What does it mean that the Aaronic Priesthood holds
"the key of the ministering of angels"
and of the "gospel of repentance, and of baptism,
and the remission of sins"?
The meaning is found in the ordinance of baptism
and in the sacrament.
Baptism is for the remission of sins,
and the sacrament is a renewal of the covenants and blessings
of baptism.
Both should be preceded by repentance.
Not one of you young men and not one of your leaders
has lived without sin since his baptism.
Without some provision for further cleansing
after our baptism, each of us is lost to things spiritual.
We are commanded to repent of our sins
and to come to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite
spirit and partake of the sacrament in compliance
with its covenants.
When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way,
the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism.
We cannot overstate the importance of the Aaronic
Priesthood in this.
All of these vital steps pertaining
to the remission of sins are performed
through the saving ordinance of baptism
and the renewing ordinance of the sacrament.
Both of these ordinances are officiated
by holders of the Aaronic Priesthood
under the direction of the bishopric, who
exercise the keys of the gospel of repentance
and of baptism and the remission of sins.