Family Home Evening Lesson #34: RESTORATION OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD

1. Opening Prayer

2. Sing: "The Priesthood is Restored" Children's Songbook, pg. 89

3. Read D&C 13:1 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angles, 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.

4. Read and discuss "John the Baptist Conferring the Aaronic Priesthood" from the Gospel Art Picture Kit:

Joseph Smith translated the gold plates into English, and Oliver Cowdery wrote it down. While translating, they learned about baptism for the remission of sins. On 15 May 1829 they went into the woods to pray, to ask Heavenly Father about baptism.

As they prayed, an angel from heaven appeared in a cloud of light. He laid his hands on Joseph and Oliver and ordained them, saying, “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” (D&C 13).

The angel said the Aaronic Priesthood had the power to baptize but not to give the gift of the Holy Ghost. The angel commanded Joseph and Oliver to be baptized. He told Joseph to baptize Oliver and then Oliver to baptize Joseph.

They baptized each other in the Susquehanna River near Harmony, Pennsylvania. Then, following the angel’s instructions, Joseph laid his hands upon Oliver’s head and ordained Oliver to the Aaronic Priesthood. Oliver then ordained Joseph in the same way.

The angel said his name was John the Baptist. He told them he was acting under the direction of Peter, James, and John, who held the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Joseph and Oliver, he said, would receive the Melchizedek Priesthood in due time.

After Joseph and Oliver were baptized, they “experienced great and glorious blessings from … Heavenly Father” (Joseph Smith—History 1:73).

5. Closing Prayer

Additional Resources: Our Most Distinguishing Feature (Ensign, May 2005)
A Priesthood Ordination (FHE Resource Book, Lesson 30)
The Priesthood (Gospel Principles, Chapter 13)