David W. Patten
David W. Patten | |
---|---|
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
February 15, 1835 | – October 25, 1838|
Latter Day Saint Apostle | |
February 15, 1835 | – October 25, 1838|
Reason | Initial organization of Quorum of the Twelve |
Reorganization at end of term | No apostles immediately ordained |
Personal details | |
Born | David Wyman Patten November 14, 1799 Vermont |
Died | October 25, 1838 Ray County, Missouri | (aged 38)
David Wyman Patten (November 14, 1799 – October 25, 1838) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was killed at the Battle of Crooked River and is regarded as a martyr by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church of Jesus Christ). He is referred to twice in the Church of Jesus Christ's Doctrine and Covenants—once in section 114 and posthumously in section 124.
Early life
Patten was born to Benoni and Edith Cole Patten in Vermont, and moved to
Conversion
In 1830, Patten heard about the publication of the
Missions and church service
Patten served several short missions for the church, and was one of the first missionaries to visit the southern United States.
Patten was ordained a high priest by Hyrum Smith on September 2, 1832.[4]: 4–7
At the end of 1832, several missionaries, including Patten, were sent to states on the
Patten was known to sing using the gift of Tongues. On February 27, 1833 Sidney Rigdon interpreted a song of Patten's and transcribed it into Revelation Book 2. [8] They hymn was about Enoch's vision as found in Joseph Smith's revision of Genesis. The interpreted hymn was mailed to Independence, MO where W.W. Phelps published it, unattributed, in the May 1833 edition of the Evening and Morning Star. Sometime before publication the text was adapted into a song with meter and rhyming. [9] The original hymn was never published.
By May 1833, Patten and his companion had arrived at Theresa. They stayed their first night there at the house of Patten's brother Archibald. After remaining in Theresa and preaching for a few weeks, on May 20, 1833, Patten's mother was
Altogether, Patten served twelve short missions for the church in the
Nancy Alexander Tracy, an early member of the church who converted at age sixteen, wrote of Patten: "I could at a glance see the noble spirit he possessed beaming in his countenance, and when he began to speak it was with such force and power. Before he was half through I could have borne my testimony of the truth of the gospel and doctrine he was preaching."[4]: 29
Apostleship
Patten became one of the original apostles of the Church of the Latter Day Saints on February 15, 1835, receiving his ordination from Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, jointly known as the Three Witnesses. He served as an apostle from 1835 until his death in 1838.[5]
In late 1836, Patten settled in Far West, Missouri. On February 10, 1838, Thomas B. Marsh and Patten were called to serve as Presidents pro tempore of the church in Missouri until the president of the church, Joseph Smith, and his counselor Sidney Rigdon returned.[10]: 6 Later that year, on April 6, 1838, when Marsh was called to be President pro tempore of the church by himself, Patten was appointed to be Marsh's assistant; fellow apostle Brigham Young also served as an assistant to Marsh.[10]: 14 Latter Day Saints in Missouri began to refer to Patten by the nickname "Captain Fear-Not."[4]: 165
Doctrine and Covenants section 114, delivered April 17, 1838, is directed to Patten, in which he is called to serve another mission.[11]
Story of meeting Cain
Patten is reportedly the source of a story which has become a part of
The recollection of Patten's story is quoted in Spencer W. Kimball's The Miracle of Forgiveness.[12]: 127–128 In the 1980s, Patten's story was used by some Latter-day Saints to explain Bigfoot sightings in South Weber, Utah.[13]
Battle of Crooked River
Patten died due to wounds received in the
The wounded Patten was carried from the battlefield to the home of Stephen Winchester, four miles distant. En route he was visited by Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and his wife. Patten reiterated his testimony of the church to his visitors. Upon seeing her husband dying, Ann Patten exclaimed, "Oh God! Oh my husband! How pale you look."[4]: 164 His final words to his wife were, "Whatever you do else, O do not deny the faith," after which he addressed the others in the room.[3] Moments after this, about 10 p.m., he died. Regarding Patten's death, Joseph Smith said, "There lies a man who has done just as he said he would—he has laid down his life for his friends."[7] Patten was buried in an unmarked grave on October 27, 1838, in Far West, Missouri.[4]: 166
Legacy
After Patten's death, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles did not have twelve apostles again until 1841, when
had been ordained and added to the Quorum to replace Patten and apostles who had been excommunicated.Shortly after the Battle of Crooked River,
After Patten's death, Wilford Woodruff lionized Patten as a martyr and ascribed unspecified miraculous healings to his administration.[1] In Doctrine and Covenants section 124, a revelation states, "David Patten I have taken unto myself; behold, his priesthood no man taketh from him."[14]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Wilson 1904
- ^ "Patten, David Wyman", The Joseph Smith Papers, Church History Department, LDS Church, 2012
- ^ ISBN 1562362429.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Whiting 2003
- ^ a b c "Patten, David Wyman (1799-1838)". Biographical Registers. BYU Studies. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
- ^ OCLC 24502140
- ^ a b c d Flake 2001, pp. 351–3
- ^ "Revelation Book 2, Page 48". www.josephsmithpapers.org.
- ^ McBride, Matthew. "Man Was Also in the Beginning with God". www.churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^ a b Roberts, Brigham Henry (1905). History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Volume 3). Deseret News.
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 114:1
- ISBN 0-88494-444-1
- Deseret Morning News, p. A1, archived from the originalon 2016-10-22, retrieved 2013-06-24
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 124:130
Sources
- Flake, Lawrence R., ed. (2001), Prophets and Apostles of the Last Dispensation, Salt Lake City, UT: ISBN 1-57345-797-3.
- Patten, David W (June 25, 1864), "History of David W. Patten (Compiled principally from his own journal)", Millennial Star, vol. 26, no. 26, pp. 406–408. Continues in:
- No. 27, pp. 422–424 (July 2, 1864)
- No. 28, pp. 439–441 (July 9, 1864)
- No. 29, pp. 454–455 (July 16, 1864)
- Whiting, Linda Shelley (2003), David W. Patten Apostle and Martyr, Springville, UT: Cedar Fort, OCLC 51293310.
- Wilson, Lycurgus A (1904) [1900], Life of David W. Patten: The first Apostolic martyr, OCLC 4922706.
External links
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: David W. Patten Archived 2020-02-03 at the Wayback Machine