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Bookstore Home > History > Biographies
David W. Patten: Apostle and Martyr
David W. Patten was one of the most influential and dearly-loved leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in its formative years of 1832 -1838. Patten joined the Church in 1832 and was immediately sent on a mission. He soon performed his first priesthood healing, and word quickly spread about his ability to heal the sick. People approached him daily to be healed. Over the next six years he served eight missions, where he blessed thousands of people and baptized hundreds into the Church. His spirituality and personality propelled him to leadership positions, and he participated in many major events, including: Marching in ZionĘs Camp, Being called as one of the Twelve Apostles, Speaking in tongues during the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, Valiantly standing by Joseph Smith during the dark days of apostasy in 1837-38. Patten was the Captain of the Cavalry of the Mormon Militia at Far West. He led his men in assisting families driven from their homes during the Missouri persecutions, earning the nickname of "Captain Fearnot" among his people. Using many primary resources, Linda Shelley Whiting spent 10 years researching David W. Patten and eighteen months writing this book. Whiting graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in journalism, served an LDS mission, and has written several freelance historical features. Review Excerpt:
Whiting's book is an in-depth look at this remarkable man, from his early years and through his eventful life. We come to know Patten as a loving husband, devoted Latter-day Saint and courageous witness to the Gospel. This book is not, however, a critical look at his life. Rather, it fits into the category of hagiography. The story is told in a straightforward manner, with few diversions from the Patten life-line. And while I Much is made of Patten's healing powers. I lost count of how many people found their healing at his hands. I was amused that he insisted people get baptized if the healing was successful -- this just didn't add up for me. And when one person refused to go forward with the baptism, the disease returned! In another instance, the author documents a strange encounter: About this time, during the spring of 1836, David Patten saw Cain. (p. 85) My eyes opened a bit. She doesn't say he *claims* to have seen Cain, but rather that he *did* see Cain. The event is worded as matter-of-factly as she would report Patten putting on his shoes. There is no question Such uncritical views of a book's subject often make me wonder just how dependable the other information is. Going back to the healings: did they really happen? Were such healings as fully grounded in fact as Patten seeing Cain? This book will not assist you in sorting all this out. However, on balance, this biography offers enough insight and local color about an important historical figure that it is worth reading. One can obtain some information on Patten's life from reading the Title: David W. Patten: Apostle and Martyr Retail Price: Your Price: Only $10.45
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Linda Shelley Whiting, Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort, 2003, 6x9" softbound, 218 pages.