longview

The "connection" was that I attended BYU Education Week. Most of the classes are presented one hour each of the five days. So there were many topics concerning Lincoln. The point is God had a hand throughout Abe's life. That angle is interesting but I don't remember the presenter mentioning the Library of Congress (at least he did not dwell much on it). He was referring to a much earlier time before Lincoln ran for office. I think he checked out of the local library where he was living. Another topic the presenter talked about was Lincoln wrote a big manuscript containing his religious thoughts. He handed it to a friend who was inebriated who dismissed it and tossed into the fireplace. A terrible loss to history!

Not of the BoM. I guess you missed the something else.

Many years ago I attended BYU Education Week. One class was on whether Abe Lincoln ever read the Book of Mormon he supposedly borrowed out of the library. The presenter believes Pres. Lincoln was to seal his testimony in blood as a sacrifice for making this major reformation for eliminating slavery and for preserving the Union.

Logjam? What are the rules for limiting the sizes of rosters?

I have outlined my observations and do genuinely stand by them. My convictions are honed by many years of overview and cross-referencing which do strengthen my perspectives. Sometimes you behave like a court jester in the court of king Æthelred the Unready. No way would the Seventy talk like an ebonics-speaking dolt. He would be MOST gracious for having been invited to meet with the black congregation and sharing many common experiences. Not likely would he sing at the pulpit but most certainly would sing WITH the congregation. For sure clap with them and even attempt at some "gyrations". I can easily imagine Hillary wanting to sing by herself or with the congregation just so long as she does NOT caricature or pretend to be part of the "victim class" or pander to the lowest common denomiator.

And sometimes faithless or intolerant or not willing to ponder the overarching care God has for the world and His Work. Throughout History.

This was the impression I was getting reading the "outrage" of Okrahomer and Nehor. I was wondering why couldn't ANY race emulate each other's traditions. In the case of Hillary, it was plainly obvious that she was "dumbing" herself down in order to ingratiate herself with the "victim class" but it crashed like a lead balloon. I have no doubt that the black congregation was silently embarrassed by her antics.

Very much so. For the reasons I outlined. That black congregation did NOT need to be talked down to in such a condescending manner. My distinct impression was that he was actually celebrating black culture and traditions. It was NOT cultural misappropriation. I have seen congregations consisting of all races joyfully singing together with full fervor, emotion, and dancing with unrestrained gyrations. That was a wonderful kind of unity promoting greater harmony and love. The Seventy may have mocked his own shortcomings in not being as savvy and as cool as the average black congregant. He is to be applauded for reaching out in admiration and good will. Wrong, banana nose. 🤣 Hillary was deeply cynical and manipulative. The Seventy was showing genuine appreciation for the contributions of black culture. Don't ALL races love and appreciate signing Amazing Grace? I know I do, with as much fervor as I can (in spite of my shyness).

A toothpick jabbed in the eyeball totally takes the fight out of the guy . . . 👀🧐

Back in 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton made a campaign stop at a black church. She spoke with a heavy exaggerated ebonics-style voice. It was horribly embarrassing. It manifested the "soft bigotry of low expectations". Did her party react with outrage at this insult? If I remember correctly there were no backlash but the alternative media did express disgust at her pandering. Do you remember this incident? What were your thoughts then?

Ardent? Only in your twisted and unbalanced review of scriptures. There were many provisions in the Law of Moses that tried to mitigate various corrupt practices of human relations and point to a better way. One example was indentured servitude. When two parties entered into an economic arrangement for exchange of goods or services, it usually is completed with the expected outcome. If not, then the the party that was "shorted" will "bind" the other party to various kinds of menial servitude. The Law of Moses put a limit on the duration of servitude to 7 years.

You can't squirm out this. There are many things in the Bible that ARE textbook.

Nuanced or not, the serious student of the Bible should be able to make distinctions between the fickleness of Samson, Eli, King Saul, Jephthah, etc with the "steadfastness" of God's work and doctrinal purity. Mosaic Law was given to help Hebrews progress from the "carnal commandments" to the higher law of Christ.

Just because the Lord used him to serve as a "judge" to lead his people to victory over Ammon does NOT justify his foolish vow to "sacrifice" whatsoever should come forth in front of his house. That is NOT a covenant. God does NOT give covenants involving human sacrifice. (test of Abraham and Isaac notwithstanding). The Law of Moses already prohibited human sacrifice. When Jephthah came home he could have sacrificed any animal. When he saw his daughter, he should have considered himself OFF the hook for making an animal sacrifice. He did NOT need to consider himself obligated to sacrifice his own child (or any other human). His vow was "manmade" done without the acquiescence of God. This piece of history is clearly not in accordance with God's pattern of covenant making (whether doctrinal or not). When there is a covenant to be made, it is done only in accordance with God's Will. Your "whataboutism" is uncalled for. If the daughter was actually killed, then she should have known better and she should have appealed to levite priests.

It is beautiful literature in many ways: testifying of God's love for humankind, listing the MANY tender mercies and steadfast faithfulness of God, proclaiming the joys of redemption, and on and on. It is an amazing textbook documenting cause and effect on many levels of obedience and of disobedience, verifying the many prophecies that have been fulfilled in various stages of history, advocating for adherence to the many saving commands and wise counsels from God, achieving continual personal progression that occurs from walking with God, etc, etc.

Bring back the deluge of 1983:

Serious question - - - what style are the Oakridge Boys using?

Maybe the AI that is administering the survey became completely befuddled when you threw in references to the Hellenistic Fantasy.

I align with Bruce McConkie at 79% and least with Progressive Mormons at 49%.

Here is the communist version: Will patrons find moldy bread on the shelf?

Nah. I am very happy with my original "quip" : "The Lord is sifting the wheat and Lucifer is sifting the tares." And I have expanded on BOTH clauses in a very meaningful and comprehensive manner. While I am quipping, you and Nehor are wisecracking. My quote and bolding of Talmage's observation: "The occasion was crucial; the effect was that of sifting and separation" was a nice finishing touch on our discussion. The process of sifting dovetails with the concept of separation. The "binding" of the Tares also fits with the gradual process of the sinner going deeper into slavery until his ultimate destruction. There is a whole lotta of sifting going on here! The very purpose of experiencing mortality in a fallen world.

Makes for a thoughtful mosaic, don't ja think?

Sifting can also reference the process of separation. The wheats and the tares are mingled together. Not only are God and Satan testing and trying all of us but we are exerting our influences on each other. The sifting process among the "dim bulbs" is a progression of increasing depravity for some and for others a sudden or growing realization of agony of sin(s) with consequent attempts at repentance (spiritual warfare). JST / Matt 3:39 And it is he of whom I shall bear record, whose fan shall be in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but in the fullness of his own time will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. From Elder Talmage's Jesus the Christ Ch. 21: "41.Many deserted Him, and from that time sought Him no more. The occasion was crucial; the effect was that of sifting and separation. The portentous prediction of the Baptist-prophet had entered upon the stage of fulfilment: "One mightier than I cometh ... Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." [734] The fan was in operation, and much chaff was blown aside." From Putting on Christ Ch. 4: "8.Brigham Young said: “The spirit which inhabits these tabernacles naturally loves truth, it naturally loves light and intelligence, it naturally loves virtue, God and godliness; but being so closely united with the flesh their sympathies are blended… the spirit is indeed subject to be influenced by the sin that is in the mortal body, and to be overcome by it and by the power of the Devil, unless it is constantly enlightened by that spirit which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world [i.e., the Light of Christ given to all men], and by the [amplified] power of the Holy Ghost [through the Comforter when we are born again] which is imparted through the Gospel” Those born into the world receive the light of Christ will still be subjected to the sifting process even IF they do NOT join a christian church or even reject any kind of affiliations.

The Wheats are willing to be "yoked" with Christ and accept transformations ever upward. The Tares are NOT willing but will fall into Satan's hellish grasp till eventually being horribly BOUND to vices, addictions, agonies (either in mortality or the "place of torment" in the spirit world). The evil sifting process involves the use of flaxen cords which are few in the beginning and easily broken. But over time sins accumulate and become powerfully burdensome to the point of being unbreakably strong. 2 Nephi 26:22.And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.

Wheat are seed bearing. Tares are seed bearing. Seeds of any kind can be sifted. Whuh? 😧