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The Aaronic Priesthood Monument |
The Susquehanna River lies a few hundred yards south of the Joseph Smith, Jr. homestead near Oakland, Pennsylvania. While translating in 3 Nephi, the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery read about the necessity of baptism, and thus inquired of the Lord on May 15, 1829.
After praying, John the Baptist appeared unto them and said, "Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness."1
After having the Aaronic Priesthood bestowed upon them, they were commanded to baptize one another. Joseph first baptized Oliver and then Oliver baptized him. They were then instructed to ordain one another to the Aaronic Priesthood, again Joseph ordaining Oliver first and then Oliver ordaining Joseph.2
Oliver described his feelings about the occasion as follows:
"I shall not attempt to paint to you the feelings of this heart, nor the majestic beauty and glory which surrounded us on this occasion; but you will believe me when I say, that earth, nor men, with the eloquence of time, cannot begin to clothe language in as interesting and sublime a manner as this holy personage. No; nor has this earth power to give the joy, to bestow the peace, or comprehend the wisdom which was contained in each sentence as they were delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit!" 3
Soon afterwards, Joseph and Oliver were ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood, although the exact date and location is not known.
SOURCES
1 Doctrine & Covenants 13.
2 Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951), 1: 39.
3 Messenger and Advocate, Volume 1, (October 1834), 16.
