Zosimus

OK, I don't see Hortman or Hoffman even mentioned in that super generic statement. Come to think of it, has Trump ever once mentioned the names of Hortman and Hoffman publicly since the shootings? I stand corrected if you can provide a source Did Trump ever call for flags to be flown at half mast for Hortman? Has he followed up on the sentencing of Vance Boelter to make a public example of what happens to assassins who kill their political opponents in their own homes in the middle of the night? Did Trump post a video statement within hours of the murders? He did for Kirk. Even though Hortman was assassinated three months ago, Trump failed to mention her in that statement yesterday. Instead he (or his AI hand model) took to the Oval Office to accuse democrats of being the source of all political violence in America, contrary to heaps of evidence. And we're supposed to understand that he's not taking advantage of Kirk's death to intentionally fan the flames of political extremism? There an obvious double standard at play that ignores political assassinations when it is politically convenient

Flags at half mast for Kirk. No problem. Fine by me. But compare to Trump's response when a few months ago some guy cosplaying as police knocked on the doors of two democrat families in the middle of the night and opened fire: "One lawmaker and her husband were killed, and the second legislator and his wife sustained serious injuries in the shootings early Saturday. A suspect surrendered to police on Sunday. The Republican president spoke to reporters early Tuesday aboard Air Force One as he flew back to Washington...Asked if he had called Walz yet, Trump said the Democratic governor is “slick” and “whacked out” and, “I’m not calling him.” “I don’t really call him. He’s slick — he appointed this guy to a position,” Trump said. “I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling him. why would I call him? “I could call him and say, ‘Hi, how you doing?’” Trump continued. “The guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a, he’s a mess. So, you know, I could be nice and call him but why waste time?” https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/17/trump-walz-phone-call-00410141

TBH I'm not so familiar with the apologetics on this, but this is pretty close to how Barnes presents it in his book: Book of Mormon Evidence: Traditions about Joseph’s Garment

It was more a rhetorical CFR for Barnes, who isn't here to respond so I'm not expecting you to respond to it. But if you have some interactions with him, my question is: How could a medieval text of unknown provenance that was published in 1828 and was, according to Barnes, known to Joseph Smith as early as December 1830 be "definitely" a candidate for a text that was on the brass plates?

I don't doubt that many are older. The problem is that most, a strong majority, of the texts that Barnes names to support his claims aren't older. As I mentioned above, Barnes frequently mentions Jasher to prove his point that the Book of Mormon seems to agree with the apocrypha on details that aren't in the OT. One example, Joseph's coat of many colors being trampled. A detail that is found in Jasher and the Book of Mormon and not the OT. But, Jasher was published in 1828, two years before the Book of Mormon and Barnes directly states in his book that the publication of a "lost book" of Jasher caused enough of a stir in the early Church that Joseph Smith commented on it in December of 1830. Which explanation is more plausible? The Book of Mormon (published 1830) and the Book of Jasher (published 1828) both draw on a pre-OT tradition detailing Joseph's trampled coat, or Joseph Smith was familiar with the contents of the 1828 Book of Jasher, and had even discussed the text with early Saints the year the Book of Mormon was published Barnes states in his book that both these explanations are true

Also from the above, it's clear that Peter felt compelled to follow the Law of Moses until after the death of Jesus. This confirms that Peter was not considered a semi-quasi Christian heretic for his adherence to the Law. This also confirms what I've been saying all along, the teachings and practices of Christ and the 12 apostles are closer to Islam and Judaism than they are to Mormonism and 21st century Protestant Christianity. we're going in circles, if you respond with yet more verses from Acts or Galatians, or anything after the death and resurrection of Christ and the day of pentecost, a response from me is already above