Kirtland

Works on house of the Lord

Brother 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 on 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 [424] 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 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, [1836] brother Patten preached three times at the house of father Fry in Benton co., 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.

David preaches 3 discourses on the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20), dispensation of the fullness of times (Eph. 1:10), authenticity of Book of Mormon. Rose rejects testimony, calls on David to raise the dead. No mention of weapons.

"I then retired from the scene with Elders Patten & Boydstun to a stream of pure water & cleansed our hands & feet & testified against that people who had threatened us & rejected our testimony. We delivered them unto the hands of God /shorthand: and the destroyer. O God, thy will be done./ 1: 70.

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 not 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, [1836] Elder Warren Parish 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 attend our ministrations.

June 9th, [1836] 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 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; and the Sheriff informed the brethren that he had a States' warrant for D. W. 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 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.

Brother 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."

Pay court costs

Go to Seth Utley

The Court finally concluded to let the brethren go if they would pay the cost of the court, and leave the country in ten days. The Sheriff informed the brethren to accept those propositions as it was the [440] only means of escaping the violence of the mob. The Saints in that vicinity paid the cost. Elders Patten and 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 co., 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 tile 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 Patten preached at the house of Randolph Alexander, and after meeting baptized him and his wife.

Brother T. 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 co., Kentucky, Sept. 2nd 1836.

T. 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. [1836] —Elders T. B. Marsh, D. 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.

News came to Far West that the Rev. Samuel Bogard, 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. 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 [441] words, "who comes there," were heard, and at the same instant the report of a gun; young P[atrick] 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 Hedges fell wounded on my right. Captain Patten ordered the company to fire, which was obeyed immediately, after which call 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 Bogard'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 Patten became so ill, he was not able to be borne any further, we rested a short time.