Apostleship
Patten became one of the original apostles of the Church of the Latter Day Saints on February 15, 1835, receiving his ordination from Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris, jointly known as the Three Witnesses. He served as an apostle from 1835 until his death in 1838.
In late 1836, Patten settled in Far West, Missouri. On February 10, 1838, Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten were called to serve as Presidents pro tempore of the church in Missouri until the president of the church, Joseph Smith Jr., and his counselor Sidney Rigdon returned. Later that year, on April 6, 1838, when Marsh was called to be President pro tempore of the Church by himself, Patten was appointed to be an assistant to Thomas B. Marsh. In addition, fellow Apostle Brigham Young also served as an assistant to Marsh. Latter Day Saints in Missouri began to refer to Patten by the nickname "Captain Fear-Not."
Doctrine and Covenants Section 114, delivered April 17, 1838, is directed to Patten, in which he is called to serve another mission.
Read more about this topic: David W. Patten