the companies joined. Captain Patten ordered
us to charge--the enemy fired a few shots and fled, two lingered behind,
Brother Patten pursued one, and I the other; the man that he pursued wheeled
and shot him. Brother Patten wore a white blanket coat which made him a
conspicuous mark.
The mob left all their animals and camp equipage
and dispersed in nearly all directions, and were so completely routed that
almost every one of them reported that Bogart's whole company were destroyed
and he alone was left to tell the tale. We took three of our brethren whom
they had prisoners, one of whom was severely wounded by the mob; we gathered
up Captain Patten and the others who were wounded and put them in a wagon,
and left for Far West; the sun was not yet risen. After travelling a few
miles, brother Patten's sufferings became so great he wished to be left;
he and Brother Seeley were then placed upon litters and carried by the
brethren.
When we arrived near Log creek, we met President Joseph
Smith, Hyrum Smith, H.
C. Kimball and others. At this place Brother [David] Patten became
so ill, he was not able to be borne any further, we rested a short time."
Elder Kimball's journal has the following:- Immediately on receiving the
intelligence that Brother [David] Patten was wounded, I hastened to see
him. When I arrived he appeared to be in great pain; but still was glad
to see us. He was conveyed about four miles, to the house of brother Stephen
Winchester, during his removal his sufferings were so excruciating, that
he frequently desired us to lay him down that he might die. But being desirous
to get him out of the reach of the mob, and among friends, we prevailed
upon him to let us convey him there. We carried him on a kind of a bier
we fixed up with poles.
He lived about an hour after his arrival, and was
perfectly sensible and collected until he breathed his last, at ten o'clock
at night. Although he had medical assistance, yet his wound was such, that
there was no hope entertained of his recovery; this he was perfectly aware
of. In this situation, while the shades of time were lowering, and eternity
with all its realities was opening to his view, he bore a strong testimony
to the truth of the work of the Lord, and the religion he had espoused.
The principles of the Gospel which were so precious to him before, were
honorably maintained in nature's final hour and afforded him that support
and consolation at the time of his departure, which deprived death of its
sting and horror.
Speaking of those who had fallen from their steadfastness,
he [David Patten] exclaimed, "O that they were in my situation! for I feel
I have kept the faith, I have finished my course, henceforth there is laid
up for me a crown which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give to me."
Speaking to his beloved wife who was present and who attended him in his
dying moments, he said, "whatever you do else, O, do not deny the faith!"
He all the while expressed a great desire to depart. I spoke to him and
said, "Brother David, when you get home I want you to remember me." He
exclaimed, "I will." At this time his sight was gone. We felt so very much
attached to our beloved brother, that we beseeched the Lord to spare his
life and endeavored to exercise faith for his recovery. Of this he was
perfectly aware, and expressed a desire, that we should let him go, as
his desire was to be with Christ which was far better. A few minutes before
he died he prayed as follows:--'Father, I ask thee, in the name of Jesus
Christ, that thou wouldst release my spirit and receive it unto thyself:"
and then said to those who surrounded his dying bed, "Brethren you have
held me by your faith, but do give me up and let me go I beseech you."
We committed him to God, and he soon breathed his
last, and slept in Jesus without a groan. This was the end of one who was
an honor to the Church and a blessing to the Saints: and whose faith, virtues
and diligence in the cause of truth will be long remembered by all who
had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and his memory will be had in remembrance
by the Church of Christ from generation to generation. Taken from the Millennial
Star, Vol. 26, June 25 to July 16, 1864, pp. 406-408:422-424:439-441:454-455.
