John the Baptist conferred the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on the banks of this river 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" (D&C 13:1).