<​January 5​> at the close I arose and bowed to the Court which adjourned to 10 o clock tomorrow. I accepted an invitation to see Judge Pope in his room and spent an hour in conversation with his honor, in which I explained to him that I did not profess to be a prophet more than every man ought [HC 5:231] who professes to be a preacher of righteousness, and that the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy, and gave the judge a brief but general view of my principles— Esqre. Butterfield asked me “to prophecy how many inhabitants would come to Nauvoo” I said I will not tell how many— inhabitants will come to Nauvoo, but when I went to Commerce, I told the people I would build up a City, and the old inhabitants replied “we will be damd if you can” So I prophesied that I would build up a City, and the Inhabitants prophesied I could not, and we have now about 12000 Inhabitants. I will prophecy we will build up a great city, for we have the Stakes and have only to fill up the interstices. The Judge was very attentive and agreeable, and requested of me that my Secretary Dr. [Willard] Richards would furnish him a copy of his decision for the press— dined at General [James] Adams’, and in the afternoon visited Mr. Butterfield with brother [William] Clayton. In the evening visited Mr. [Elisha] Groves and lodged at General Adams’ with Dr. Richards.