_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_ CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Early life of David W. Patten--Parentage--Marriage--Joins the Methodists--Learns of the restoration of the Gospel--Visits his brother--Resume of Church history--Receives Baptism--First mission. CHAPTER II. His procedure in administering to the sick--Testimony as to his success--Visits the Prophet--Missionary labors--Casts out a "devil"--His family baptized--Mrs. Strong healed--Called to Jackson County. CHAPTER III. Condition of Saints in Missouri--Revelation to them--With William D. Pratt, David goes to Missouri--Ministering to the suffering--Freedom from animosity--Mission to Tennessee--Healing of Mrs. Lane. CHAPTER IV. Chosen an Apostle--Ordination--Revelation instructing the Twelve--Date of birth--Healing of Mrs. Stearns--Impression of Lorenzo Snow. CHAPTER V. A period of rest--Endowments--Second mission to Tennessee--Meets Wilford Woodruff and Abraham O. Smoot--Trial by mob court--Escape--Interview with Cain--Bares his breast to a mob. CHAPTER VI. David's personal appearance--Healing of Abraham O. Smoot--Margaret Tittle healed--Prophecy at Paris, Tennessee--Journey to Far West--Visits Kirtland during the great apostasy--Chosen to Presidency in Missouri--Revelation--Expresses a wish to die as a martyr. CHAPTER VII. Visits Adam-ondi-Ahman--Address to the Saints--Spirit of mobocracy in Missouri--David known as "Captain Fear Not"--Calms a storm--Mobocracy and treason--David succeeds to the Presidency of Twelve. CHAPTER VIII. His last call to arms--Battle of Crooked river--David mortally wounded--The closing scene--Wilford Woodruff's testimony--Testimony of the Prophet Joseph--His place behind the veil revealed. LIFE OF DAVID W. PATTEN. "_God gives me all the power I have_." DAVID W. PATTEN. I. Early life of David W. Patten--Parentage--Marriage--Joins the Methodists--Learns of the restoration of the Gospel--Visits his brother--Resume of Church history--Receives Baptism--First mission. Great men are the Lord's object lessons to the world. They hold out to mankind the measure of truth committed to their generation. As example is greater than precept, so a life may state a truth more forcibly than words.