This work presents a brilliant character study of David W. Patten, a prominent personality in the LDS community. He was a leader in the Latter-Day Saint movement and an earliest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Patten was killed at the Battle of Crooked River and is referred to as the first apostolic martyr. This well-written biography presents an unbiased history of Patten and sheds light on the concept of martyrdom.