2. Previous to joining the Prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery had met David Whitmer at Palmyra, and conversed with him concerning the rumors rife in that vicinity about the finding of the Book of Mormon plates. This chance meeting resulted in a friendship between the young men, and finally when Cowdery determined to visit the Prophet in Harmony, he went _via_ the Whitmer residence, at Fayette, which was near the town of Waterloo, at the head of Seneca lake, Seneca county, New York; and promised his friend David Whitmer that after visiting the Prophet he would write him his impressions as to the truth or untruth of Joseph Smith's having an ancient record. (See statement of David Whitmer in _Kansas City Journal_, June 5th, 1886; also statement of the same to Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith, in 1878. _Millennial Star_, vol. 11, pp. 769-774.) 3. This date, 7th of April, and the one above, 5th of April, 1829, in the History of Joseph Smith, published in the _Millennial Star_, are given as the 15th and 17th of April, respectively. The dates in the Star, however, are typographical errors, as in the original MS of the History the dates are as given in the text. See also Cowdery's letters to W. W. Phelps, published in _Messenger and Advocate_, 1834, where the dates are also given as in the text above--5th and 7th of April. 4. Doctrine and Covenants, section 6. 5. St. John, chap. 21, verse 22. 6. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 7. 7. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 8. 8. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 9. {39} Chapter V. Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood--First Baptisms. [Sidenote: The Aaronic Priesthood Restored.] We still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month (May, 1829), we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying: 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. [1] [Sidenote: Limitations of the Aaronic Priesthood.]