It was the fifteenth of May, 1829. Joseph Smith, with his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, at the little town of Harmony, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, was translating the plates of the Book of Mormon. Coming upon a passage referring to baptism for the remission of sins--a doctrine well-nigh obsolete in Christendom--they inquired of the Lord concerning it, retiring into a grove for that purpose. While they were praying, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and laying his hands upon their heads, spoke these words: "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). Restoration of the Priesthood.--The heavenly messenger told the two young men that he was John the Baptist, and that he acted under the direction of the Apostles Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which should in due time be conferred upon them. The Aaronic Priesthood gave them authority to baptize with water, but the Melchizedek Priesthood, which was greater, would give them authority to baptize with the Holy Ghost. Agreeable to the angel's direction, Joseph and Oliver immersed each other in water, for the remission of their sins. Subsequently they received, under the hands of Peter, James and John, the higher priesthood, and were themselves ordained apostles and baptized with the Holy Ghost. They in turn baptized others, and this was the beginning of divinely-authorized baptismal work in this dispensation. The Church Law.--The standing law to the Church upon this subject is as follows: "Inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents; "For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized; "And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands." (D.& C.68:25-27.) The Laying On of Hands.--The laying on of hands is the divinely-authorized method of administering spirit baptism, in other words, imparting the Holy Ghost. It is plainly taught in the Scriptures. For instance: "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostle's hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, "Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." (Acts 8:17-19.)