On the Banks of the Susquehanna

As most of you know, I am father to four sons. This year, the youngest FOMLs celebrated his 12th birthday. For those of you not familiar with the LDS priesthood, young men may be ordained to a preparatory (Aaronic) priesthood at the age of twelve. This is an important beginning of what should become a lifetime of church service.

When my eldest turned 12, a dozen years ago, I knew I wanted to do something special to recognize the birthday, and its accompanying responsibility. I decided to take him on a trip – just the two of us. I can’t claim full credit, as I had heard of this idea from Robert D. Hales years earlier in a Conference talk. (link)

We went, and it was wonderful. I followed suit with my other sons. Each twelve-year-old trip consisted of something fun, (like an amusement park) something historical, (like Gettysburg) and finally, the most important part, a visit to the Aaronic Priesthood Commemoration site in what was once Harmony, Pennsylvania.

Yesterday marked the fourth, and final twelve-year-old trip with my boys. My youngest and I got up early, leaving the others asleep in the hotel, and made our way down the winding road to the banks of the Susquehanna river.

I was prepared for it to be different, because I had read about the changes and construction* underway to improve the site, or I would have been sorely disappointed. Thankfully, the river was still beautiful, and peaceful – and we were alone.

We had some time together. Time to discuss one of a few of events that can actually be described as one of the most important things that has ever happened in the history of this world. I was able to share my testimony with him about the reality of what happened near that spot some 185 years ago. I was able to talk to him about what that priesthood means to me.

We talked about how the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood was the beginning of the end of the apostasy of authority that had covered the earth for nearly 1800 years. That is a big deal. I was able to talk to him about what that priesthood means to me.

Together, we enjoyed the quiet, the solitude, and some time to just think, and feel. It is a sacred place, and you can feel it, if you try.

It was a good day – an important day.

If you aren’t clear what happened on that important day in 1829, here are the words of Oliver Cowdery regarding what he felt and saw: Restoration of the Priesthood: A Second Witness.

For more detail, I’ll let Elder L. Tom Perry describe it. (Link to the full talk)

“As they proceeded, Joseph and Oliver were thrilled with the doctrines contained in this book. They were particularly impressed with the doctrine of baptism as taught by the resurrected Savior during His visit to the inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere. The importance of the doctrine of baptism was clearly unfolded to their minds. They determined that they must seek the Lord in mighty prayer that they might learn how they could obtain the blessing of being baptized themselves.

On May 15, 1829, they went to the woods near the Susquehanna River and knelt in prayer. Oliver describes what happened next: “On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity, the voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us, while the vail was parted and the angel of God came down clothed with glory, and delivered the anxiously looked for message, and the keys of the gospel of repentance!—What joy! what wonder! what amazement! While the world was racked and distracted—while millions were groping as the blind for the wall, and while all men were resting upon uncertainty, as a general mass, our eyes beheld—our ears heard” (Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 15; see also Joseph Smith—History 1:71, note).

The angel introduced himself as John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament. He laid his hands upon the heads of Joseph and Oliver 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.

“He said this Aaronic Priesthood had not the power of laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that this should be conferred on us hereafter; and he commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and that afterwards he should baptize me.

“Accordingly we went and were baptized. I baptized him first, and afterwards he baptized me—after which I laid my hands upon his head and ordained him to the Aaronic Priesthood, and afterwards he laid his hands on me and ordained me to the same Priesthood—for so we were commanded” (Joseph Smith—History 1:69–71).

*I will post some pics and descriptions of the changes later.