Counted among the most essential, momentous dates in human history is May 15, 1829.
It was on that spring day that the Lord again began ordaining worthy men to act in His name and perform soul-saving ordinances that open the heavens.
One-hundred-eighty-one years ago this month the resurrected John the Baptist — a descendant of Aaron — appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery along the bank of Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River and conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood, or the "Priesthood of Aaron."
Calling Joseph and Oliver his "fellow servants," John the Baptist ordained them to the Aaronic Priesthood "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" (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 13).
With that sacred ordination, the Lord's priesthood was restored. Today, hundreds of thousands of young men throughout the world are performing the duties of the Aaronic Priesthood each week as they prepare and pass the sacrament, collect fast offerings to sustain those in need, perform baptismal ordinances and, when necessary, call upon the ministering of angels to bless those in need.
Those young men — like Aaron, John the Baptist, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery — are authorized to act in God's name and serve others.
In an April 2006 general conference address, President Thomas S. Monson defined the priesthood as "a sacred trust" placed on worthy men. He spoke of John the Baptist's visit to Joseph and Oliver on May 15, 1829, and the subsequent restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood to those same two men.
"As a result of these experiences, all of us carry the requirement — even the blessed opportunity and solemn duty — to be true to the trust we have received," he said.
As in Old Testament times, when young men receive the Aaronic Priesthood, they simultaneously take on the priesthood's oath and covenant set forth by the Lord that includes faithful living and attention to one's sacred priesthood duty.
"We need to know the oath and covenant of the priesthood because it pertains to all of us. … To those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood, it is a pronouncement concerning future duty and responsibility, that they may prepare themselves here and now," said President Monson.
Service in the Aaronic Priesthood is pivotal for young men preparing to serve missions, marry in the temple and dedicate themselves to lives of gospel service. The deacons, teachers and priests of the world are being prepared, according to President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency, to trust that God reveals His will in His kingdom.
"I have heard deacons, teachers and priests give talks which are clearly as inspired and powerful as you will hear in this general conference," said President Eyring in last year's October general conference. "As I have felt the power being given to young holders of the priesthood, I have thought that the rising generation is rising around us, as in on an incoming tide.
"My prayer is that those of us in the generations which have come before will rise on the tide with them. The preparation of the Aaronic Priesthood is a blessing to us as well as to those that will serve in this generation and the generations to follow."
The resurrected John the Baptist's 1829 visit surely caused a dramatic change of heart in Joseph Smith and his friend Oliver Cowdery. Young Aaronic Priesthood holders are experiencing that same change of heart 181 years later.
"Your faithful service in the Aaronic Priesthood will change the lives of those you serve," said Brother David L. Beck, Young Men general president, in his recent general conference talk.
"These are people who need your priesthood service. Your family needs you. Your quorum needs you. The Church needs you. The world needs you."
