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Dear Gramps, When John the Baptist restored the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, one of the very few instructions he gave on that priesthood was that it "holds the keys of the ministering of angels..." As one who grew up in the Church and as an adult worked in the Aaronic Priesthood quorums as instructors, I have noticed that there is very little, if any, instructions given to Aaronic Priesthood holders about using the key to the ministering of angels. Do you know why this is true? Or is it just me? Kurious in Korea

Dear Kurious in Korea,

First we should consider, with whom do angels converse and to whom do they minister? It would be difficult to believe that angels approach those who are steeped in sin or who are troubled because of unworthiness. When a person is baptized he receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift is manifest only according to the righteousness of the individual. If, after baptism, he commits further sin, the Holy Spirit would withdraw and he would be left to himself until he had thoroughly repented and had been forgiven.

The Aaronic priesthood has the authority to administer the ordinance of baptism, by which the repentant are forgiven of their sins. Being thus cleansed, they are in a position to receive the influence of the Holy Spirit and the ministering of angels. Further, the Aaronic priesthood administers the emblems of the atonement by which the baptismal covenant is renewed, and through which the contrite and repentant are again forgiven of their sins. Thus, the Aaronic priesthood holds the keys to the ministering of angels by holding the keys to those ordinances through which sin may be forgiven, and the person emerge worthy of the guidance and direction provided by the Lord through his ministering servants.

For a thorough discussion on this subject see the October 1998 Conference address of Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov. 1998, pp. 37-39.

Gramps

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