“Now it came to pass that while the Elder in Israel tarried at Babylon, a message came to him from a distant city, saying, ‘Come, thou, and counsel with us and help us to search out a priest, for he that did serve us hath gone mad.’ And the Elder in Israel arose, and journeyed to the distant city.
And when the men of affairs were assembled, the Elder spake unto them, saying, “What manner of man seek ye to be your next priest?”
And they answered him and said unto him, “We seek a young man, yet with the wisdom of gray hairs; one that speaketh his mind freely, yet giveth offense to no one; that draweth the multitude to the temple on the Sabbath, but will not be displeased when we ourselves are absent.
“We desire one that hath a gay mood, yet is of sober mind; that seeketh out dark sayings and prophecies, yet speaketh not over our heads; that filleth the temple and buildeth it up, yet defileth not the sanctuary with a motley assortment of strangers.
“We seek one that putteth first the instruction to the young, yet requireth not that we become teachers; that causeth the treasury to prosper, yet asketh not that we give more of our substance. Verily, we seek a prophet that will be unto us a leader, but will not seek to change us, for we like not to be disturbed.”
And the Elder in Israel answered, and said unto them, “When I have found such a priest I will indeed send him unto you, yet will ye have to wait long, for the mother of such a one hath not yet been born.”
