150 years ago today - Jan 25, 1873 (Afternoon)

[Charles Lowell Walker]

In the afternoon at a general Priesthood meeting called by Brigham Young. He asked how many there were present that had been in the Church for 40 years. A few stood up, I think about 11, Bro Brigham among them. He asked them if they were willing from that time forth to seek with all their might, means, and ability to build up the kingdom of God upon the earth, and feel that hence forth it shall be the kingdom of God or nothing, and not build up the cities of the Gentiles, but labor for Zion. They all assented. Then Pres Young said if you are willing to do this, press and to let God dictate you thro his Servants, enter into covenant with him this day, and witness before him by raising the right hand up to the square. They all did so. Now there was a power and a solemnity about this covenant which seems to be felt by the entire Elders assembled, and every organization of the Holy Priesthood was represented from the first Presidency down. He then called for those who had been in the Church 35 years to stand up and enter into the same covenant. ...

[Diary of Charles Lowell Walker. Andrew Karl Larson, ed. Logan: Utah State University Press, 1980. 359-360, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]