9/28/2018 - Section 114:1-2

September 28, 2018

Section 114:1-2

Church History, Missouri Problems, Kirtland Problems, The Last Days?, People Problems,

There is a history associated with this short section. Elder David W Patten was one of the original Apostles. Church History and Modern Revelations, 2:85 says he “had for some time been located in Missouri and with Elder Thomas B Marsh was maintaining a steady influence amidst the opposition of disaffected brethren, including the three who had been appointed to preside, David Whitmer, William W Phelps and John Whitmer. The Lord called upon Elder Patten [17 April 1838] to settle up his business as soon as possible, make a disposition of his merchandise, and prepare to take a mission the following spring, [the planned to leave 26 April 1939 for England] in company with others to preach the Gospel to all the world. ‘v 3 For verily thus saith the Lord, that inasmuch as there are those among you who deny my name, others shall be planted in their stead, and receive their bishopric. Amen.’ Elder Patten obedient to this revelation took steps to meet this call which had come to him. Events were to develop, however, which would change the nature of his mission before the following spring could arrive.”

In October 1838 the persecutions of mobs in Missouri threatened not only the property of the Saints but also their lives. A group too three prisoners and promised to murder them, saying they would come the next morning to burn the Saints out. The Prophet Joseph Smith appointed Elder Patten to lead seventy-five volunteers against the mob of thirty or forty, hoping to rout them without bloodshed and free the three prisoners. In the confrontation Elder Patten was shot in the stomach and died that night. The Prophet said, “He was one of the Twelve Apostles, and died as he had lived, a man of God and strong in the faith of a glorious resurrection, in a world where mobs will have no power or place. (History of the Church, 3:171

These were hard times in so many ways. President George G Cannon wrote: “While the Prophet had been journeying toward Missouri after escaping the Kirtland mob in January, 1838, a general assembly of the Saints in Far West was held on the 5^th day of February, at which David Whitmer, John Whitmer and William W Phelps were rejected as the local presidency; and a few days later Thomas B Marsh and David W Patten, of the Twelve, were selected to act as a presidency until the Prophet should arrive. Oliver Cowdery too had been suspended from his position. Persisting in unchristianlike conduct, W W Phelps and John Whitmer had been excommunicated by the high council in Far West, four days previous to the arrival of Joseph. “Tis was the sad situation as the Prophet approached in the dwelling place of the Saints in Missouri…On the 12^th of April, 1838, Oliver Cowdery was found guilty of serious wrong-doing for which he had not made repentance, and he was excommunicated by the high council at Far West. Before the same tribunal on the day following David Whitmer was charged with persistent disobedience of the word of wisdom and with unchristianlike conduct, and he was also cut off. Luke Johnson Lyman E Johnson, and John F Boynton were excommunicated about the same time, and less than a month later a similar fate befell William E McLellin [all members of the Quorum of the Twelve]  It was a sorrowful day for Joseph when he lost the companionship of these men who had been with him during many trials and who had participated with him in the glorious undertaking of heavenly things. (life of Joseph Smith pp 237-38)

Will times like these come again?

10/8/2021 – D&C 114

I wonder if this is the shortest section in the D&C. It is only 2 verses long. It is addressed to David W. Patten. I did not recognize that name, so I looked him up.

He was one of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve when it was first organized in 1835. He was known for his physical strength, his dedicated missionary service, his ability to heal the sick, and his courage in defending his fellow Church members. Up to the point of this revelation, he had served 3 missions. Joseph Smith described him as a kind angel from heaven. Many referred to him as “Captain Fearnot”. 

In v 1 the Lord says that David W Patten should “settle up all his business as soon as he possibly can, and make a disposition of his merchandise, that he may perform a mission unto me…”  And that is exactly what David did. This was during the time when several of the prominent leaders of the church in Missouri had apostatized. It is said that when he arrived in Missouri, he spent both day and night ministering to the Saints. 

In October 1838, the news reached Far West that three Church members were being held hostage by a group of Missourians who threatened to murder them and burn out the rest of the Mormons in the area. When he heard that news, he called 75 men to come with him to rescue them. As his group of men approached the area where the saints were being held hostage, David led the charge. The mob, who held the saints prisoners, fled. But one mobber who had hidden behind a tree shot David in the abdomen. David’s death occurred fairly quickly. 

The hostage saints were rescued. The rest of the Mormons in that area were not burned out at that time.  

David is mentioned one other time in the D&C. Three years after David’s death, in section 124 the Lord speaks of  him, saying “My servant David Patten…is with me at this time.” This tells me that David completed his ‘Earth Education’, and completed it with magna cum laude honors. 

Elder Loren C. Dunn encouraged us to exercise faith in God by following the counsel of His prophets: “The Lord, who knows all things (see Abr. 2:8), looks into the future and has his prophets prepare us for events yet to come. Our prophet today … is, by his counsel, preparing us for our personal future” (“The Case of the Chevrolet,” New Era, Apr. 1983, 4).

The Lord’s work will never be stopped, but if WE choose not to do His work as He has asked, our progress will be slowed, or even stopped.