The writing of this little volume has been a pleasant task. And just as we find mingled with our regret at parting with a friend, a joy in the assurance that to whomsoever he comes he will give the same pleasure he has afforded us, so the author has a feeling in putting out this brief memoir of David W. Patten that the courage and faith manifested in his life will not be lost or unfruitful in the lives of those who contemplate his career.

There remains only the pleasure of thanking those who have taken an interest in this work, and their name is legion. But first of all perhaps is the nephew of Apostle Patten, Thomas Jefferson Patten, of Provo, Utah.

Particular mention should be made of the kindness shown by the late President Wilford Woodruff, by President Lorenzo Snow, by President Joseph F. Smith, by the late Apostle Franklin D. Richards and by the late President Abraham O. Smoot, of Utah Stake. In short, all who knew, or who have read of, Apostle David W. Patten, have seemed to count it a pleasure to do whatever they could to assist in perpetuating his memory.

L.A.W.

Salt Lake City, Utah,
February 8, 1900.

OFFICE OF
The First Presidency
OF THE
Church of Jesus Christ
OF
Latter-day Saints.
P. O. Box B.

Salt Lake City, Utah, February 6, 1900.

To the Reader:

All the circumstances of my first and last meeting with Apostle David W. Patten are as clear to my mind as if it were an occurrence of but yesterday, and yet it took place some sixty-four years ago. He appeared to me then to be a remarkable man, and that impression has remained with me ever since.

We traveled together on horseback from my father's home, at Mantua, Ohio, to Kirtland, a distance of perhaps twenty-five miles, he on his return from some missionary labor, I to commence a course of studies at Oberlin College.

On the way our conversation fell upon religion and philosophy, and being young and having enjoyed some scholastic advantages, I was at first disposed to treat his opinions lightly, especially so as they were not always clothed in grammatical language; but as he proceeded in his earnest and humble way to open up before my mind the plan of salvation, I seemed unable to resist the knowledge that he was a man of God and that his testimony was true. I felt pricked in my heart.

This he evidently perceived, for almost the last thing he said to me, after bearing his testimony, was that I should go to the Lord before retiring at night and ask him for myself. This I did with the result that from the day I met this great Apostle, all my aspirations have been enlarged and heightened immeasurably. This was the turning point in my life.

What impressed me most was his absolute sincerity, his earnestness and his spiritual power; and I believe I cannot do better in this connection than to commend a careful study of his life to the honest in heart everywhere.

Lorenzo Snow