1 The words of Christ, which he spake unto his disciples, the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon them–
2 And he called them by name, saying: Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles.
3 Now Christ spake these words unto them at the time of his first appearing; and the multitude heard it not, but the disciples heard it; and on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost.
When the Savior appeared in the Americas following His resurrection, He called twelve disciples to serve as His representatives among the people. He authorized them to baptize, and He gave them power to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 11:21, 3 Nephi 18:37). In the passage above, Moroni clarifies that the Savior laid His hands on them as He gave them this power, and that they in turn laid their hands on other people to give them the Holy Ghost.
We believe that priesthood authority is bestowed by the laying on of hands (5th Article of Faith). Specifically, a person who holds priesthood authority lays their hands on the head of the recipient and pronounces some words conferring that authority upon them and ordaining them to an office in that priesthood. When Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the priesthood in 1829, the pattern was the same: John the Baptist appeared to them as an angel and laid his hands on their heads to give them the Aaronic Priesthood (Joseph Smith-History 1:68-69). A similar process is followed when we are set apart for a calling in the Church. That makes sense, because, as Dallin H. Oaks has taught, the authority we exercise in our callings (both men and women) is priesthood authority (“The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood,” General Conference, April 2014).
Why is the laying on of hands so important? As I’ve considered that question today, I’ve thought about the importance of in-person communication. There are some messages I can effectively communicate by texting or by an email, others I can only appropriately deliver verbally, and some messages which are so important that I need to be with the recipient of the message. Priesthood authority can’t be given over a video conference or in writing. The person giving the authority is present and is required to make physical contact with the recipient by laying his hands on their head.
Today, I will remember the importance of the priesthood power and authority I have been given. I will be grateful that hands were placed on my head to authorize me to do the work of the Lord.