Benton County Tennessee  PREACHING THE GOSPEL IN THE SOUTH David W. Patten, one of the quorum of Twelve Apostles, and also one of the early martyrs of the Church in this dispensation, was the first missionary to introduce the Gospel of the Blessed Redeemer in the Southern States. In company with Warren Parish, Elder Patten went to Paris, Henry county, Tenn., in the year 18.'53, where they remained about three months preaching the Gospel in that vicinity and regions round aboiu . Twenty were baptized, end several instances of the healing power of God were made manifest. Among these the wife of Johnston F. Lane deserves special mention. She had been sick for eight years, and for a year previous had been unable to walk. Hearing of the Elders, and the faith they preached, she prevailed on her husband to send for them. Elder Patten wont with him immediately and taught him the Gospel, showing what power was exercised by the Lord upon those who had faith. The woman believed the testimony of Patten, who laid his hands upon her, saying, "In the name of Jesus Christ I rebiike the disorder, and command it to depart." He then took her by the hand and commanded her to arise in the name of Jesus Christ, and be made whole. She arose and was perfectly healed. He then commanded her to go to the water and be baptized, which she did the same hour. After he had baptized and confirmed her, he told her that she should amend and gain strength, and in less than one year she should have a son. Although she had been married some twelve years and had had no children, this prophecy was fulfilled. She bore a child, whom the parents called David Patten, and she afterwards had several children. On April 15, 1835, the late President Wilford Woodruff joined Elder Patten, and together they traveled and preached. On May 17, Is35, Elders Patten and Woodruff laid hands on a woman by the name of Margaret Tittle, who was laying at the point of death, and she was instantly healed by the power of God. Elder Patten had preached faith, repentance and baptism to her, and she covenanted to be baptized. But after she was healed she refused to attend to that ordinance. Patten told her that she was acting a dangerous part, and she would again be afflicted if she did not repent. The brethren pursued their journey, and on their return found her very low with the same fever. She begged them to lay hands on her and heal her, and she would obey the Gospel. They complied with her request, and she was healed, after which Elder Woodruff baptized her. On May 22, 1835, Elder Patten preached three times at the house of Father Fry, in Bentoii county, Tennessee. Many hardened their hearts, and a Mr. Eose, who rejected his testimony, asked him to raise the dead. Patten rebuked him for his wickedness, when he and others came with arms and threatened to mob the brethren. At the close of the meeting 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, but the mob fled and left him. While Elders Patten and Parish were staying at Seth Utley's house in Benton county, Tennessee, on June 19, 1835, about forty men, armed with deadly weapons, led by Sheriff Robert C.. Petty, a colonel, a major and other officers, besides a Methodist priest with a gun on his shoulder, surrounded the house. The sheriff informed the brethren that he had a state's warrant for D. W. Patten, WT. Parish and W. Woodruff, issued on complaint of Matthew 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 had passed away, and that four individuals should receive the Holy Ghost within twenty- four hours." After examination, Patten and Parish were bound over to appear on June 22, under $3,000 bonds. ''Early on the 22d," writes Wilford Woodruff, "Patten and Parish had their trial. The mob gathered to the number of one hundred, all fully armed. They took from Elder Patten his walking stick and a pen knife, and went through with a mock trial, but would not let the defendants produce anv witnesses; and without suffering them to say a word in defense, the judge pronounced them guilty of the charge preferred. Brother Patten, being filled with the Holy Ghost, arose to his feet, and by the power of God bound them fast to their seats while he addressed them. He rebuked them sharply for their wicked and unjust proceedings. Brother Parish afterwards said, "My hair stood up straight on my head, for I expected to be killed." When Elder 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.' Elder 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 costs of court and leave the country in ten days. The sheriff advised the brethren to accept these propositions, as it was the 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. They soon mounted their horses and started after the men with all possible speed. The news of this movement reached the brethren and they immediately mounted their mules and went into the woods. By a circuitous route they reached the house of Albert Petty, put up their mules, went to bed and slept. They had not been asleep K-ug when some heavenly messenger came to Brother Patten and told him to arise and dress himself, as 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 Elders Patten and Parish. Brother Petty informed them that they "-rere not there, but the mob searched the house and remained till daybreak, when they found the tracks of llie brethren's animals, which they followed to the line of the next county, when they gave up the chase." Elders Journal - Southern State Mission Volume 2
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