Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood - Angel Confers Holy Authority Under the Hand of God

After the angel appeared in glory and delivered the message and keys of the gospel of repentance, Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith received the holy priesthood directly from the angel's hands. The angel said to them: 'Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer this priesthood and this authority, which shall remain upon earth, that the sons of Levi may yet offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness!' Oliver Cowdery testified of the sublimity and majesty of this moment: '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.' He declared that the joy, peace, and wisdom conveyed in each sentence was beyond human description, delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit. Oliver affirmed: 'The assurance that we were in the presence of an angel; the certainty that we heard the voice of Jesus, and the truth unsullied as it flowed from a pure personage, dictated by the will of God, is to me, past description, and I shall ever look upon this expression of the Savior's goodness with wonder and thanksgiving.'